Without question, gender discrimination is real. As a man writing this article, it is difficult to fully grasp what it’s like to deal with day-to-day, or even comprehend potentially losing a job because of it. If I need a replacement part for my car, I can go to an automotive store, give them an idea of what is happening with my vehicle, and they will give me a few options for parts. My wife, on the other hand, refuses to go to one particular chain automotive store because she went in needing an OBD2 test for a check engine light and was asked, “When was the last time she checked the flux capacitor?” (Note: that's the time-travel part in the Back to the Future movies for those who aren’t movie nerds). Another aspect of gender discrimination that really gets to me is how she has to navigate the workplace, where she could potentially lose her career simply because someone is being inappropriate towards her.
As a guy, it is easy to say things like “You should have said something,” or “Why didn’t you speak with a manager?” And, sadly, the answer is, “it’s something I have dealt with my whole life.” How does one respond to that? I’d like to think that I am better than others, but that’s simply not being honest. The only thing we can try to do is be better. It starts by understanding that these types of situations happen, and it’s something that women deal with every day.
Let’s analyse the situation
To start with, there is no perfect device for every situation. However, odds are that if you ended up here, your situation is more a consistent problem, and less a one-time random encounter. And, probably a situation where interaction is unavoidable. So, here are some things to consider: recording devices function primarily in two different ways. Audio recorders can be set to record continuously or voice-activated. While cameras are continuous or motion-activated. There are advantages of both settings within the devices, but the primary goal is ensuring that the information your needing is captured, clearly, and without question.
If the events you are needing to document are more infrequent, like someone approaching you while in a break room, then the most important feature is not what recording mode the device is in, but how quickly the device can begin recording, and how to do so covertly. On the other hand, in an environment where you could place a recording device and leave it on, the most important feature might be battery life or time spent reviewing. Devices that are voice or motion-activated with time and date recording are incredibly helpful for navigating large stored files.
Here are the Top 5 Audio Recorders and Top 5 Mini Cameras.
Sleek Audio Pen
Reasons to Choose this device:
It is always good to have a pen handy. And, in almost every circumstance, having a writing pen in a pocket, purse, or in hand is natural and draws little to no attention. This is my recommended device for its multi-functional usage, and it activates by simply sliding the clip up and down. It has a 20-hour battery life between recharging, and yes, it actually writes.
Features:
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Quick instant recording once activated
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Voice-activated mode / Continuous record mode
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20-hour battery life with 288 hours of storage
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40-foot audio pickup range
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Playback on PC/Mac headphones or smartphone with OTG cable
Magnetic Mini Voice Recorder
Reasons to Choose this device:
The magnetic mini is one of our most popular devices for out-of-sight deployment. It offers an impressive 28-hour battery life between recharging, and it's roughly the size of a quarter. Activation is a simple on/off switch and can be magnetised to any metal surface
Features:
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Recording begins 2 seconds after switching on
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Voice-activated mode / Continuous record mode
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28-hour battery life with 288 hours of storage
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40-foot audio pickup range
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Playback on PC/Mac headphones or smartphone with OTG cable
Heart Voice Recorder Necklace
Reasons to Choose this device:
Wear it as a necklace, a hanging pendant, or keep it nearby. This is a perfect solution for loud, busy environments, such as restaurants, bullpen offices, or outside near a highway, since it offers background noise cancellation. Check out this YouTube demonstration. LINK
Features:
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Recording begins 2 seconds after switching on
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Voice-activated mode / Continuous record mode
- Adjustable background noise cancellation
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20-hour battery life with 288 hours of storage
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40-foot audio pickup range
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Playback on PC/Mac headphones or smartphone with OTG cable
Scrunchie Audio Recorder
Reasons to Choose this device:
The two great advantages of this recorder are that it's incredibly concealed, and that it can be worn higher up, so that the recorder is closer to someone speaking. The micro recorder within the scrunchie kit offers 10 consecutive hours of battery life and can pick up someone speaking at 30 feet away.
Features:
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Simple one-touch on/off switch
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10-hour battery life with 90 hours of storage
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30-foot audio pickup range
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Playback on PC/Mac headphones or smartphone with OTG cable
Wrist Band Audio Recorder
Reasons to Choose this device:
Resembling a smartband, this device can record 16 hours of continuous audio and even offers a voice-activation mode. When turned on, the recorder will start recording within a few seconds, and activation can be done without drawing any attention to the device. Best for short sleeves or rolled up sleeves, but the audio recorder can even function if a jacket sleeve is covering it. It may just sound a little muffled.
Features:
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Quick instant recording once activated
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16-hour battery life with 90 hours of storage
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40-foot audio pickup range
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Playback on PC/Mac headphones or smartphone with OTG cable
Open Frame 1080P Camera Glasses
Reasons to Choose this device:
If you naturally wear glasses, these are a great option since they can record everything you're looking at hands-free. Activating the recording can be done covertly with no indication to give away that the recording has begun. If your concern is interactions where you're in public spaces or in common rooms, then having the ability to carry a device with you is the perfect choice.
Features:
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One Touch Quick Activation
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1.5-Hour Rechargeable Battery
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1080P Video and Audio with time and date-stamped recording
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Playback on PC/Mac or smartphone with OTG cable
Video Pen Security Camera With Audio
Reasons to Choose this device:
Having a pen on your or lying around on a desk is common in most work environments, as well as having a pen poking out of a purse or small bag would fit most on-the-go situations. This video pen even offers motion activation, records audio, and can be activated by tapping the top button. It might not be the best solution for long-duration recording, but it can be a perfect tool for quick on-the-go documenting.
Features:
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One Touch Quick Activation
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1-hour rechargeable battery
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Yes, it really writes
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1080P Video and Audio with time and date-stamped recording
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Playback on PC/Mac or smartphone with OTG cable
WIFI Air Purifier Security Camera
Reasons to Choose this device:
In some cases, longer duration surveillance is needed; instances of someone coming into a space you occupy or going into places they're not supposed to be can be documented covertly with this fully functional device. This camera is also WIFI so it’s suited for environments where it can be synced with the local network, and not ideal for places where it can not. The advantage of being able to review footage remotely, or get notifications when someone triggers motion, can be a game-changer. You’ll know right when it happens and can log in live.
Features:
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WIFI camera, with remote accessibility
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Motion-activated, and can even send push notifications
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The max size SD card of 256GB can store over 200 hours of footage
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Video only
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Yes, it's a fully functional air purifier
2K Ultra Powerbank Spy Camera
Reasons to Choose this device:
It may look a little bulky, but this hidden camera is one I would highly recommend. This fully functional wireless phone charger sets up in seconds and fits in practically anywhere you would charge an iPhone. One of the biggest advantages of the device is the long duration of battery life, and it can be triggered 180 days after being set up. So if you're looking for something that can go on a desk and fits most workspaces, consider this easy-to-operate recorder.
Features:
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10-hour battery with 180-day motion-activated standby
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Can also be plugged into a USB wall adapter for power
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200 hours of video can be recorded with a 256GB SD card
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1080P HD with Night Vision
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Playback on PC/Mac or smartphone with OTG cable
Z86 Zetta Max Security Camera
Reasons to Choose this device:
This might not look like a typical hidden device, but don’t underestimate the potential. The Z86 Zetta Stick Camera is not only incredibly versatile, but it's also super easy to set up and use. In some cases, adding something like a clock or air purifier to the environment is suitable. But what about the cases where your best option is to use something already existing in the area and turn that into a camera? That's where this little device could be the perfect solution for your needs. It records video and audio, and can be triggered upon motion. For closer placement, the lens is perfect for smaller environments like cubicles while still offering a sleek covert design.
Features:
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One button activation
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1080P lens camera with invisible night vision
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Records Video and Audio
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Small and Compact
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9 Hour Battery with 25 Day Standby Motion Activation Mode
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Playback on PC/Mac or smartphone with OTG cable
Tips to get the most out of the device
Once you’ve decided on the device to work for your needs, you should always test it beforehand. Practice making small recordings with the audio recorders or body cameras, and don't be afraid to practice turning it on and off without looking. Too often do I see clients who need to use the device the same day it was purchased, and it’s always worrisome for me, since they haven't had much time with the device before needing to use it. SpyCentre has always been committed to carrying equipment that's both high quality and easy to use, but you're always in a better position once you’ve had some time to practice.
Another thing is to be proactive and not passive. One of the biggest mistakes I’ve seen many times is someone not paying attention to how loud things are being said, or how loud the environment is. Covert audio recorders are quite powerful, but they still have limitations. If you are having trouble hearing the person talk, so is the recorder. My advice is to be proactive in those situations, say things like “I can barely hear you.” or “Could you repeat that?” to get others to speak louder and capture the best results. For cameras left in environments, take lighting and angles into account. What may seem like a perfect spot at first might end up having a glare because of a light source, or not frame the full picture of the situation. Maybe the room you are trying to record in has giant windows, and the sun is backlighting the person. If you are using a stationary device, take this into account in your deployment position, and also visualise what the angle of the lens looks like. For close interactions, hidden cameras might not provide enough of a wide angle, so if you need to record the person's face, find ways to create a little distance between you to get the shot.
In movies and TV shows, they make it seem like a camera needs to be pointed at a person the whole time, but for 99% of the cases, that's not really necessary. For the majority of situations, the goal of a camera or audio recorder is confirmation of the person in question. That is most of all that is needed to prove what is happening, and then you can verbalise the situation. If someone is touching you, state, “Could you stop touching me, (name of person)?” and so on. Verbalising the situation and having the other party visibly or audibly present will prove that they are acknowledging the action.
Hopefully, these examples will give you ideas on how to maximize your results in documenting what is going on in your specific situation.
Here are some other great articles with similar topics:
How Surveillance Cameras Decrease Workplace Harassment