Xref: utzoo rec.video:4959 comp.ivideodisc:125
Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!husc6!mailrus!ncar!boulder!uswat!comanche!bulick
From: bulick@comanche.USWest.COM
Newsgroups: rec.video,comp.ivideodisc
Subject: storage/retrieval of short video segments
Message-ID: <1261@uswat.UUCP>
Date: 21 Dec 88 19:24:52 GMT
Sender: news@uswat.UUCP
Reply-To: bulick@comanche.USWest.COM ()
Organization: U S West Advanced Technologies
Lines: 47

I am interested in recording short video sequences (2-10 minutes) for
later retrieval on demand, which means, of course, that whatever
technology I use needs some kind of accurate registration system.  I'd
like to be able to store several hours of material if possible. In
addition, the recorder/player must be remotely controllable via an
rs232 port.

The obvious choice (to a video novice like me, anyway) is some sort of
videodisc system. Since Write-Many-Read-Many technology has been
promised for years but has yet to make it out of anyone's lab, it looks
like some sort of WORM technology is the answer. I have a spec sheet
for Panasonic's TQ-3031F optical disc recorder which promises up to an
hour of motion video on 2 sides of a 12 inch disc with information
retrievable on track boundaries. Estimated cost is $18K for a
recorder/player and $3-4K for a player only. To store hours of material
I would need a recorder/player and at least another player, possibly
2. I would also have to migrate discs as they fill up. I have been
told by a dealer's rep (an admittedly biased source) that the Panasonic
unit is the only one which meets my needs.

I have also heard that Beta VCR might offer accurate enough
registration for my purpose with, of course, greatly increased access
time. However, for substantially reduced cost I could live with slow
retrieval.

My questions (finally):

Is the Panasonic unit the only choice for what I want?

Is beta a realistic alternative?

Are there any other alternatives?

As I said, I am a video novice looking for information. Any help
would be appreciated.

			Steve Bulick
			US WEST Advanced Technologies

mail addresses in order of decreasing probability of successful
delivery:

			bulick@uswest.com
			bulick%uswest@boulder.colorado.edu
			uswat!bulick
			uswat!bulick@boulder.edu
			uswat!bulick@boulder.colorado.edu