Alternatives to Two-Way Mirrors

Secutiry Cameras

• One of the most common alternatives to a two-way mirror is a security camera. Rather than placing an observer on the darkened side of the two-way mirror, surveillance cameras allow the viewer to be anywhere in the area. Multiple cameras can come together on a closed-circuit television system, with each camera broadcasting its signal to a central location where the images are displayed on one or more monitors.

  Closed-circuit security cameras are the method of choice for many buildings and outdoor spaces that have security needs. One drawback when compared to two-way mirrors is that individuals are likely to know they are being watched if they see one of the cameras, while two-way mirrors are difficult to detect.

Spy Cameras

• Spy cameras are smaller versions of standard security cameras, designed to capture images without being seen. Spy cameras may be hidden in a wall or object, making them as difficult to identify as a two-way mirror.

  While spy cameras can be linked to a closed-circuit system, they are also able to record the images they capture to a video tape or digital hard drive for future viewing in the event of a crime. Spy cameras are a more discrete option for the home, as they are inconspicuous and don't require hiring someone to monitor the video images in real time.

Motion Detectors

• In cases where a two-way mirror gives information about when people are in a room, the same task can be accomplished by a motion detector. Motion detectors may be part of an alarm system, armed when the room is meant to be unoccupied. This can either set off an alarm intended to frighten intruders or trip a silent alarm, notifying a central security system of the activity in the room.

Other Alternatives

• There are several other pieces of equipment that can function as alternatives to a two-way mirror in the right situations. Infrared cameras and detectors detect body heat, serving much the same purpose as motion detectors but over an even greater range of space. Listening devices, such as hidden microphones or "bugs," can record or display sounds in real time, which may be even more important than the visual information gained from using a two-way mirror .