Eltime Vision Systems of Maldon, Essex has launched a videofax system which enables stills from TV pictures to be sent around the world over Group III facsimile machines. The Eltime Videofax has been developed over two years to combine the existing technologies of video, facsimile transmission, and computers in a novel way. Using two plug-in cards, the digitising Image II high resolution frame store card and a high speed fax card, the system enables any MS-DOS micro to transmit and receive video pictures. Transmission is accomplished by connecting a video camera and video monitor into the Image II card, and plugging the fax card in to a standard telephone socket. The user then operates the system using a six-command menu. The frame store card digitises the images captured from the monitor, and using its 256Kb memory, converts both the pixels from a picture resolution of 256 by 256, and 64 grey levels, to the black and white dot density of the fax machine. The whole process takes three to four minutes, and has been tested with Canon, Compaq, Olivetti, Amstrad and IBM personal computers. Using the proprietary Ramases II software, the captured picture can be image processed. For example, up to 40 characters of text can be added to the picture, other pictures can be added to it, it can be drawn on, parts of the picture can be contrast stretched, and so on, with up to five pictures being stored at a time. Eltime sees the Videofax being used in medical contexts, transmitting X-rays, for research purposes transmitting microscope slides, and to aid maintenance and security through videofaxed pictures, but as yet has had no buyers. The system can also transmit pictures between MS-DOS micros using binary down a direct phone line. At present there appear to be two main limitations to the system. Firstly, it needs a direct phone line for transmission being unable to go through PABXs, and, secondly, its picture resolution is not high enough for finely detailed pictures. Both these limitations may be surmounted in future versions of the Videofax. A further problem, however, looks insurmountable, for the system will probably be rendered obsolete in two to three years time by laser technology. Nevertheless, at the moment, the Eltime Videofax, which retails at around UKP2,000 for camera, monitor, cards, and related software, offers a relatively inexpensive and time-saving way of sending stills.
