Radio age research, manufacturing, communications, broadcasting, television (1941)

Industrial Television Demonstrated Using New Vidicon Camera Tube, the New, Simple, Compact System Extends Sight for Aid to Science, Industry and Education — Can Be Adapted for Color Pictures By P. B. Reed Manager, liiduKtiUit Equipment, RCA Eiiyiiieering Products Dept. TKLEVISION'S expansion be- yond the field of entertain- ment has bejrun. Within the past few weeks, the Radio Corporation of America has presented dramatic evidence of how it can be used to extend human sight for benefits to industry, science, education, se- curity and otlier non-broadciist en- deavors. Behind the advance is the development by RCA Laboratories of the smallest and simplest tele- vision equipment ever devised. This system, first revealed to the public at the 1950 Convention of the Institute of Radio EnRineers in New York City, March G to 9, was demonstrated the following week for the New York City Department of Correction to show its effective- ness in prison security. The demonstration, presented in the City Prison of Manhattan, re- vealed the usefulness of RCA's ex- perimental industrial television sys- tem for observing' prisoners during relaxation and exercise periods, as well as at work. For the demonstration, RCA utilized three television camera chains operating in a closed circuit with monitors in the warden's office. One of the monitors was connected to a camera covering the fourth floor tier of prisun cells and showed the guard patrolling the catwalk [14 RADIO AGE] while prisoners took their morning relaxation and exercise. Another camera chain, linked to the prison laundry, picked up pris- oners at work with machines and clothing. The demonstration ended with the camera on the fourth floor monitoring prisoners as they re- turned to their cells. Development of the system in- volved two separate phases. First came the design of the remarkably small and sensitive pickup tube known as the Vidicon. The second phase involved the engineering and designing of the camera and moni- tor-control unit. All of this work was under the direction of Dr. V. K. Zworykin, Vice President and Tech- nical Consultant of RCA Labora- tories. Details were described in technical papers presented at the LR.E. Convention by Dr. Paul K. Weimer and Richard C. Webb of the Laboratories staff. Stanley \'. Forgue and Robert R. Goodrich as- sisted Dr. Weimer in developing the Vidicon, and J. M. Morgan aided Mr. Webb in the develop- ment of the over-all system. Future Uses of System Future possibilities of industrial television include the monitoring of operations from a distance, es- pecially where nearness would mean danger; the enabling of many per- sons to view a given procedure or activit.v, and the supervising or co- ordinating of a number of opera- tions from a central position. Installation of the equipment in prisons, banks, and other restricted areas could prevent episodes such as the recent robbery of the Brink vaults in Boston. By television, it is possible to monitor all personnel and visitors and literally see a thief in the act. Furthermore, the equip- ment would be valuable for identi- fication and verification purposes. It could scrutinize passes, security papers, and similar documents from a remote point. A number of re- stricted areas could be guarded by a single officer stationed at guard headquarters or some other central point. The closed circuit television sys- tem is also expected to become a powerful instrument in education, bringing great teachers into the l)resence of hundreds or thousands of students simultaneously. Medi- cal students, for example, need no longer be relegated to distant seats in the amphitheatre. Instead, through the new medium, they may be brought directl.v to the operating table. In colleges, close-up views of experiments, demonstrations, and microscopic studies ma.v be enlarged and projected instantaneously for convenience in teaching large S.MALLER TELEVISION CAMERAS, IDEAL FOR INDUSTRIAL AND EDUCA- TIONAL USES, ARE MADE POSSIBLE BY A niMINUTIVE PICKUP TUBE CALLED THE VIDICO.V.