News Archive
Thu 9 March 2006
Sony’s Intelligent Camera’s Pretty Smart
The recently launched Sony SNC-CS50P, is an Internet Protocol (IP) based network camera and the first in a new generation of Sony cameras. The ‘intelligent’ adjective is not frivolously bestowed but refers to its ability of image processing within the camera itself as well as two other main features: Intelligent Motion Detection and Intelligent Object Detection.
Intelligent Motion Detection
This feature means the SNC-CS50P can differentiate between multiple objects in motion and environmental condition, avoiding the vulnerable blind spot-creating masking done with many CCTV systems.
Intelligent Object Detection
This refers to the cameras ability to detect packages that have been abandoned and alert the control room, a task usually the sole responsibility of patrolling security guards in busy areas like airports.
As if this wasn’t enough, Sony’s new camera has dual-streaming capabilities so a high-res stream can be used and saved locally while simultaneously transmitting a low-res one to another location over potentially low bandwidth. It can broadcast wirelessly, but also supports Power over Ethernet (PoE), which makes it cheaper and quicker to install and more retrofit-friendly.
Most importantly though, forget the features and look how beautiful and white it is! I wouldn’t be surprised if burglars tried stealing it along with your white Ipod and Sonos system.
See Moat & Drawbridge for further info on Smart- Home security systems.
Wed 8 March 2006
This 100 inch monster by LG Philips claims a resolution of 6.22 million pixels putting it well over the resolution necessary to support full HDTV. It’s very unlikely that LG.Philips will release a commercial product at this size for a while, but it’s nice to see them make it for the fun of it. The ability to make a larger, one-off panel like this means that they should be able to more easily commercialise smaller displays, that’s the theory anyway.
For more info on flatscreen TVs see:
All you need to know about flatscreen TVs Part 1.
All you need to know about flatscreen TVs Part 2.
Wed 8 March 2006
Second chance saloon with the intelligent door station.
One of the main issues when designing your own Smart-Home is what to go for at the beginning and what to add on at a later date. I’m sure most of us would love to just say "I’ll have everything on the menu!" and then be done with it, but for many, blasted cashflow gets in the way of this fantasy. Overwiring and designing a system that can cater for future expansion is therefore paramount, but how about those who ignored this golden rule?! Enter the intelligent door handle, combining all the cameras, buzzers, keypads, motion detectors, RFID readers and intercoms into a wireless integrated door station. Relf Erdmann the project manager at Fraunhofer Institute who is developing this door says "The cost of conversion is very reasonable even in older buildings. It's not necessary to take out the wall beside the door, or to lay new cables." Second chance saloon indeed!
For further reading on retrofitting see Same outcome, different process
Tue 7 March 2006
Concealment and Retrofit-Friendly. BenQ's Small Wireless DLP Projector
CeBIT will be showcasing what’s hyped as the smallest wireless DLP projector yet, the BenQ CP120. At 21.59 x 17.02 x 6.1 cm, you’ll agree that it is pretty small for a projector, and it weighs just 1.13 kg. It has 1024x768 resolution and connects via the usual suspects of WiFi including IEEE 802.11 a/b/g. No pricing or ship dates are available just yet.
For further reading on retrofitting see Same outcome, different process
