Visual pickup
A visual pickup was a monitoring device.

In 2367, Reginald Barclay created a neural scan interface that communicated his thoughts directly to the 's central processing unit. This meant much of his higher brain functions and memory were transferred to the starboard computer core while his body remained in the holodeck. 

As a result, Lieutenant Commander Geordi La Forge disconnected the visual and audio pickups inside the conference room so that the senior staff could talk privately without being monitored by the ship's computer/Barclay. ()

See also
 Visual communication

Sensor technology
Computer technology