From Passive Recording to Predictive Video Surveillance
Vinicius Romano explains the shift from forensic video records to computer vision and cloud AI.
Vinicius Romano details the transformation of cloud-based video surveillance at Camerite. He explains how the technology advanced from reactive recording to predictive data analytics and computer vision.
Vinicius Romano, CEO of Camerite, detailed the evolution of the video surveillance industry and the company's trajectory during an interview with Bruno Gimenes on Marketing - The Podcast.
The full episode covers the technical and strategic transition of the security platform, along with other market and technology topics discussed throughout the interview.
The Origins of Camerite and the Shift to the Cloud
Camerite began in 2012 as a project called Veja Ao Vivo, whose initial goal was to install street cameras to stream live traffic and monetize through advertising. The model shifted following an accident during the construction of Arena Corinthians in São Paulo, when the company was asked to provide footage of the incident, but the system had not recorded the stream.
That realization led to the technical decision to digitize and record video streams directly to the cloud, overcoming the limitations of analog systems and on-premise digital video recorders (DVRs). According to Romano, betting on cloud computing digitization placed the company at the forefront of the industry.
Criticizing the Passive Camera as a 'Digital Morgue'
Romano questions the traditional definition of a security camera when the equipment operates purely reactively. In his view, both conventional recordings and traditional sensors only document or notify about a breach after it has already occurred.
"A camera isn't security; it's just a camera, it merely records. It does nothing to provide security. I have a phrase where I call these cameras a 'digital morgue,'" Romano explains. "Because you only look at the footage after something has happened and you want to see who did it. In other words, it's already occurred, and there's nothing left to do."
The Rise of Computer Vision and Predictive Security
The next technological phase involves using computer vision and artificial intelligence to mitigate incidents before they occur. The system analyzes perimeters and movement behavior to anticipate suspicious activity, triggering preventive barriers such as sound alarms or lighting.
Beyond preventive security, this technology increasingly drives business decision-making by converting video feeds into actionable data. In retail environments, for instance, the system tracks real foot traffic to replace operational assumptions with precise metrics.
Scalable Infrastructure and Cloud Elasticity
Today, Camerite manages 20,000 simultaneously connected cameras streaming to its platform. To support this operation without maintaining proprietary data centers, the company relies on Oracle's infrastructure.
Romano emphasizes that cloud elasticity makes expansion feasible without disproportionate upfront hardware investments: "Essentially, it allows you to start a project without dumping a truckload of money into tech infrastructure upfront. That increases costs and pushes your ROI years down the road. Instead, you start small with a lean product and scale up as your customer base expands."