Devices Make Video Interactive

Three new models in the Commander line of interactive video systems have been released: Conference-Commander, Caption-Commander and VTR-Encoder.

The Conference and Caption models, like the basic Model, work with most consumer-type VCRs and Mac or PC computers to handle automatic playback of video segments as defined by the user or encoded on the tape.

Conference-Commander simplifies documenting video events such as teleconferences, seminars and broadcasts. While recording or reviewing a videotape, tapping a key automatically creates a numbered placemark that can be overwritten with a typed-in note or title. The resulting list of notes and titles can be printed or transferred to a disk for filing with the videotape as a record of its content. If displayed on the computer screen in any Commander system, clicking on a note or title causes the VCR to locate and play from the corresponding position in the video.

The other new model, Caption-Commander, automatically provides a transcript for closed captioned (CC) TV. The resulting transcript, which is recorded on the computer's disk, can also be printed. If the program is recorded on a VCR, the transcript is automatically indexed to the video. A clickable table of contents can be created, with the VCR automatically locating the desired location. When CC TV and cable programs are recorded with Caption-Commander, any segment can be located quickly and accurately.

Finally, VTR-Encoder encodes broadcast-quality videotape recordings with "VITC" time code, for video tables of contents, lesson plans, etc. The unit ensures that these items are synchronized to the time code. When the encoded programs are distributed as VCR cassette copies, the encoded data can be read into a computer using any current Commander.

QualTech, Inc., Great Falls, VA, (800) 757-4472.

Featured

  • AI-powered individual working calmly on one side and a burnt-out person slumped over a laptop on the other

    AI's Productivity Gains Come at a Cost

    A recent academic study found that as companies adopt AI tools, they're not just streamlining workflows — they're piling on new demands. Researchers determined that "AI technostress" is driving burnout and disrupting personal lives, even as organizations hail productivity gains.

  • AI microchip under cybersecurity attack, surrounded by symbols of threats like a skull, spider, lock, and warning shield

    Report Finds Agentic AI Protocol Vulnerable to Cyber Attacks

    A new report from Backslash Security has identified significant security vulnerabilities in the Model Context Protocol (MCP), technology introduced by Anthropic in November 2024 to facilitate communication between AI agents and external tools.

  • laptop displaying a red padlock icon sits on a wooden desk with a digital network interface background

    Reports Point to Domain Controllers as Prime Ransomware Targets

    A recent report from Microsoft reinforces warns of the critical role Active Directory (AD) domain controllers play in large-scale ransomware attacks, aligning with U.S. government advisories on the persistent threat of AD compromise.

  • educators seated at a table with a laptop and tablet, against a backdrop of muted geometric shapes

    HMH Forms Educator Council to Inform AI Tool Development

    Adaptive learning company HMH has established an AI Educator Council that brings together teachers, instructional coaches and leaders from school district across the country to help shape its AI solutions.