What is Visual Hindsight? |
Visual Hindsight is award-winning video surveillance and
recording software for network cameras and video servers. Three separate
editions can better meet your surveillance and recording and budget
requirements. More information about network cameras and video servers is
available in this document. |
How many cameras and video servers can Visual Hindsight
handle? |
Many competitor products allow you to store only a limited
number of cameras in their product's database; with Visual Hindsight, you
can store as many cameras as you like. Professional Edition can display up
to 100 cameras, and record up to 50; Home Edition can display up to 20
cameras, and record up to 4; Viewer Edition can display up to 20 cameras.
Each Edition is network-aware; you can create one set of
camera and video server URLs that can be shared across all Editions. This
can be of interest to customers who purchase Visual Hindsight and then
resell surveillance and recording services—you can store different companies
cameras and video servers in one database (each one password protected), and
charge for surveillance and recording time. |
What do I need to use Visual Hindsight? |
Older technology, i.e. CCTV cameras, require "frame grabber"
cards and drivers that need to be purchased separately and installed into
the computer. Network cameras and video servers are self-sufficient; no
frame grabber cards or other hardware is required.
Visual Hindsight supports many different camera and video server models, as
displayed in the 'Edit / Preview URL' camera model list. If your device
appears in this list, simply select it to enable a connection. If your
device does not appear in this list, send us an e-mail with the
specifications of your particular model; if that model supports JPEG or
motion-JPEG video, chances are it will be supported by Visual Hindsight.
Visual Hindsight specifications and minimum configuration
are as follows: You'll need Windows NT, 2000, XP, or 2003 Server running on
a PIII 450 MHz PC (minimum; PIII 2.0 GHz or better recommended) at a minimum
video resolution of 800 x 600 x 16 bit, with a direct, network, or broadband
connection to camera, video server, or Web server URL. |
Video files are big and slow to download. Can I record
cameras in real-time with my dial up connection, or must it be broadband? |
We recommend a broadband connection, but the number of
cameras that can be recorded simultaneously shouldn't be affected by the
connection speed. What is affected is the number of frames per second that
are actually displayed and captured. Naturally, the faster the connection,
the more frames-per-second that can be displayed and recorded. |
Is Visual Hindsight meant for the novice or technically
advanced user? |
Both! The novice who is thinking about surveillance and
recording for their property or business can download the trial and see how
it works; 20 public URLs are provided for viewing and recording.
The advanced user who is already doing surveillance with
another product might find Visual Hindsight much less expensive to deploy,
either for their own or their customers surveillance and recording needs. |
I'd like to purchase more than one license—is special
pricing available? |
Yes, If you're uncertain which licensing option is most cost
effective for your particular needs, please contact us—we'll be glad to help
you determine the most economical price point. |
Do you offer reselling and OEM re-branding of Visual
Hindsight? |
Yes, you can resell Visual Hindsight as-is, or ask us to
create a custom version with your logo and company information. Please
contact us for terms and conditions. |
Is motion-detection recording supported? How does it work? |
Motion-detection recording is supported. Note that after
enabling motion detection, you still need to either start recording manually
or set Visual Hindsight to start recording automatically. To start recording
automatically, enable both the "Automatically Reconnect On Disconnect" and
"Start Capture Automatically On Connect" fields in the Edit / Preview URL
window. This will cause Visual Hindsight to start recording whenever a
connection is available (24 hour schedule). Once Visual Hindsight starts
recording, it will take the motion detection parameter into consideration
when deciding if a frame should be captured to disk. |
Visual Hindsight displays abnormal behavior when viewing
and recording. What gives? |
Visual Hindsight is currently NOT compatible with
Hyper-Thread enabled and multi-CPU computers. You must disable
Hyper-Threading or allow Visual Hindsight to execute in one CPU only. |
So, what's a network camera? |
A network camera, sometimes called an
Internet, IP, LAN, or (misleadingly) a Web camera, is best described as a
camera and a computer combined.
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A network camera contains everything needed
for viewing images over the network.
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It is connected directly to the network as
any other network device, and has built-in software to host a Web server,
FTP server, FTP client and E-Mail client. It includes alarm input and
relay outputs, and more advanced models can be equipped with value-added
functions such as motion detection and an analog video output.
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If a building or home is equipped with a
network, the needed infrastructure is already in place to add network
cameras, and dynamically expand when and where video can be viewed.
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A network camera can be administered and
its images viewed using a standard Web browser or dedicated software on
any computer, either locally or across the Internet.
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Network cameras equipped with PTZ (pan,
tilt and zoom) control can be manipulated using a standard Web browser or
dedicated software on any computer, either locally or across the Internet.
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If a network camera is setup to send images
to an external web server, real-time video can be seen by an unlimited
number of clients.
|
How is a network camera different from a
traditional “Web Cam”? |
Network cameras and Web Cams are NOT the same
thing—they are in fact quite different.
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A Web Cam requires three components in
order to function: the web camera itself, a computer, and dedicated
software.
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A Web Cam does not offer remote
administration and viewing.
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A Web Cam is often constructed from
low-quality components with limited durability, making it unsuitable for
serious surveillance tasks.
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Most Web Cams must be connected within
three meters of a computer.
|
What can I do with a network camera? |
Network camera technology can be used for
literally thousands of high-value, professional security and non-security
applications. Uses range from offices to retail to casinos, and extend into
monitoring manufacturing processes and web attraction. Here are a few of the
many cost-effective and highly productive applications for network cameras:
Security Surveillance:
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Network cameras are used in professional
security systems and enable live video to be viewed remotely by authorized
personnel. The network cameras are easily integrated into larger, complex
systems, but can also function as stand-alone solutions in entry-level
surveillance applications.
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Network cameras can be used for
surveillance of sensitive areas, such as buildings, casinos, banks and
shops. Video of those areas can be monitored from relevant control rooms,
at police stations and by security managers from a variety of locations.
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Network cameras are also effective
substitutes for analog cameras in traditional law enforcement
applications, such as keeping public places safe.
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Network cameras can be used for access
control. People as well as vehicles can be recorded with time stamps that
are easy to locate and review. The images can be stored in a remote
location, making it impossible to steal the information.
Remote Monitoring:
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Network cameras are easily connected to the
existing IP-network and enable real-time updates of high-quality video to
be accessible from any computer on the network. Sensitive areas such as
the server room, the reception area or any remote site can be closely
monitored in a cost-effective and simple way, over the local network or
via the Internet.
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Network cameras enhance the monitoring of a
retail location by ensuring that everything is in good order. (Quality of
Service)
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A network camera is a useful tool at the
office. Areas like the reception area, and conference rooms can be
monitored for activity. In addition, users can keep track of who has been
in the server room and take appropriate action when problems occur.
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Network cameras are useful tools for the
manufacturing industry. Monitor robots, other machines and production
lines from the office or home and allow service engineers to access the
cameras remotely. With Pan/Tilt/Zoom cameras it is possible to look at
comprehensive as well as detailed views.
Web Attraction:
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Network cameras enable high-quality, live
video to be shown to the whole Internet community. Live video is an
effective method for bringing visitors back to a Web site.
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Network camera technology can be utilized
for web attraction; that is, making web sites more dynamic and interesting
and thereby attracting more visitors to the web site. Weather cameras and
other live cameras are popular ways to build web visitor traffic. Cameras
can be mounted in a city center, at a university, on a mountain, or by the
sea to show live updated video.
|
Can I make my CCTV and analog cameras
function like network cameras? |
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Analog, or CCTV cameras, can be viewed and
manipulated over a local area network or the Internet when connected to
Video Servers.
|
So, what's a video server? |
A Video Server is a device capable of
accepting as input several CCTV or analog cameras.
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A Video Server converts analog video
streams into digital signals and transmits them over a local network or
across the Internet.
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A Video Server hosts software similar to a
network camera, and uses the same communication protocols. It can be
administered and its images viewed using a standard Web browser or
dedicated software on any computer, either locally or across the Internet.
|
So, what's motion-JPEG (MJPEG)? |
Motion JPEG (MJPEG) creates a digital video
sequence from a series of still JPEG (Joint Photographers Experts Group)
images.
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The .JPG image is the most widespread
picture compression format of today. Motion JPEG video compression is an
industry standard format that uses the "intra-frame" or "spatial"
compression technique, which means that each image within the sequence is
compressed separately.
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Compression is dived up into 8x8 blocks of
pixels within the image, and the changes applied are very specific. Image
quality is never compromised. There is no latency in the images because
the entire frame is not being processed.
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Because the M-JPEG format is an industry
standard, it is compatible with all standard office software tools. You
have easy access to individual frames from a given sequence of video.
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Image quality is not dependant on
bandwidth—what you see is what you get.
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Motion JPEG images have a consistent file
size. The amount of motion in a given sequence has no effect on the file
sizes of the images.
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Motion JPEG provides sharp, distinguishable
images that are the most frequently used in the security industry today.
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