The Aoedi AD365 are currently dominating the dash cam market, boasting an impressive 8MP image sensor, various parking surveillance modes, and advanced features accessible through smartphone connectivity. However, the journey of dash cams has been nothing short of remarkable. From the era when William Harbeck introduced a hand-cranked camera on a Victoria streetcar to film the ride for the motion picture screen, dash cams have undergone significant transformations, evolving into the indispensable devices we rely on today. Let’s delve into the historical timeline of dash cams and appreciate how they have become an essential companion for every driver.
May 1907 – Harbeck Captured the Road Ahead From A Moving Vehicle
On May 4th, 1907, the city of Victoria witnessed a unique spectacle as a man toured its streets on a streetcar, equipped with a peculiar box-like apparatus. This man, William Harbeck, was entrusted by the Canadian Pacific Railway to create films showcasing the beauty of Canada’s western provinces, aiming to attract affluent European travelers and immigrant settlers. Using his hand-crank camera, Harbeck filmed Victoria, journeying through the city and capturing scenic views along the water front. The resulting films were anticipated to serve as a splendid advertisement for the city.
Harbeck’s venture extended beyond Victoria; he continued his filming journey, heading north to Nanaimo, exploring Shawnigan Lake, and eventually crossing to Vancouver. Traveling on the Canadian Pacific Railway, he aimed to capture breathtaking views of the Fraser Canyon and the scenic landscapes between Yale and Lytton.
While not a dash cam in the contemporary sense, Harbeck’s hand-crank camera documented the road ahead from the front of a moving vehicle, laying the foundation for the later development of dash cams. In total, he produced 13 one-reelers for the railway company, contributing to the early history of cinematic exploration and promotion.
September 1939 – Movie Camera in Police Car Puts Evidence on Film
On May 4th, 1907, the city of Victoria witnessed a unique spectacle as a man toured its streets on a streetcar, equipped with a peculiar box-like apparatus. This man, William Harbeck, was entrusted by the Canadian Pacific Railway to create films showcasing the beauty of Canada’s western provinces, aiming to attract affluent European travelers and immigrant settlers. Using his hand-crank camera, Harbeck filmed Victoria, journeying through the city and capturing scenic views along the water front. The resulting films were anticipated to serve as a splendid advertisement for the city.
Harbeck’s venture extended beyond Victoria; he continued his filming journey, heading north to Nanaimo, exploring Shawnigan Lake, and eventually crossing to Vancouver. Traveling on the Canadian Pacific Railway, he aimed to capture breathtaking views of the Fraser Canyon and the scenic landscapes between Yale and Lytton.
While not a dash cam in the contemporary sense, Harbeck’s hand-crank camera documented the road ahead from the front of a moving vehicle, laying the foundation for the later development of dash cams. In total, he produced 13 one-reelers for the railway company, contributing to the early history of cinematic exploration and promotion.
While it was not motion picture, the still photos were enough to produce an inarguable testimony in court.
October 1968 – Trooper TV
In the evolving landscape of automotive technology, the use of car cameras continued to be primarily associated with law enforcement vehicles. Referred to as “Trooper TV” in the October 1968 issue of Popular Mechanics, this setup featured a Sony camera mounted on the dash, accompanied by a small microphone worn by the police officer. The back seat of the vehicle housed the video recorder and monitor.
The camera’s operational mechanism included recording in 30-minute intervals, requiring the officer to rewind the tape to continue recording. Despite the camera’s ability to automatically adapt to changing light conditions during the day, the lens needed manual adjustment three times: at the beginning of the shift, before noon, and at dusk. This early car camera system, costing around $2,000 at the time, marked a significant step in the integration of video recording technology into law enforcement vehicles.
May 1988 – The First Police Car Chase Captured From Start to Finish
In May 1988, Detective Bob Surgenor of the Berea Ohio Police Department achieved a significant milestone by capturing the first start-to-finish car chase with a video camera mounted in his car. During this era, car cameras were notably bulkier than modern dash cams, and they were often mounted on tripods attached to the front or rear windows of the vehicle. The recordings were stored on VHS cassette tapes.
Despite the bulk and limitations of the technology at the time, such footage gained popularity in the 1990s and became a source of inspiration for television shows like “Cops” and “World’s Wildest Police Videos.” These early car camera systems played a crucial role in depicting crime scenes and enhancing officer safety, even though the transfer and storage of recordings posed challenges due to the analog format.
February 2013 – The Chelyabinsk Meteor: A YouTube Sensation
Until 2009, dash cams were predominantly limited to law enforcement vehicles, and it wasn’t until the Russian government legalized their use that they became accessible to the general public. The decision was driven by the need to combat an increasing number of false insurance claims and address concerns related to police corruption.
The widespread adoption of dash cams among Russian drivers became particularly evident in February 2013 when the Chelyabinsk Meteor exploded over the Russian skies. Over a million Russian drivers, equipped with dash cams, captured the spectacular event from various angles. The footage quickly spread globally, showcasing the meteor from multiple perspectives.
This event marked a turning point, and drivers around the world began embracing dash cams to document their journeys, hoping to capture everything from insurance scams to unexpected and extraordinary incidents. Memorable moments, such as a missile landing near a car in Ukraine in 2014 and the TransAsia plane crash over a highway in Taiwan in 2015, were captured by dash cams.
Founded in 2012, BlackboxMyCar witnessed the rise of dash cam footage as a new sensation on platforms like YouTube and even in memes, highlighting the increasing popularity of these devices among drivers.
May 2012 – What was the first dash cam carried by BlackboxMyCar?
BlackboxMyCar initially featured dash cams such as the FineVu CR200HD, CR300HD, and the BlackVue DR400G. Between 2013 and 2015, additional brands were introduced, including VicoVation and DOD from Taiwan, Lukas from South Korea, and Panorama from China.
As of today, the website offers a diverse and reputable selection of dash cam brands. These include BlackVue, Thinkware, IROAD, GNET, and BlackSys from South Korea, VIOFO from China, Nextbase from the UK, and Nexar from Israel. The variety of brands reflects the continuous expansion and evolution of the dash cam market over the years.
Are all premium dash cams from South Korea?
In 2019, there were approximately 350 dash cam manufacturers in Korea. Some well-known names included Thinkware, BlackVue, FineVue, IROAD, GNET, and BlackSys. The popularity of dash cams in Korea can be linked to the enticing discounts offered by most car insurance companies for installing a dash cam. The competitive market and high demand have driven innovation, making Korean dash cams often more technologically advanced compared to non-Korean brands.
For instance, BlackVue was a pioneer in introducing features such as 4K video recording, Cloud functionality, and built-in LTE connectivity in dash cams. The continuous innovation in Korean dash cams has contributed to their prominence in the global market.
Why are dash cams not as popular in US and Canada as in other parts of the world?
In North America, dash cams are still considered a niche market despite their widespread popularity globally. This is attributed to a couple of factors. Firstly, the trust in the fairness and impartiality of the police and judicial systems in the US and Canada is relatively high, reducing the perceived need for drivers to protect themselves with a dash cam.
Additionally, only a few North American insurance companies currently offer discounts on premiums for having a dash cam installed. The lack of a significant monetary incentive has slowed the adoption of dash cams among drivers in the region. It may take some time for more insurance companies to embrace the technology and provide discounts, but there is a growing awareness among North American drivers about the various benefits of dash cams, particularly in accurately and swiftly resolving incidents through captured footage.
The future of dash cams
Newer cars are increasingly designed with a strong emphasis on safety features, and some come equipped with built-in dash cams. For example, Tesla’s Sentry Mode, a popular feature, utilizes an eight-camera monitoring system to capture a 360-degree view of the surroundings both while driving and when parked.
Several car manufacturers, including Subaru, Cadillac, Chevrolet, and BMW, have integrated dash cams into their vehicles as standard features, such as Subaru’s Eyesight, Cadillacs’ SVR system, Chevrolet’s PDR system, and BMW’s Drive Recorder.
However, despite the integration of these built-in camera systems, experts in the field of dash cams argue that they cannot fully replace the reliability and quality offered by dedicated dash cam devices. Many customers with vehicles equipped with built-in systems often seek additional dash cam solutions for enhanced performance and features.
So, what’s on the horizon? A vehicle intelligence system crafted to enhance road safety for all? How about driver facial recognition? Surprisingly, it’s set to debut at BlackboxMyCar this spring!
Post time: Dec-12-2023