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From: MYERSTON@SRI-KL.ARPA.UUCP
Newsgroups: mod.telecom
Subject: Picture Phones
Message-ID: <12274558222.24.MYERSTON@SRI-KL.ARPA>
Date: Wed, 28-Jan-87 12:22:06 EST
Article-I.D.: SRI-KL.12274558222.24.MYERSTON
Posted: Wed Jan 28 12:22:06 1987
Date-Received: Fri, 30-Jan-87 06:36:47 EST
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Ref Michael Grant's submission on Picture Phones.  It is my opinion that this
service is 10 years away and will ALWAYS be 10 years away.

TECHNOLOGY:  All current narrow band (less than 6MHz) systems whether digital
or analog provide MUCH less than NTSC quality full motion, full video.  NTSC
itself is not all that hot either.  The Widcom system which  send a color,
semi-motion (fast movements blur badly) does work over 56 Kbps circuits wheter
full time (DDS) or swiitched (Swictched 56). e entire bandwidth is dedicated
to video, an additional connection is required for voice.  Widcom has filed 
for Chapter 11 after being sued by Compression Labs (CLI) for patent
infringment.  AT&T is NOT marketing the product.  CLI makes a 1.5 MHz video
codec.  

ECONOMICS: Both DDS and Switched 56 are high dollar options.  Switched 56 
requires FULL TIME "tail" connections at both ends between the AT&T Class 4
switch and the customers location.  ISDN will (some day) provide two 64Kbps
channnels to the user but we are still talking reduced video unless some
breakthrough in compression occurs or some laws of physics are revoked.

CULTURE:  Do you really want to see the folks you talk to?.  Would you pay
a premium to actually SEE the guy selling home insulation?  I think it more
likely that video-phones will remain a special application for conferences
etc.

Then again, Western Union thought that Bell was crazy.  Who needs voice 
when the telegraph works so well? :-)
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