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Placing a linked portal underneath a camera will cause it to be detached, followed by a warning (only in Portal) from GLaDOS, in which she refers to the camera as a "vital testing apparatus."
In Portal 2, GLaDOS revealed that the cameras were originally used to capture moments of intense pain and agony in test subjects, and that these photos could be purchased for 5 dollars if the subject survived, but were given to the next subject for free if the previous one died. However, the cameras were repurposed when GLaDOS realized that the photos weren't popular enough.
In Portal, the camera's main lens is a mild orange color with a brown shade in it, and resembles an eye like the cameras found on turrets.
The cameras can rotate 360 degrees, and they follow the players' movements within Test Chambers. Also as well as its main video camera, the security camera has a sensor on its side.
Not a single security camera is featured in any of the maintenance areas or observation rooms of Aperture Laboratories, and it is therefore unknown how, or even if, GLaDOS can monitor Chell's movements during her escape in Portal. Her calls through the Speaker System do not strongly connote that she is able to monitor the escape.
In the Turret Manufacturing department, one of GLaDOS' cameras was attached to a Multitasking Arm. This ceiling-constricted mobile camera was used in scanning the quality of a Sentry Turret when compared to a template Turret. This method of holding cameras was then reused at the beginning of the cooperative campaign, in the Calibration Course. However in co-op, it utilizes the Portal 2 version of the security cameras instead, unlike the Turret Manufacturing camera which uses the Portal equivalent.
Behind the scenes[]
As seen in an early Portal screenshot, a security camera model from Counter-Strike: Source was used during development as a placeholder to the final model.
Taunt GLaDOS in front of a camera in each of the five co-op courses.
Trivia[]
As seen on ApertureScience.com, the image of the security camera feed is green, despite its lens being red.
Several detached security cameras can be found in Rattmann Dens, along with the message "She's watching you."
One of the unknown Aperture Science employees in Portal 2: Lab Rat states that the cameras, in fact, contain cameras inside them (although this statement may have been a paranoid delusion of Doug).
Console-spawned cameras do not look at the player, no matter what.
The cameras are "inactive" (looking down) until the player enters the test chamber.
In Portal, the camera's heat sensor is on the top, while in Portal 2, it is on the bottom.
In Portal 2, if you place the camera in a certain area of the portal, the lens will become brighter and sometimes even turn green.
If they can, the cameras will stare at Chell through portals.
Gallery[]
Screenshots[]
Pre-release[]
Early Test Chamber 00, with placeholder Half-Life 2 props, and a Counter-Strike: Source placeholder security camera.
The test chamber 00 seen through a security camera, as seen on ApertureScience.com.