Smile or Be Frightened Cedar Rapids, You’re on Camera A LOT

The weather is getting to that point where it's beautiful in the evening. It's pleasant out, and great weather for walking around your neighborhood. I did this last night after work. While I was out on my walk, I made an observation.

As I walked a noticed someone's Ring camera (they had a sign that said 'smile, you're on camera - I didn't walk up to their door like a weirdo). It made me really think... 'how many times a day am I on camera every day?' Couple that with a feature in Apple Maps on the new iOS 15 that tells you where red light cameras are and I began to do some research.

So first, I visited the website safety.com to help me get some hard numbers. What I came to realize was, it will really vary from person to person but, on average, we're on camera 30 times a day in Eastern Iowa. This of course does not include selfies, Instagram Live videos, or any being on camera by choice. Simply times someone who's not us, or a friend/co-worker/family member is filming us.

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Here's the breakdown - the how, where, etc. First off, we're on camera a LOT when we drive. Between security cameras, traffic cameras (we know these quite well), and, of course, red-light cameras. Next, at work. Now, if you're still working from home, or not at all, you're not experiencing this. But *most* jobs have a camera somewhere (think surveillance). Here at the studios, we're on camera for sure at least four times daily.

Once when we enter our studio building, and when we leave, and at least twice in the parking ramp (as we come and go). If you take lunch here, add two more times. If you work in retail... you're ALWAYS on camera. Oh, and speaking of, when you go shopping at Wal-Mart, Hy-Vee, etc, you're on camera several more times. Then there are those Ring cameras like the one I encountered last evening.

All in all, that's roughly 30 times a day, or 210 times a week. But again, it will be slightly different depending on what you do each day, or week. For example, if you go to the Isle Casino in Waterloo, you're on camera the whole time! If you spend a day at a park, you're barely on camera at all. So, your results might be different. Oh, speaking of those red-light cams, if you've forgotten where they are in Cedar Rapids, here's a reminder:

• 1st Avenue and 10th Street East
• Edgewood Road and 42nd Street NE
• 1st Avenue and L Street SW
• Center Point Road and Collins Road Ramp (North)
• Williams Boulevard and 16th Avenue SW
• I-380 Fixed Points (Northbound Diagonal Drive SW)
• I-380 Fixed Points (Northbound J Avenue NE)
• I-380 Fixed Points (Southbound J Avenue NE)
• I-380 Fixed Points (Southbound 1st Avenue SW)