Camera K3911 is a new generation IP camera which Compucon has taken a lot of time to test or verify its features and performance levels. The most unique feature of this camera is its 180 or 360 degrees vision depending on how we define the angle. If we mount the camera on the ceiling of a hall or office, it will see the entire space and this is 360 degrees looking down from a point on the ceiling. If we mount the camera on a side wall of the hall or office, it will see the space in front of it but not behind it. This is 180 degrees. While ceiling installation serves some purposes such as in a restricted space (such as in a bank lobby), wall mounting would give the user better coverage of a good quality. We will explain this a bit further below. Also, the centre of the image is normally the focus. When we mount the camera on a wall, we should tilt the camera slightly towards the floor at human height level. Therefore, we recommend a wall mount base with a 15 degrees tilt angle.
The second key feature of this camera is its 4MP (megapixel) resolutions. Images can be taken at 2030 x 1920 and 6fps (frames per second) or 1920 x 1080 and 12fps. The maximum resolutions are 3 times of 1.3MP IP camera and 9 times of standard analogue camera on VGA (800 x600). However, we do not recommend paying total reliance on resolutions for clarity. This camera will not be as good as 3x 1.3MP or 9x VGA cameras because the edge of the image is distorted in the same way as we press the Earth onto a sheet of paper. The central part of the image is best and can be used for facial recognition but the edge would be good for providing the state of affairs only. As such this camera model is priced for 1.5 times of a 1.3MP camera of equivalent quality and features.
This camera has an automatic Infrared Filter cut-off mechanism for improving the quality of the image when the illumination conditions of the space being watched are not good. It will stay capturing images in colour down to 2Lux (this is a pessimistic estimation than 1.6Lux the manufacture specified), and turned the image to black and white until 0.5Lux which is pretty dark (manufacturer specified 0.06Lux). It will respond to infrared illumination if it exists. However, it does not have built-in infrared emitters in the camera. Also it does not have passive IR detector tuned for human body temperature. We tested it with an external IR illuminator in total darkness, and the camera did record the surrounding clearly in black and white.
This camera is equipped with a Micro SD card for storage of images in the camera. We will test this feature soon to confirm how well it works.
Since the resolutions of the image are so high, the bandwidth of transmission will be high and the storage requirements will be high. Certainly we will apply Motion Detection to reduce the loading on transmission and storage. We have to select the specific areas within the fisheye view for motion detection or else we would expect high traffic if we consider the entire view as one area. This camera supports a breakdown to up to 6 smaller areas and this helps. Also, this camera supports recording of a single area which has detected motion and not the entire view. This latest feature will reduce loading on transmission and storage very substantially. We will test this feature soon to confirm how well it works.
There is yet another feature of the camera not commonly present. It is called privacy mask. We can mask off up to 4 areas of the view for privacy reasons, and applied red, green, blue or black to each mask for ease of identity.
The most powerful feature of this model CAK-3911 is the Motion Detection Preset mode. By this mode it is possible to let the camera capture and stream out only the region that is currently activated by a moving object. As the object moves around the room, the camera will be able to track the person by switching the view automatically according to the location of the moving object. (Note: This paragraph is a design feature. We will test and verify it in July 2012)
Key Features
1/2.5” Progressive Scan CMOS
Day and night function with mechanical IR cut filter
Minimum illumination 0.05 lux at F2.8
180°/360° panorama and ePTZ view
Built-in f1.05 mm / F2.8 Megapixel Fisheye lens
6 fps at 2032 x 1920 resolution
Selectable H.264, MPEG-4 SP, MJPEG compressions with dual streaming
Camera K3911 is a new generation IP camera which Compucon has taken a lot of time to test or verify its features and performance levels. The most unique feature of this camera is its 180 or 360 degrees vision depending on how we define the angle. If we mount the camera on the ceiling of a hall or office, it will see the entire space and this is 360 degrees looking down from a point on the ceiling. If we mount the camera on a side wall of the hall or office, it will see the space in front of it but not behind it. This is 180 degrees. While ceiling installation serves some purposes such as in a restricted space (such as in a bank lobby), wall mounting would give the user better coverage of a good quality. We will explain this a bit further below. Also, the centre of the image is normally the focus. When we mount the camera on a wall, we should tilt the camera slightly towards the floor at human height level. Therefore, we recommend a wall mount base with a 15 degrees tilt angle.
The second key feature of this camera is its 4MP (megapixel) resolutions. Images can be taken at 2030 x 1920 and 6fps (frames per second) or 1920 x 1080 and 12fps. The maximum resolutions are 3 times of 1.3MP IP camera and 9 times of standard analogue camera on VGA (800 x600). However, we do not recommend paying total reliance on resolutions for clarity. This camera will not be as good as 3x 1.3MP or 9x VGA cameras because the edge of the image is distorted in the same way as we press the Earth onto a sheet of paper. The central part of the image is best and can be used for facial recognition but the edge would be good for providing the state of affairs only. As such this camera model is priced for 1.5 times of a 1.3MP camera of equivalent quality and features.
This camera has an automatic Infrared Filter cut-off mechanism for improving the quality of the image when the illumination conditions of the space being watched are not good. It will stay capturing images in colour down to 2Lux (this is a pessimistic estimation than 1.6Lux the manufacture specified), and turned the image to black and white until 0.5Lux which is pretty dark (manufacturer specified 0.06Lux). It will respond to infrared illumination if it exists. However, it does not have built-in infrared emitters in the camera. Also it does not have passive IR detector tuned for human body temperature. We tested it with an external IR illuminator in total darkness, and the camera did record the surrounding clearly in black and white.
This camera is equipped with a Micro SD card for storage of images in the camera. We will test this feature soon to confirm how well it works.
Since the resolutions of the image are so high, the bandwidth of transmission will be high and the storage requirements will be high. Certainly we will apply Motion Detection to reduce the loading on transmission and storage. We have to select the specific areas within the fisheye view for motion detection or else we would expect high traffic if we consider the entire view as one area. This camera supports a breakdown to up to 6 smaller areas and this helps. Also, this camera supports recording of a single area which has detected motion and not the entire view. This latest feature will reduce loading on transmission and storage very substantially. We will test this feature soon to confirm how well it works.
There is yet another feature of the camera not commonly present. It is called privacy mask. We can mask off up to 4 areas of the view for privacy reasons, and applied red, green, blue or black to each mask for ease of identity.
The most powerful feature of this model CAK-3911 is the Motion Detection Preset mode. By this mode it is possible to let the camera capture and stream out only the region that is currently activated by a moving object. As the object moves around the room, the camera will be able to track the person by switching the view automatically according to the location of the moving object. (Note: This paragraph is a design feature. We will test and verify it in July 2012)
Key Features
1/2.5” Progressive Scan CMOS
Day and night function with mechanical IR cut filter
Minimum illumination 0.05 lux at F2.8
180°/360° panorama and ePTZ view
Built-in f1.05 mm / F2.8 Megapixel Fisheye lens
6 fps at 2032 x 1920 resolution
Selectable H.264, MPEG-4 SP, MJPEG compressions with dual streaming
Compucon New Zealand is a digital technology operation with expertise in engineering and information technology mostly in hardware at a system or solution level. Digital means non analogue although we realize that the universe and life are not digital. Digital is just a human methodology and it largely refers to the use of computers for measurement, transmission, calculation, design, creation, storage, retrieval, display, and output of information that conform largely to open standards. Internet Protocol (IP) which is well defined in the TCP/IP stack or the OSI 7 layer model is a foundation stone of interfacing standards and one that Compucon subscribes to. We believe that digital and IP technologies will stay as the top contributor to the civil development of mankind for the next hundred years.
In brief, IP is everything.
What does Compucon New Zealand want to see?
We would like to see New Zealand become a leading country in infrastructures and productivity which collectively make New Zealand one of the best places in the world to live, to work, and to visit. At the time this statement was first posted (March 2012), we had the observation that the average citizen knew much more about how to spend money for oneself (consume) than to create value for fellow citizens (produce). The country derived incomes mostly from primary produces and relied on other countries for add-value products. We were largely a consumer. We need creation to balance consumption to be sustainable to say the least.
What would Compucon New Zealand do to contribute to the above big picture?
We design and produce computing platforms and application solutions for the infrastructure and creation sectors that include government departments, businesses, schools, and non-profit organizations etc. Fitness for Purpose (FFP) and Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) have been our design and production criteria for 20 years, and they will stay on for the foreseeable future. In addition, we have expertise and capabilities for the realisation of big pictures, understanding of technology states, mastering professional implementation methodologies, and transferring skills to the country. Most important of all, we practise ethically and helpfully.
How sustainable is Compucon New Zealand being a commercial operation?
Compucon New Zealand is indeed a commercial operation and it was initially set up with 55% of foreign investments back in 1992. The company became 100% New Zealand owned on 1 April 2011. If the company has survived 20 years of tough trading conditions in the very competitive PC industry, it has a good chance of surviving further years. This statement has made too many assumptions and is indeed meaningless. What we can do is to do things well that are under our control, and this is similar to planting luck. Yes, luck can be planted. If we do things properly and diligently, luck will be on our side.
Provides a pleasant environment for all parties involved and facilitates individual requirements.
Serves customers, the society, the country, and the Earth.
Makes a financial profit to support all functions and to assure that all stakeholders accept to continue to put resources into the business.
Keeps the business going forever.
At the team meeting of Compucon staff members on 7 March 2012, the team resolved that keeping the business going forever is the first target to achieve as it provides the basis for all other efforts.
Andrew Pennington has a degree in electronics engineering and a diploma in project management. He has worked in various technical areas having spent over 9 years in broadcast studio design construction and management and another 10 years in software development. He has used various CAD packages including Maya over the same span of time and the current interest is in structural engineering. He practises as an IT consultant and software developer these days. Andrew is a member of the Compucon CAD focus group and a certified Autodesk pre-sales specialist for Horizontal 3D applications. He will introduce AutoCAD and 3ds Max Design to us together with his insights of use in the CPD seminar of 21 March 2012.
Sion Roberts is the leader of the company and a software developer. Sion’s background includes an apprenticeship in heavy engineering, a mathematics degree, an honours degree in physics and a Cranfield MBA. Professional accreditation includes CEng and MRAeS. Industrial experience has included senior technical management in the aircraft industry and in the local marine industry.
Sion presented some of the things that impinged on integrating automated management software into work environments in the Compucon CPD Seminar of 19 May 2010. This is what Sion said in the preview of the seminar. Specifically I will talk about clients with regard our ‘client interface’. I will also demonstrate what an automated system looks like. And I will discuss some of the components that make it up. Strategy will come into it somewhere.
He has discovered the excitement of 3D designs for manufacturing applications and in fact digital content creation in general. He pointed out that Pro/Engineer (from PTC) is the 3D application of choice of the University of Auckland, and its files can be imported to AutoCAD family for further development. He will demonstrate the advantages of 3D modelling over 2D, and show us how Inventor Pro (from Autodesk) is capable of nurturing inventiveness. Sion will share his excitements in the Compucon CPD Seminar of 21 March 2012
