In 1791, the English utilitarian philosopher Jeremy Bentham conceived of the architectural innovation of the panopticon as a way of achieving conformity and order within a 'humane' prison system (see Bentham 1962). The panopticon is a circular building, in which the cells of the prisoners occupy the circumference. The cells are divided from each other in such a way as to prevent any communication between prisoners. At the centre is the 'inspector's lodge' or observation tower from within which prison guards can see into every cell, without themselves being visible. The goal is the achievement of control through both isolation and the possibility of constant (invisible) surveillance.

The panopticon, as one of the 'technologies of power' of this regime, functions less through the imposition of physical force than through its ability to bring about conformity through self-regulation. As subordinates are never sure when they are being observed, they have no alternative than to assume an unwavering surveillance and hence internalise the 'normalising regime'.