Last week, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) classified defense technology company BAE Systems' uncooled fixed-mount and handheld infrared cameras as qualified anti-terrorism technology under the Support Anti-Terrorism by Fostering Effective Technologies (SAFETY) Act.

Whoo. Before we drown in all those acronyms, let's see what these babies can do. The cameras can detect heat and temperature differences up to a five-mile radius, making them ideal as surveillance cameras especially during the night.

The fixed-mount PMC300TM (640x480 resolution) and the LTC550TM (320x240) would primarily be used for parameter surveillance, and the handheld HH100TM and HHC could be used for law enforcement in the field. I predict that the fixed-mount cameras will be a huge success among nosy neighbors.

The cameras, each worth between $15,000 and $89,000, are available for the DHS but also to the general public - those who can afford it, at least. “The technology is becoming more and more available,” said David Smialek, BAE Imaging Systems business development assistant manager. Smialek anticipates the prices of the cameras to drop in the future.

The IR technology, however, is export-controlled, and will probably be only available to U.S. buyers.