Business screen magazine (1946)

HATCHER continued k) them — vidcorecords, of course! Generally, as far as business and industry is concerned, videorecords arc primarily and simply distribution systems — a way of disseminating a videorccord which has been originated by some other system — pre-recorded \ideorecords if you will — cither by the company itself or by some organization contracted to do it for the company. 1 dont see much prospect for general programming for the business and industry market. Under ASPIRF:. most companies feel their needs are unique and, therefore, must be satisfied by them or specifically for them. If this remains true, then it would seem to follow that the major application of a videorccord system in business and industry will be as a company-wide distribution system of programs prtv duced by or for the company. A note to general program producers: Don't dispair — remember that the users of these company systems are also consumers and, since ihe consumer market will most likely be developed through the institutional market, it may be wise for you to develop a shrewd marketing strategy that will allow you to identify these users and gain access to them. What better way to obtain consumer market demographics on a test basis, so you can have relevant and saleable programming available when the consumer market finally does break open. Freijuenlly people ask me why I chose EVR for our company. Because we needed a national distribution system of video programs in 196S, which was when we saw a demonstration of EVR, evaluated it and determined it would suit our needs. Nothing has dcNcloped since that time to change our needs or our decision. As to the future of videorecords, I would expect to see three basic systems: 1 . A device which plays back encapsulated film converting optical images into video for viewing through a standard TV receiver. Examples are EVR and announced Super 8 systems. These systems require processing between the original source and the end product and thus are more economical when used for distributing large numbers of copies of material which will remain unchanged for an extended period of time. 2. A device which plays back encapsulated magnetic tape for viewing through a standard TV receiver. While only prototypes exist today, examples demonstrated in the United States are the Sony, Ampcx, Panasonic and Avco systems. All of these systems purport to record as well as play back. However, quantity distribution of these tapes will require duplication of source material. Unless a method of high speed, low cost quantity duplication can be developed, fulfillment of these systems will be costly and tedious. At the time of this writing, there has not been any demonstration of a production model high speed duplicator in the I'nited States. These tape systems, if duplicable, will satisfy small quantity copy needs very nicely. 3. A device which plays an eight or twelve inch disc of wafer-ihin material at extremely high speeds thus producing a video picture through a standard TV receiver. This system requires processing of source material into the disc format. It would appear to be most economical where very high quantities of five or twelve minute segments of material are required. Here again only prototypes such as Teldec have been demonstrated in the United Stales. If all this seems confusing to business and industry people, there is no need to be dismayed — just keep exploring, testing and evaluating ideas and products, for one thing is certain — by the end of this decade videorecords will be as common as audii> records — and business and industry will have played a major role in making it happen. COYLE continued pulses compatible with studio-produced masters, giving them the capability of being efficiently edited into those masters and then duplicated without loss of quality. Television equipment cannot be the sole preserve of AV specialists at Headquarters if it is to reach its optimum potential as a communications tool as commonplace as the telephone. Now if this communications potential is to be realized in the future, the cartridge recorder must meet high performance specifications. At the present time, the halfinch format just can't stand tall enough. It docs not have the time bate stability necessary to dub up to one-inch for editing into studioprtxluced tapes; in addition, the economy promised by the half-inch format is largely fictional. Tape savings would be minimal and maintenance would probably be higher unless special heavy-duty versions of the basic device were designed, in addition, susceptibility to theft would be excessive for the half-inch cartridge recorder considering its attractiveness for home use. All in all. the half-inch format is less than desirable for industrial use in a fully inlegraled television system. In a playback-only situation, however, the format may be acceptable, its susceptibility to theft and its lower quality notwithstanding. In any event, the emergence of a cartridge loading video recorder signals the beginning of a new jihase for C'CTV: recorder-playback units promising lower cost, easier portability, and greater sim plicity of operation. Ihe last quality is of paramount importance to the growth of CCTV as a communications and training tix>l. for the strongest resistance to the use of a VTR comes from the non-professional user: it takes a kind of heroism for him to thread the monster and to face the crises of tracking, tension, and color adjustment. One day, perhaps twenty years from now when the problems of format and of incompatibility are ultimately resolved, it may be possible lo turn industrial house organs into l\' cartridges or video disc recordings for distribution to the homes of employees; but when that time comes, I suspect that the employee will just dial a company luimber ami get the good news on the large-screen wall attachment of his Color Picturephone. BUSINESS SCREEN