Reader Feedback

I just read the article about Digital CCTV Network Solutions (February 2005, p. 75). The authors sound like digital video recording was just introduced. In fact, the technology has been around for more than 10 years now.

Analog is still dominant because security is not a revenue center; it is a cost center to organizations, generally. Analog is still dominant because of the cost of conversion; because people are creatures of habit and because end users do not generally like to adopt new technologies.

I do not believe the following statement to be true. "Proprietary is simply no longer acceptable and will not stand the scrutiny of the IT department." GE is as proprietary as the next vendor. I cannot mix hardware with them or any other manufacturer, just as they cannot mix their product with mine. The software will not work.

The writers talk about MPEG-4 and putting video on networks—no good, your file sizes will cripple most networks, way too big. The article does not address the file size issue. Solution? MPEG-4-AV-10, hardware only compression.

These are a couple of thoughts I had. Most people understand that you can't believe everything one reads or sees. Consumers need to do homework, choosing carefully from the marketplace. Otherwise, they are inviting disappointment.

John M. Jennett

Business Development Manager

Digatron, Inc.

Denver, CO