You know how Star Trek crews are always chatting through their computers? Well, we did just that recently on the Internet and had a blast. We chewed the fat with a cyclist in California, schmoozed with a sweetie in Spain, and passed the time with a programmer in Alaska.

There was more, not all of it mentionable in this family-friendly Web site. It was definitely an eye-opener.

We were using the new Landmark 2000 Videophone, our latest accessory for Pentium-class personal computers. The color video camera, no larger than a pack of cards, sits atop the monitor. It connects to the computer through high-speed frame- grabber circuitry (not through the printer port like some consumer-grade toys). The VDOPhone software included with the system supports point-to-point communications via direct modem connection or across the Internet. Optional software lets you capture audiovisual clips or still images to your hard disk, then incorporate them in presentations or documents, e-mail them to others, or post them on your Internet Web page.

Call your home or client and see them in true-color full motion video with high-fidelity sound. Use this system to save on long-distance bills, keep in touch with distant relatives, or chat with Internet friends.

We have found the Landmark 2000 Videophone to be superior in quality to any comparable device in its price range. Click here for a sample (G-rated) video clip (165 Kb.; about a 45-second download at 33.6 Kbaud). (Note: If the clip shows up as a still picture only, click on it once or twice to get it started.)

System Contents

The Landmark 2000 Videophone consists of a small color video camera, video capture board for the computer, software, and a microphone or headset.

Analog video camera

• Cigarette pack-sized camera with FCC Class B certification
• NTSC color, EIA standard video signal
• 1/4", 270K pixels CCD
• F=3.8, f=4.0mm lens
• Illumination range 10-10,000 lux
• Manual focus
• Auto white balance
• Auto shutter speed (1/60-1/100 second)
• Telescoping 360-degree swivel base and tripod mount
• RCA pin jack video output with 4-foot cable
• Draws power from video capture card. Consumption: 1.5 W.

Video capture card

• PCI interface
• Vertical Blanking Interval data capture
• NTSC analog input
• Video capture
• Ultralock
• Closed Caption Decoding

Software

• VDOPhone for use with point-to-point or Internet communications
• Windows 95 driver software
• Video capture software is optional.

Audio Input/Output

Your choice of . . .

Stereo headphone with boom microphone. Headphone frequency range: 20 Hz.-20 KHz. Impedance: 32 Ohms. Maximum power input: 50 mW. Sensitivity: 100 db @ 1KHz. +/- 3%. 3.5mm stereo plug and 5-foot cord. Mike sensitivity: -76dB +/- 3dB @ 1KHz. Impedance: 600 Hz. Frequency response: 100 Hz.-16 KHz. 3.5mm mono plug.

Or . . .

Unidirectional handheld or desktop electret condenser mike with sturdy base and swivel arm. Sensitivity: -52dB +/- 3dB @ 1KHz. Impedance: 1000 Hz. Signal to noise ration: 60dB (minimum). Frequency response: 100 Hz.-16 KHz. 3.5mm mono plug.

Optional at extra cost

80-watt magnetically shielded stereo speakers with bass port and built-in amplifier. Frequency response: 20 Hz.-20 KHz., +/- 2dB. Input sensitivity: 100-1000mv. Input impedance: 2K Ohms. Signal to noise ratio: 75 dB. Power switch with power-on LED and volume control. Dimensions (mm): 120d x 73 w x 185 h. Requires 117 VAC power source. $20. additional.

Minimum System Requirements

• Pentium l33 MHz. or faster computer
• 16. Mb RAM (32 Mb. recommended)
• Hard disk drive with 25 Mb. free space
• Microsoft Windows 95
• 256-color VGA card that supports Microsoft® Direct X®. Should include 1 Mb. of linear frame buffer and a hardware cursor. Graphics driver software must be based on Windows 95 and must include Direct Draw Interface (DDI) provider software. (Most contemporary PCI-based video boards meet these requirements.)
• Direct X driver installed (furnished with this system)

Payment:

We require payment of $235. US plus shipping, paid in advance. Installation available at additional cost. We accept Visa, MasterCard, and American Express. Call or write us at:

Landmark Ameri-Tech
5548 Port Royal Road
Springfield, VA 22151

Voice: (703) 321-4946
Fax: (703) 321-4947
E-mail: landmark@landmark.org

Notes: Direct X is a standard defined by Microsoft. It is an API (application programming interface) that provides a uniform method for accessing hardware such as VGA cards, sound cards, etc. DDI is an API that provides the capture card with information about the VGA card, including display buffer size, address, etc. We recommend a quality full-duplex sound card: a genuine Sound Blaster 16 or one with a contemporary ESS, Crystal, Opti, Rockwell Wave Artist, or comparable chipset. Brand names or trademarks are the properties of their respective owners. Specifications and features subject to change without notice.

url: http://www.landmark.org/videofon.html. Last update: 7-27-98.