P3D Stereo Picturephone

["John N. Dukes" <Zytel-Radak@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Because I have a semi-invalid, and terrific, sister living at
the very other end of the US of A, with whom I enjoy talking
quite frequently, I just checked out and bought a pair of the 
new-for-1997 picturephones made by a company called 8x8.
These cost 325 or 450, depending if you already have a cam-
corder or other video camera to use with it.  These things are
both fun and simply amazing. The data compression is remarkable
and allows full-color video OVER A STANDARD PHONE LINE!!!
Obviously there are compromises: The resolution is by no means
NTSC, and if there is large motion the picture fuzzes out in that 
region.

But It is an absolutely wonderful way to keep in touch with distant
family and friends. (You use a TV set to see the picture, I forgot to
mention.)

Why do I send this out to the list? Well first and of course we
are visual folks. But then there is the fact that I put a beam-
splitter in front of one camera while I had the two units
connected on our two phone lines in the house, and I had a stereo
video conference with myself. Don't know if it enhanced intra-
personal communication, but it worked very well.

I have no connection with this company whatsoever, but I think 
that these things are to be very highly recommended.

Furthermore if someone on the list gets one maybe we can 
talk/vid in 3D.

John Dukes


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End of PHOTO-3D Digest 2483
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