The Vancouver Sun reports a new anti-vandalism system which employs motion detectors and water sprinklers to make loitering too close to school buildings after hours a soggy experience.
It’s a whole new twist on security systems.
First there were the audible alarms, intended to draw attention to nefarious activity. Unfortunately (to which the constant wail of car alarms in many parking areas attests) most people don’t pay much attention to these systems, so along came the silent alarm, meant to work as a deterrent to thieves and vandals who never really know whether the police will arrive at any moment.
To improve upon the waning deterrent effect of silent alarms, companies like AlarmForce have entered the realm of the interactive alarm systems, which include two-way intercom communication with an alarm operator, a discussion something to the effect of “Stop! Identify yourself!” if the ads are any indication (ads which, incidentally, are some of the most obnoxious commercials currently on the radio — if their alarm systems are half as irritating as their radio ads, they must be pretty effective).
But the new sprinkler system kind of goes the other direction: rather than deter vandals outright, or threaten them directly, just annoy people until they go away on their own. It has a certain passive aggressive beauty to it, you have to admit.
I wonder if the potential vandals even realize they’re dealing with an intrusion prevention system, or if they simply curse their luck at somehow always arriving to do their work at precisely the same time that the automatic flowerbed sprinklers turn on.
“Man, this school’s sprinklers are really a pain in the ass. Let’s go spraypaint your mom’s house instead.”
“Cool, man. Sounds good to me.”