Overview
This document
provides an overview of existing video\audio technologies available
on the Internet, possible applications, and an educated guess as
to the future. While all video production is drastically cheaper
and easier than it was five years ago; it is still an emerging technology
with regards to the Internet.
Webcams
At the low end
of the video spectrum is a web cam. A typical web cam consists of
a camera, microphone, and some sort of messaging software. While
some cameras are sold as a serial device, USB cameras are highly
recommended. Some cameras come with the microphone built in, some
require a separate microphone. A good video card is not necessary
but for the microphone to work you will need a working soundcard.
The combo mic\webcam runs about $50. If you want higher quality
buy a separate web cam and microphone. The microphone is where you
should spend you extra $. ( I spent about $100 total for mine).
When you buy your web cam you can do 3 things “Out of the Box“.
You can make
very small low quality mpeg movies with audio (good for email)
You can connect into Instant Messaging systems like Yahoo, AOL,
and MSN
You can run the TRIAL VERSION OF A ‘WEBCAM’
The $100 web cam uses a ftp image upload to fake video. The camera
uploads an image every 2 seconds to a web page. The web page is
then setup to refresh every time a new image is uploaded. When you
buy your camera you get an account on someone’s server with one
of these pages. The catch is that it will only run for about 30
min before it locks the final image. If you want continuous upload
that runs about $30\month. If you have an existing broadband connection
with a static IP address the Ethernet cam is a better option.
Ethernet
cams
The next step
up is the Ethernet Cam. They run about $200-$1000. They are nicer
cameras as far as picture quality and they have true streaming.
The refresh rate is high enough where to a human it sort of looks
like real video. These cameras plug directly into a computer network
(Ethernet, RJ-45). You must have a static IP to run them over the
Internet and they do not require any monthly service charge other
than your line. The camera has its own ftp\web server built in.
Closed
Circuit TV (CCTV)
We have all
seen CCTV systems. They are the camera security systems that you
might see in an office or a museum. They can have multiple cameras,
recording features, motion, audio, and light detectors among other
things. They are much cheaper that they used to be, they are now
digital, and you can operate them remotely over the Internet, direct
dial, and VPN connections. A good 4 camera system cost about $4000
installed.
Possible
Applications
Security
PetsElderly\Child\Teenager Monitoring
Fun
Marketing
Checking Traffic over the Internet http://www.dotd.state.la.us/press/traffic_cameras/traffic.asp?page=no_cameras
The
Future
The E-Fetcher
One of the “toys”
that we would like to build is a system to play fetch with your
dog over the Internet. Basically, it would be a CCTV system where
you can see and hear your dog, your dog can hear you, and there
is a device sort of like a tennis ball machine that would shoot
a tennis ball out for a game of fetch. You could control all of
this via your PC over the Internet. The prototype would cost about
$4,000 to build. For anyone willing to finance this endeavor you
would own the prototype\demo and royalties.
Interactive
Video
As of now the
only “Interactive Video” format is Flash. Flash is more of a cartoon\animation
style that a video. We have started on the early stages of building
software to make videos with hyperlinks; a true video version of
a website.
Smart House
There are already
several vendors for smart house equipment, Vantage being the one
we recommend. They can control everything from sprinklers, TV\audio,
alarms, thermostats, and your cameras. These systems are typically
controllable remotely via phone, Internet, and other devices. Visit
www.vantageinc.com/ for more information.
Convergence
Countless integrations
of hardware over the Internet is on its way. In the industry we
like to call this convergence. Multiple hardware and software devices
being blended together into one. Eventually your “cell phone” will
run everything over the Internet is the grand vision of convergence.
Your X-box running your house would be Microsoft’s vision.
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