|     
  
    |         
   
        
        
          
            |     
     
          The Evolution of Picturephone Service Some recent milestones in the development of the
              PICTUREPHONE® system are summarized pictorially on these pages(photos from The Evolution of Picturephone Service,RECORD, October
              1968).
 1956 - By this time, Bell Labs scientists had developed several
              experimental "video telephone" systems of varying size
              and appearance which offered commercial possibilities. The one
              shown here was demonstrated before the Institute of Radio
              Engineers on August 23. This was the first system to transmit and
              receive recognizable pictures over ordinary telephone wires.
 1957 - Studies and experiments continued at Bell Labs to develop
              an economically feasible videotelephone system. Experiments
              similar to the one shown here helped engineers establish such
              picture standards as resolution, contrast, and other features. By
              1959, plans were made to develop a videotelephone system
              specifically for the purpose of conducting trials.
 1963 - A complete experimental Picturephone system had been
              developed. The station set included the
              camera-receiver-loudspeaker unit and the separate combination
              telephone set-video control unit.
 1964 - The first public exposure of Picturephone service was made
              at the New York World's Fair. Visitors, selected at random, tried
              the service for about 10 minutes each. Results of interviews
              conducted at the conclusion of each trial provided valuable
              information on early public reactions to the service.
 1965 - As a result of earlier trials,
              significant equipment and operational changes were made in the
              Picturephone system. The modified equipment was used in a product
              trial begun in July 1965, in cooperation with Union Carbide
              Corporation. In December of the same year an experimental trial
              began at AT&T headquarters in New York City. In June, 1967,the trial was expanded to include three Bell Labs locations. This
              trial integrated Picturephone service with normal telephone
 service. This "corporate network" offered an opportunity
              to explore additional uses for the system, such as the feasibility
              of using the Picturephone set as an interface between man and
              computer (shown here). The computer is interrogated from a
              Touch-Tone® dial, and results are displayed on the screen. 1964
              Limited commercial Picturephone service between public locations
              in three cities-New York, Chicago, and Washington, D. C.-began on
              June .25. The service was inaugurated with a call from Mrs.
 Lyndon B. Johnson in Washington to Bell Laboratories scientist Dr.
              Elizabeth A. Wood, at the Picturephone center in Grand Central
              Terminal, New York. Robert F. Wagner, then mayor of New York, is
              seated at right.
 
 1968 - The Bell System's Picturephone "see-whileyou-
              talk" set has been redesigned to incorporate additional
              features as a result of the extensive trials. The improved
              "Mod II" set shown here is itself now the subject of
              further trials as the evolution of Picturephone service continues. |      
        
        
          
            | the
              COMMUNICATOR Vol.1·
              No.1·1969 Discovery
              through research / leadership through training of & for the
              Deaf ___________________________________________________________________   
 Mr. and Mrs.
              William Ennis and sons David (center) and John (right) of New York
              City visit via Picturephone with son Bill Jr., a student at Gallaudet
              College, Washington, D.C.
   Picturephone
              demonstration provides exciting "Experiment 
              in Communication"
 In the lobby of
              the Seventh Avenue skyscraper housing New York's. Picturephone
              Center, the guard said-to no one in particular-"Something
              must be up! Saturday mornings are usually dead around here!".
              He scratched his head as, on that particular Saturday morning,
              December 14, he watched excited knots of people heading for the
              beautifully appointed American Telephone & Telegraph
              Picturephone Center, located a few steps inside the building's
              main entrance. What the
              lobby guard soon discovered was that for one hour and a half
              that morning, AT&T had made available to the NYU Center for
              Deafness Research its Picturephone equipment for what was billed
              as an "Experiment in Communication". Similar groups of
              deaf and hard of hearing persons were assembling at Picturephone
              Centers in Washington, D. C. and Chicago in preparation for thelong-distance
              communication demonstration. Nearly 30
              persons, most of them deaf and hard .of hearing, sat before the
              Picturephone and communicated with friends and relatives in
              Chicago and Washington during the experiment. Using sign language,
              finger spelling, speech and lip reading, the participants made
              plans for the Christmas holidays, inquired after each other's
              health and, in one case, held a surprise birthday party. The
              presence of photographers and reporters, including those from The
              New York Times, added to the electricity of the occasion. Dr. Edna Simon
              Levine, Director of the N.Y.U. Center for Deafness Research,
              stated, "The demonstration showed that, for the thousands of
              deaf and hard of hearing persons in this country now cut oft from
              the use of normal telephone equipment, a new dimension for
              communications has been achieved.
              The Picturephone set, when it becomes available nationwide, can be
              used by the deaf and hard of hearing to talk with their friends
              and business associates throughout the country". During the
              "Experiment in Communication," specialists from the
              N.Y.U. Center were present to evaluate the demonstration and
              determine its usefulness in the area of deafness communication
              research. The event
              was coordinated by Mr.Bertram
              Sund, a doctoral student in the Center's Audio-communicative
              graduate program. Mr. Sund was previously a Program Coordinator
              for ABC Television. One of the
              participants who saw and spoke with her deaf sister in Chicago
              summed up the occasion for everyone by stating, "For the deaf
              and hard of hearing, this phone is absolutely fantastic!" •   Scanned from the Harry G. Lang Collection
              at  SMECC |    
 Vistaphone brochure from h g  lang collection at SMECC 
 
 
 
    May/June
      1969 -  The Second Picturephone...   an  issue
      of  Bell Labs Record  devoted to it
     |  
    |   Did I ever send you these pics I found...they were made about two years ago (possibly 2010).  Since then, my Mom has passed away, and also the older lady "at the other end of the line" just a few months ago.
 
 Alvin & Melba Browning of Florida were former church members at the church my Dad pastored in St. Louis where they had moved to from Mississippi to put their deaf son, Alvin Jr. in school there (not CID, but another deaf school...there were three schools for the deaf in St.L.)  He's the third guy you see in pics, with white beard. Alvin and I are long-time friends, and we chatted occasionally on the VP between Florida and Rochester, NY.
 
 
 This is the VP setup at my parent's house, in the upstairs apartment we used whenever we stayed there.  I had set up an office there, consisting of my computer, the VP setup, and the OJO (partially seen in one photo).
 
 
 My parents (Ed & Mildred Hewlett) are the ones whose backs of head you see...they came upstairs to talk with Alvin's parents after Alvin had called me, and said his parents were there at his house, so we arranged for the parents to chat.
 
 
 Hope this is interesting for you.
 Sal
 
 
 PS You can see me in one of the pictures, standing in background, trying to take pictures!  Need any other explanations, let me know.  The VP has it's box sitting on top of that middle TV.  The computer at left is what I worked at for emails, etc. etc.  Huge screen, yes.  I've since then given it to my brother.  The OJO is partly seen, blocked by my father's head.  He was 99 years old that time.
   
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      Home
      // Products
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      Video
           Technical Specifications Display Unit General                                                                              
      Display DC Input 12 V LCD                                                           
      Monitor 7” diagonal DC Current 1.5 A
      (Typical)                                                
      Type LCD Power Consumption 15 W
      (Typical)                                    
      Resolution 234 x 480 AC Power Adapter 100 - 240 VAC,                                       
      50/60 Hz Backlighting Yes Operating Temperature 10° to
      40°C                                       
      Viewing Angle +/-30°(h) +/-60°(v) Storage Temperature 0° to
      70°C                                              
      Camera Dimensions 15.5” x 9” x
      8”                                                      
      Image Sensor CMOS, ¼” color Weight 2.5
      lb.                                                                           
      Backlight Compensation Yes Network                                                                       Automatic Gain Control Yes Connector
      RJ-45                                                                        
      White Balance Auto Protocol
      TCP/IP                                                                         
      Speakerphone Ethernet Network Interface 100
      Base-T                                       
      Audio Processing Full Duplex Communications Standards SIP, TCP/IP, UDP, RTP                     
      Echo Cancellation Adaptive Sub-band Security SRTP, 128 bit AES                                                          
      Audio Privacy Headset Jack Call Bandwidth 150 Kbps
      (Typical)                                            
      Video 80 - 350 Kbps
      (Adjustable)                                                           
      Resolution 176 x 144 (QCIF) Audio                                                                                           
      Frame Rate 30 fps (Fixed) Compression (Video Calls) iLBC Compression H.264 Compression (Audio Calls) G.711 H.263 (Pending) Regulatory CE, CSA, CB, FCC Part 15, UL, C-UL, VCCI and C-tick (Pending)                              
       
        (PVP-900)
          Personal Video Phone
          Shadow  Redefining Video Telephony WorldGate’s unique implementation of advanced
        telephony, compression, and multimediatechnologies
        enables Ojo to produce pictures and sound that are true-to-life. The Ojo
        experience surpasses previous video
        telephony attempts by providing high-quality images and
        precise audio-video synchronization without the break-up and distortion
        normally associated with video
        phones. Quality Ojo uses the latest video and audio codecs for superior
        image quality and bandwidthefficiency.
        The 15.5” tall display unit houses a high-resolution 16:9 LCD display,
        a stateof- the-art miniature
        camera, and advanced speakerphone technology that, combined, produce
        an optimal personal video phone experience. Breakthrough Design Ojo is designed for the residential consumer and for
        small and medium businesses. A usercan
        make IP video and VoIP voice-only calls using a household’s current
        ten-digit telephone number.
        Among Ojo’s many features are an easy-to-use graphical user interface,
        picturebased caller ID, easily
        accessible video privacy controls and video messaging. Ojo’s unique
        industrial design is both stylish and
        functional. Broadband Friendly Ojo is built for the broadband industry. Thesystem
        design leverages existing cable, DSL, and
        fiber optic infrastructures. Key Features True-to-life video and audio quality Video messaging Picture-based caller ID and phonebook Use of existing household telephonenumber High-quality speakerphone with AGC and echo cancellation CE certified for many international uses Note -  Looking for more  info to add to this
      section. If you were involved with the company feel free to tell some history.  Many thanks  Ed Sharpe Archivist 
      for SMECC  info@smecc.org
 Note -  Looking for more  info to add to this
        section. If you were involved with the company
 feel free to tell some history.  Many thanks  Ed Sharpe Archivist 
        for SMECC  info@smecc.org
 |  
    | 
        Note -  Looking for more  info to add to this
      section. If you were involved with the company
          Life and Death of the Ojo Video PhoneFiled by Mari
          Silbey under Industry,
          Video,
          VoIPFeb 11
          2008 
          
 Ah, the Ojo
          Video Phone. Engadget
          posted the rumor that the phone and service have now gone kaput.
          And I can confirm it. After two plus years, the Ojo in my living room
          has finally reached the end of its run. Because I work for Motorola, I became the proud
          owner of two Ojos back in late 2005. This was right before
          Motorola gave up on the product and turned it back over to WorldGate,
          its original manufacturer. I was the coveted demographic for the video
          phone, a new parent and daughter of new grandparents, all with
          broadband connections. And despite a few hiccups here and there, we
          would have made a fantastic case study. Until last week, we used the
          Ojos regularly. My two-year-old has literally grown up seeing her
          grandparents on the phone every few days. Now it looks like we’ll
          have to default to webcams, a sorry substitute. So why didn’t the Ojo survive? There are many, many reasons. 
            No interoperability. You could only talk to an Ojo from another
              Ojo.
            An original retail price of $1,600 for a pair of Ojos, plus
              a monthly fee. (Price came way down later on)
            Timing. As widespread as broadband is, there are still quite a
              few grandparents without it or without the tech savvy to do more
              with a broadband connection than check email. Maybe in five more
              years.
            Routers. It was virtually impossible to make the Ojo compatible
              with every router on the market, which means a lot of customers
              could not get their Ojos to work at all without another new piece
              of hardware.
            Wired connection. The Ojo only worked with an Ethernet line, and
              while being tethered wasn’t a big deal (you could still move the
              Ojo around for different perspectives), finding a place to put the
              Ojo within Ethernet reach was. We ran an Ethernet cord up from our
              basement, through a vent to our living room. Some time soon I believe video will become an expected, add-on
          feature for all of our phones. And then we’ll probably hook them
          into our TVs for big-screen display. And then we’ll be able to
          interact with the video, marking up our screens like any WebEx
          presentation. And more, and more, and more. It’s all coming. Just not for the Ojo. 
           feel free to tell some history.  Many thanks  Ed Sharpe Archivist 
      for SMECC  info@smecc.org
 |  
    |  |  
    | iSight
        
        
          From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia ( with  some 
          added  photos!)
         
         
           
          
            iSight
            
              
                | iSight logo
 |  
                | Maker | Apple
                  Inc. |  
                | Type | Motion picture camera |  
                | Image sensor type | Digital CCD |  
                | Image sensor size | 1/4-inch; 640×480 resolution |  
                | Recording medium | Attached
                  to computer via FireWire |  
                | Lens | Glass, internal auto-focus lens system |  
                | Focus | Automatic (50 mm – ∞) |  
                | Shutter
                  speeds | Continuous up to 30 frame/s |  
                | F-numbers | 2.8 |  iSight
          is a webcam,
          both external and internal, developed and marketed by Apple
          Inc. The external iSight was sold retail for US$149, connected to
          a computer via a FireWire
          cable, and came with a set of mounts to place it atop any then-current
          Apple display, laptop computer, all-in-one desktop computer, or flat
          surface. Apple
          introduced iSight at the 2003 Worldwide
          Developers Conference, intended to be used with iChat
          AV, Apple's video-conferencing client. iMovie
          (version 4 and later) could also be used to capture video from the
          device. In April 2005, Apple released a firmware
          update for the iSight to improve audio
          performance. As of December 16, 2006, the external iSight was no
          longer for sale in the Apple online store or in retail locations. Meanwhile,
          Apple began using the term to refer to the camera built into Apple's iMac,
          MacBook,
          MacBook
          Air, and MacBook
          Pro computers, and Cinema
          Display. In November 2010, Apple began transitioning to calling
          them "FaceTime
          cameras". However, the term was not retired, as the
          third-generation iPad,
          the fifth-generation iPod
          touch, the iPhone
          5, the iPhone
          4S, and the iPhone
          4 all incorporate "iSight" rear cameras in addition to
          their front-facing VGA "FaceTime" cameras.  
          DesignThe external
          iSight's ¼-inch color CCD
          sensor has 640×480-pixel VGA
          resolution, with a custom-designed three-part F/2.8
          lens
          with two aspherical elements. It features autoexposure, autofocusing
          from 50 mm to infinity, and video capture at 30 frames per second
          in 24-bit color with a variety of shutter speeds. However, the iSight
          has an image delay of approximately 120 ms.[citation
          needed]. The iSight
          incorporates internal microphones
          with dual-element noise
          suppression. The actual camera only takes up one-quarter of the
          unit; the remaining space is primarily occupied by its two microphones
          and mounting socket. The iSight camera weighs 2.3 ounces (63.8 grams). It uses
          a single FireWire 400 (IEEE 1394a) cable (included) for audio, video,
          and power. Four camera
          mounts, a plastic tube carrying case, and a FireWire camera mount
          adapter are also included. The user can select the mounting bracket
          most appropriate for their monitor or other mounting surface. It is
          fully compatible with its native
          Mac
          OS X, as well as partially compatible with the Microsoft
          Windows and Linux
          operating systems. The iSight has
          a small green LED
          that illuminates when the camera is in use. It also has an iris that
          closes by twisting the front of the camera. Built-in iSight
            
                
                
                A built-in iSight on a White MacBook.
               Although
          external and internal iSights have significant differences, Apple has
          used the "iSight" name to brand its built-in video camera
          found in their MacBook,
          MacBook
          Air and MacBook
          Pro notebook computers, iMac
          desktop computers produced since late 2005 and the LED
          Cinema
          Display. While the external iSight is similar to the built-in
          iSight, the built-in iSight uses an internal USB
          2.0 interface and not the FireWire 400 (IEEE 1394a) interface used by
          the external iSight camera.[1]
          Further, the built-in iSight has a plastic lens, is fixed-focus, and
          uses a CMOS active
          pixel sensor, rather than the CCD
          used in the external iSight. With the LED-Backlit MacBook Pros, Apple
          has moved to using a sensor capable of 1280x1024 pixels. The built-in
          iSight can also be used in the Photo
          Booth application. The FaceTime cameras included with the 2011
          versions of the MacBook Pro and iMac can output high
          definition video.   |  
    | List of video
      telecommunication services and product brands
        
        
          From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
         
         
          
          This list of video telecommunication services and product brands
          is for groupings of video telecommunication services and for
          manufacturers' brands of videophones, webcams and video conferencing
          hardware and systems, all related to videotelephony
          for two-way communications with live video and audio. Descriptive names and terminology Videophone calls (also: videocalls and video chat),[1]
          differ from videoconferencing
          in that they expect to serve individuals, not groups.[2]
          However that distinction has become increasingly blurred with
          technology improvements such as increased
          bandwidth and sophisticated software
          clients that can allow for multiple parties on a call. In general
          everyday usage the term videoconferencing is now frequently
          used instead of videocall for point-to-point calls between two
          units. Both videophone calls and videoconferencing are also now
          commonly referred to as a video link. Webcams
          are popular, relatively low cost devices which can provide live video
          and audio streams via personal computers, and can be used with many software
          clients for both video calls and videoconferencing.[3] A videoconference
          system is generally higher cost than a videophone and deploys
          greater capabilities. A videoconference (also known as a videoteleconference)
          allows two or more locations to communicate via live, simultaneous
          two-way video and audio transmissions. This is often accomplished by
          the use of a multipoint
          control unit (a centralized distribution and call management
          system) or by a similar non-centralized multipoint capability embedded
          in each videoconferencing unit. Again, technology improvements have
          circumvented traditional definitions by allowing multiple party
          videoconferencing via web-based applications.[4][5]
          A separate webpage article is devoted to videoconferencing. A telepresence
          system is a high-end videoconferencing system and service
          usually employed by enterprise-level
          corporate offices. Telepresence conference rooms use state-of-the art
          room designs, video cameras, displays, sound-systems and processors,
          coupled with high-to-very-high capacity bandwidth transmissions. Typical uses of the various technologies described above include
          videocalling or videoconferencing on a one-to-one, one-to-many or
          many-to-many basis for personal, business, educational, deaf
          Video Relay Service and tele-medical,
          diagnostic and rehabilitative
          use or services. New services utilizing videocalling and
          videoconferencing, such as teachers and psychologists conducting
          online sessions,[6]
          personal videocalls to inmates
          incarcerated in penitentiaries, and videoconferencing to resolve airline
          engineering issues at maintenance
          facilities, are being created or evolving on an on-going basis. The products below are listed by their normal and intended
          purpose, even though their names or descriptions may differ from the
          categories shown here (refer to terminology within general article
          pages).  Hardware
          and related product brands
            
                
                
                Worldgate Ojo PVP-900 broadband
                videophone from 2005, notable for its vertical styling and
                the cordless handset resting on the support arm for its
                'portrait' type display.
                -  Videophone
          hardware brands for person-to-person (point-to-point) useStand-alone videophones are point-to-point units not
          employing Multipoint
          Control Units (centralized distribution and call management
          systems). Earlier models make video calls utilizing older analogue
          POTS
          telephone lines, while later models use newer, higher quality, ADSL,
          ISDN
          or cable broadband technologies. Some videophones also employ Internet
          calling (IP)
          capabilities which can dispense with the need for telephone service. 
            ACN:
              IRIS (United States)
            D-Link:
              DVC series (Taiwan)
            HP:
              Halo Telepresence Solutions (United States)
            Leadtek:
              IP broadband videophone (Taiwan)
            LifeSize:
              LifeSize Passport Connect, LifeSize Passport & LifeSize
              Express (United States)
            LG-Nortel:
              LVP series PSTN, ISDN and IP videophones (South Korea)
            Polycom:
              VVX1500 and VVX500 Business media phones (United States)
            Radvision:
              Video Conference Systems (Israel)
            Tandberg:
              E20
              (Norway)
            Telio:
              Telio videotelefon IP3870 (Norway)
            Worldgate:
              Ojo PVP series (United States)  -  Videoconferencing
          and telepresence hardware systems meant for multiple participants
            
                
                
                A Teliris VirtualLife high resolution
                telepresence system in use (Courtesy of: Teliris)
                Note -  Looking for more  info to
                add to this section. If you were involved with the company feel
                free to tell some history.  Many thanks  Ed Sharpe Archivist 
                for SMECC  info@smecc.org  
               
            
                
                
                Applying telepresence to education: a
                professional development expert in Colorado,
                U.S. uses telepresence to coach a teacher in Utah during
                research for Project thereNow
               Video conferencing systems allow multiple
          participants by use of a Multipoint
          Control Unit (a centralized distribution and call management
          system) or via a similar non-centralized multipoint capability
          technology embedded in each unit. Some multiple party systems utilize
          Web-based bridging service providers, which can incur slight
          time delays. 
            Aethra:
              X-Line series (Italy)
            AVer: HVC330, H300 (Taiwan)
            BrightCom: Lumina Telepresence (United
              States)
            Cisco
              Systems: Cisco
              TelePresence (United States)
            HP:
              Halo (United States)
            IOCOM:
              Visimeet (United States)
            LG-Nortel:
              LVP series PSTN, ISDN and IP videophones (South Korea)
            Librestream:
              Onsight (Canada)
            LifeSize:
              LifeSize Team, LifeSize Room & LifeSize Conference
              (United States)
            Magor: HD-Duo, HD-Trio (Canada)
            Panasonic:
              VC500 (Japan)
            Polycom:
              RPX, OTX, ATX, HDX, VSX series (United States)
            Polycom:
              VVX (United States)
            Radvision:
              Scopia systems (Israel)
            Sony:
              PCS systems (Japan)
            Tandberg:
              T3 Telepresence (Norway)
            VeaMea: VeaMea Streaming Server & VeaMeaUC
              (United States)
            Vidyo:
              VidyoRoom & VidyoDesktop (United States)  -  Videoconferencing
          hardware systems meant for the deaf, hard-of-hearing, telemedical and
          other institutional services
            IOCOM:
              Visimeet (United States)
            IVèS: Total conversation solution (video, voice
              and real-time
              text) for Video Relay Services (VRS), Video Remote
              Interpreting (VRI), Text Relay and telemedecine.
            Librestream:
              Onsight (Canada)
            Mirial
              s.u.r.l.: PSE Video Contact Center, comprehensive solution for
              remote audio and video contact services
            Polycom:
              Practitioner Cart, HDX Immersive Telemedicine Education systems
            VeaMea (United States)  -  Videoconference
          bridging service providers -  Webcam
          hardware brands for use on personal computers
            
                
                
                A pre-2006 Apple iSight webcam, with software
                drivers written specifically for Apple's operating systems
                -  Software
          clients –general brands -  Software
          clients –free instant messaging video programs -  Software
          clients for deaf and hard-of-hearing VRS/VRI facilities -  Server
          Software -  Section
          2: Video telecommunication services listing -  Video
          telecommunication services for the deaf and hard-of-hearing
            See also: Video
              Relay Service –Worldwide deployment for tables of VRS
              service providers in Brazil, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany,
              Italy, Russia, Spain, United Kingdom, United States and other
              countries.  -  Medical
          organizations employing video telecommunications -  Public
          videoconferencing facilities
            ACT Proximity Conferencing: Conference rooms with
              videoconferencing.
            Eye Network Global Videoconference Services:
              Video Conferencing facilities.
            FedEx
              Office: formerly FedEx-Kinko's. Conference rooms with
              video conferencing.
            Marriott
              Hotels: conference rooms with video conferencing.
            Regus Offices: conference rooms with video
              conferencing.
            WHYGO Video Conferencing: Video Conferencing
              Facilities.  -  Section
          3: Defunct brands & servicesBrands, manufacturers and other services listed
          here are no longer in production or no longer exist, and are listed
          for historical or research purposes.  -  Defunct
          videophone brands -  Defunct
          videoconferencing system brands
            IBM
              Person to Person, a software-only collaborative
              conferencing system interoperable between OS/2, Windows and AIX
              developed and marketed between 1991 and 1995.[7]  -  See
          also -  References
            
              ^
                PC Magazine. Definition:
                Video Calling, PC Magazine website. Retrieved 19 August
                2010,
              ^
                Mulbach, 1995. Pg. 291.
              ^
                Solomon Negash, Michael E. Whitman.
                Editors: Solomon Negash, Michael E. Whitman, Amy B. Woszczynski,
                Ken Hoganson, Herbert Mattord. Handbook
                of Distance Learning for Real-Time and Asynchronous Information
                Technology Education, Idea Group Inc (IGI), 2008, pg. 17, ISBN
                1-59904-964-3, ISBN
                978-1-59904-964-9. Note costing: "....students had the
                option to install a webcam on their end (a basic webcam costs
                about $40.00) to view the class in session."
              ^
                Lawson, Stephen. Vidyo
                Packages Conferencing For Campuses, IDG News Service,
                February 16, 2010. Retrieved via Computerworld.com's website,
                February 18, 2010
              ^
                Jackman, Elizabeth. New
                Video Conferencing System Streamlines Firefighter Training,
                Peoria Times, Peoria, AZ, February 19, 2010. Retrieved February
                19, 2010;
              ^
                USA Today. "Video Chat
                Growing by Light-Year Leaps", USA
                Today, March 31, 2010, p. L01d.
              ^
                Straits
                Times newspaper clip about P2P from 1993  -  Further
          reading
            Bajaj, Vikas. Transparent
              Government, Via Webcams in India, The
              New York Times, July 18, 2011, pg.B3. Published online: July
              17, 2011.
            Davis, Andrew W.; Weinstein, Ira M. The
              Business Case for Videoconferencing, Wainhouse Research,
              March 2005.
            Hoffman, Jan. When
              Your Therapist Is Only a Click Away, The
              New York Times, September 25, 2011, pg. ST1. Also published
              September 23, 2011 online at www.nytimes.com.
            ProAV Magazine. Being
              There ProAV Magazine. 7 November 2008.
            Saint Louis, Catherine. With
              Enough Bandwidth, Many Join The Band, The
              New York Times, January 10, 2012 (online), January 11, 2012
              (in print, New York Edition, pg. A1). Retrieved online January 11,
              2012. Synopsis: a look at the pros and cons of videotelephony used
              for private, individual, music lessons.   |  
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    | PictureTel Corp. History
        
        
        
        (Historical data)
       
        
          Address:
          
            100 Minuteman RoadTelephone: (978) 292-5000
          Toll Free: 800-716-6000
          Fax: (978) 292-3300
          
          Website: www.picturetel.comAndover, Massachusetts 01810
 U.S.A.
 
          Public CompanyIncorporated: 1984 as
          PicTel Corp.
 Employees:
          1,544
 Sales: $466.4 million
 Stock Exchanges:
          NASDAQ
 Ticker Symbol:
          PCTL
 SICs: 3669 Communications Equipment, Not Elsewhere
          Classified; 7372 Prepackaged Software
 
         Company Perspectives:The Mission of PictureTel is to be the worldwide leader in providing
      high-quality visual collaboration solutions that enable our customers to
      meet and work effectively and productively at a distance--anywhere,
      anytime. 
       Company History:PictureTel Corp. is the world's leading manufacturer of video
      communications systems for use over conventional or high-speed telephone
      lines. The company offers several
      systems, including relatively inexpensive models that provide audio/visual
      surveillance, more complex models that enable personal computer (PC) users
      to view each other on their computer screens, and complex multipoint
      systems that allow people in several locations to communicate at once. Origins The concept of video communications emerged during the 1960s, when
      American Telephone and Telegraph Company (AT&T)
      developed a telephone capable of sending a series of snapshots simulating
      motion over its lines, which were then displayed on an accompanying video
      screen. The device originally was intended for use in residential markets,
      but when market research indicated that users were uncomfortable with the
      idea of being seen during telephone conversations, plans to continue with
      the development of the "picture telephone" were stalled. Video communications would later have more practical applications in
      the business community, which welcomed less costly and time-consuming
      alternatives to the travel involved in corporate meetings. In the 1970s
      AT&T again tried to exploit its video network by establishing studios
      in major cities, where video communications were made available to
      businesses for a rental fee. The costs involved in operating the system,
      reflected in the rental fees, proved exorbitant, however, discouraging
      demand for the service. Opportunities for companies other than AT&T to
      develop and manufacture video communications systems were limited during
      this time, as the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) imposed
      regulations and specifications for
      equipment that interconnected with the public telephone network. In 1984,
      however, with the divestiture of AT&T, barriers to entry in the
      telephone equipment market came down. Improvements in video
      communications were also contingent on modifications to the country's
      telephone network system. Designed only for voice communication,
      conventional telephone lines had an extremely limited bandwidth that
      provided only a narrow frequency range; for proper transmission, video
      images required enormous bandwidths. The development of digital
      electronics technology helped overcome this problem. Digital electronics
      created more data transmission space by using algorithms to replace
      repetitive or superfluous signals with simpler, shorter codes,
      a process known as data compression. Two experts in this technology were Brian L. Hinman and Jeffrey G.
      Bernstein, long-time friends and colleagues in the electrical engineering
      graduate studies program at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
      during the 1970s. At MIT, Hinman and Bernstein focused on the science of
      image processing through visual data compression, gaining valuable
      technological guidance from their faculty advisor, Dr. David Staelin. The
      three conceived of a plan to develop and market a line of video
      communication devices based on a 56-kilobit per second translating
      interface, or "codec," they had assembled. This system would
      allow images to be sent over telephone wires. Hinman, Bernstein, and Staelin gained financial backing from Robert
      Sterling, an entrepreneur specializing in high-technology ventures, and
      the PicTel Corporation was formed on August 13, 1984. PicTel established a
      corporate office and laboratory in Peabody, Massachusetts, where work
      commenced on software and hardware for the 56-kilobit per second codec. The company drew its management
      team from some of the country's most prominent corporations. Robert
      Bernardi and Dr. Norman Gaut were recruited from companies in
      Massachusetts' high-tech industrial corridor. Dr. Ronald Posner, former
      head of the Harris Corporation's satellite division, became president and
      CEO, and Thomas Spaulding, formerly of Multilink, Inc., became chief
      financial officer. Before it had even developed a product, the company went public on
      November 8, 1984, selling 2.2 million shares at $2 per share. On December
      4, the company's underwriter, S.D. Cohn & Company, purchased 330,000
      shares, reflecting growing confidence in PicTel's project. Product
      development continued through 1985 without a single sale. Early in 1986,
      however, PicTel developed its MCT algorithm, which reduced the bandwidth
      necessary for transmission of an acceptable video image from 768 kilobits
      per second to just 224. Further Technological Developments in the Late 1980s In July the company introduced its first product based on the MCT
      algorithm, a software-based codec called C-2000. Although the device's
      applications were limited, few other companies were as far along with this
      technology as PicTel, and work continued on improvements in the product
      through 1987. During this time, the company changed its name to PictureTel
      to better reflect its focus on picture transmission and to distinguish its
      name from the technical term "pixel," which referred to the
      picture elements in a video image. In 1988 PictureTel developed a new
      image coding system, called hierarchical vector quantizing, which
      required a bandwidth of only 112 kilobits per second, a rapid rate made
      possible by the system's ability to weed out redundant image
      transmissions, or those that reflected little or no movement. The company
      also introduced two new products that year: the C-3000 video codec and the
      V-2100 videoconferencing system. The C-3000 was compatible with the C-2000
      and performed as well as any competing system on the market, at half the
      price and half the size. The V-2100 system was enclosed in a wheeled
      cabinet that enabled users to set up a video conference from any room that
      was properly wired. In January 1989, AT&T chose PictureTel as the equipment vendor for
      an international video conference it held. The demonstration provided
      two-way, full-motion voice and video connection between PictureTel
      headquarters and an AT&T office in Paris. Other PictureTel
      demonstrations followed, including one for its remote-control V-3100
      videoconferencing system and another that featured the Px64, which allowed
      PictureTel systems to be connected to those developed by other
      manufacturers. By the close of 1989, PictureTel had shipped more than 70
      percent of the videoconference systems in use throughout the world. While
      the company's revenues tripled between 1987 and 1988, to $18.6 million,
      PictureTel had yet to turn a profit. Several other product extensions were introduced in 1990, incorporating
      larger monitors and more rugged construction. PictureTel developed a
      one-way transmission system for surveillance use, enabling security groups
      to monitor remote locations through inexpensive, simple telephone
      connections. The company's Software Generation 3 system provided better
      picture quality and seven kilohertz of audio bandwidth at the same
      112-kilobit per second switched data rate. By marketing entire video
      systems, rather than just the codec devices, PictureTel reaped a larger
      margin on each system sale. Shipments of videoconferencing systems
      increased by 40 percent over 1989, to 770 units. Revenues increased a
      further 99 percent over the previous year, to $37 million. In January 1991, PictureTel introduced a new family of
      videoconferencing systems under the System 4000 name. The line included
      four models, ranging from small consoles to large conference room devices.
      System 4000 included a proprietary audio technology called Integrated
      Dynamic Echo Cancellation (IDEC), which helped prevent feedback that could
      produce annoying echoes. The System 4000 became PictureTel's flagship
      product line. At two-thirds the cost of competing systems, it also had
      considerable demand. PictureTel's primary customer base consisted of large corporations with
      offices in multiple locations. These customers laid out in excess of
      $20,000 for each system and also paid for the special switched data links
      necessary to form a network. Although a substantial investment, the
      PictureTel videoconferencing system could pay for itself in as little as a
      year. Executives who formerly convened in person, incurring substantial
      airline and hotel costs, could now meet in the comfort and convenience of
      their own offices. 1991: Partnership with North Supply By 1991, however, PictureTel had nearly exhausted its market among the
      large Fortune 500 companies that could afford such a system, and the
      company began making efforts to boost sales of videoconferencing equipment
      to smaller companies. Key to this effort was a marketing partnership with
      North Supply. Under the terms of the agreement, PictureTel products were
      sold through North Supply dealerships. The company soon introduced a new
      low-cost product line, which could be used by companies of modest means or
      added to enhance existing networks. In April 1991, with investor enthusiasm in the company running high,
      PictureTel issued another 2.3 million shares, raising more than $40
      million in equity capital. In September, PictureTel introduced its M-8000
      multipoint bridge, a device that enabled users to conduct as many as eight
      simultaneous videoconferences among 16 users. Although PictureTel led the industry in videoconferencing technologies,
      it remained a small company with limited marketing resources. To increase
      its capital, PictureTel established a joint marketing agreement with IBM,
      which welcomed the opportunity to leverage PictureTel's products into its
      own flagging line of computer products. As an IBM "multimedia
      business partner," PictureTel provided full-motion color video
      technologies that enhanced IBM's personal computers, allowing
      videoconferences to be conducted from individual work stations. PictureTel
      ended the year with record earnings, due primarily to the success of the
      System 4000 product line. Reporting a profit for each quarter, the
      company's revenues grew to $78 million and net income reached $6 million. PictureTel sealed another series of important joint marketing
      agreements in January 1992. In one agreement, AT&T agreed to handle
      sales and service of an AT&T videoconferencing product based on
      PictureTel technology. A separate arrangement was established under which
      Bell Atlantic's seven telephone companies would directly handle sales and
      service of PictureTel products. The company also established a Japanese
      subsidiary to handle sales of videoconferencing products in Japan. A month
      later, the company finalized similar agreements with Mercury
      Communications in the United Kingdom, as well as with the U.S.
      telecommunications corporation Sprint. PictureTel videoconferencing
      technologies also were marketed as part of the Lotus Notes software
      application. Total revenue for 1992 exceeded $141 million, net income grew to $10.7
      million, and shipments numbered more than 2,850 units, marking a second
      year of profitable operation for PictureTel. With such success in the
      marketplace, however, PictureTel showed signs of vulnerability to price
      competition from such rivals as Vtel Corporation and Compression Labs. To
      prevent losses, PictureTel reduced prices on its System 4000 family by 20
      percent and introduced an entry level product called the Model 150E.
      Priced at $18,500, the system could be leased for only $500 per month,
      making videoconferencing affordable for even the smallest and lowest
      margin businesses. Other low-cost videoconferencing products included the
      new PictureTel LIVE, PCS 100 desktop, and System 1000 lines, all of which
      were compatible with international standards and, therefore, operable with
      any standard-based system. In an effort to enhance its existing product line, PictureTel acquired
      KA Teletech, a Baltimore-based developer of scheduling, reservation,
      accounting, and network management software for the videoconferencing
      industry. The enterprise was relocated subsequently to PictureTel
      headquarters in Danvers, Massachusetts. During this time, PictureTel launched its first national advertising
      campaign, featuring such taglines as: "Over 70 percent of dial-up
      videoconferences are PictureTel. Get the Picture?"; "This isn't
      an ad for videoconferencing. It's a wake-up call"; and "We don't
      move people, we move ideas. And ideas are what move companies." 1993: PC-Based Videoconferencing At the close of 1993, PictureTel unveiled a new product that converted
      PCs into videophones. Regarded as substantially higher in quality than a
      competing system from AT&T, the PictureTel product sold for $6,000, or
      $1,000 more than the AT&T model. The year 1993 also saw the company
      ship its 10,000th group videoconferencing system. PictureTel was ranked
      the 11th fastest growing company in the United States by Fortune
      magazine, up from 14th on the list the year before. In 1994 the company continued to add new products and cut prices. It
      slashed the price of its PC-based desktop videoconferencing system almost
      in half to compete with Intel's ProShare line. PictureTel expected to come
      out on top in sales, as its system offered noticeably better picture
      quality. The company also announced new strategic alliances with a number
      of major corporations, including Compaq. Sales for the year were $255
      million. PictureTel reached several milestones in 1995, including conducting, in
      April, the world's largest multipoint, global dial-up videoconference.
      Conducted from New York's Hudson Theater, more than 50 sites dialed in for
      the hour-long demonstration. The company used the opportunity to unveil
      two new group videoconferencing systems and a new network server. The cost
      of renting phone lines for the event was $4,400, as compared with $160,000
      for satellite linkup costs that other types of systems would have
      required. PictureTel's stock price was fluctuating wildly during this
      time, reaching $45 in April and $73 in November, with several ups and
      downs along the way. The company announced plans to move its headquarters
      from Danvers to Andover, Massachusetts, consolidating most of its
      operations under one roof. Sales Slump in the Late 1990s Competition from a number of different companies, particularly Intel,
      were eroding PictureTel's profits, however, as the company was forced to
      continually lower prices to compete. With 15 to 20 percent of the
      company's revenues now coming from its desktop systems, PictureTel's stock
      began to slip, even as the company posted record revenues and profits for
      1996, as investors became wary of "Intel overhang." In 1997 the
      company began to see sales and earnings drop, and it went through a
      restructuring to eliminate unprofitable operations. The company reported
      earnings of $466 million with a net loss of $39 million. To compound this
      bad news, figures for 1996 had required downward revision, as significant
      errors in the accounting of sales and lease payments were discovered. A
      number of shareholder lawsuits resulted. Despite these problems, PictureTel announced the acquisition of
      Andover-based audioconferencing pioneer MultiLink, Inc., as well as an
      expansion of the company's Japanese partnership with Nippon Telegraph and
      Telephone Corp. The company still held a majority of the global market in
      both the large "boardroom size" and smaller desktop
      videoconferencing systems. Sales were still down in early 1998, and PictureTel announced layoffs
      in January. The company's stock was now trading at less than $10 a share.
      PictureTel had seen a number of top executives depart in the previous
      year, and in March CEO Norman Gaut left, to be replaced by Bruce Bond.
      Bond began immediately to take measures to right the ship. In July the
      company announced the acquisition of Starlight Networks, Inc., a streaming
      media technology company. Streaming media systems were used to send audio
      and video feeds over the Internet to multiple recipients. PictureTel was
      moving toward more Internet-based products, including
      "on-demand" services, which offered recorded programs that could
      be accessed from a central server when needed. In January of 1999, PictureTel announced a major deal with Intel, in
      which the company would collaborate with its rival to jointly develop and
      distribute products. The chip maker invested $30.5 million in PictureTel,
      making it a ten percent owner of the company. In making this deal
      PictureTel was finally getting a leg up to the stability and growth that
      it had been seeking. It was still likely to remain a bumpy road because of
      the rapidly changing technology and competitive marketplace, but the
      combination of PictureTel's inherent strengths and the clout of industry
      giant Intel was a potent one. As the new century dawned, PictureTel
      appeared to be in its strongest position to date. Principal Subsidiaries: Multilink, Inc.; Picturetel
      Securities Corp.; PictureTel AG (Switzerland); PictureTel Japan K.K.
      (Japan); PictureTel GmbH (Germany); PictureTel UK Ltd. (United Kingdom). Further Reading:
        Ackerman, Jerry, "President Is Leaving PictureTel,"
          Boston Globe, October 1, 1997, p. D1.Bulkeley, William M., "PictureTel To Introduce $6,000 System to
          Make PCs Work as Video Telephones," Wall Street Journal,
          July 16, 1993, p. B8.Clark, Tim, "PictureTel Sharpens Brand Image,"
          Business Marketing, June 1993, p. 33.Higgins, Steve, "Leaders & Success: PictureTel's Norman
          Gaut--Trying To Minimize Whatever Is Extraneous to Success,"
          Investor's Business Daily, May 16, 1995, p. A1.McCloy, Andrew P., "PictureTel, Intel Fight for Home Video
          Market," Boston Business Journal, June 28, 1996, p. 3.Nutile, Tom, "On State Street: PictureTel's Stock Rockets to
          $72.50 a Share," Boston Herald, November 9, 1995, p. 49."PictureTel, AT&T Vie for Videoconferencing Growth,"
          Electronic News, May 17, 1993, p. 15."PictureTel Shrinks Size and Price of Video-Conferencing
          Suite," PC Week, July 20, 1993.Purdy, Janet, "The New America: PictureTel
          Corp.--Videoconferencing Firm Back to Full Color," Investor's
          Business Daily, July 14, 1995, p. A4."Videoconferencing: Going Prime Time?," PC Week,
          May 25, 1998, p. 124. Source: International Directory of Company
      Histories, Vol. 27. St. James Press, 1999. Note -  Looking for more  info to add to this
      section. If you were involved with the company feel free to tell some history.  Many thanks  Ed Sharpe Archivist 
      for SMECC  info@smecc.org
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