The promise of video telephony dates back to the 60s but to date no one has managed to combine true video quality in a device that effectively represents what a video phone should be. This was the challenge faced by designers at Bresslergroup, a design consultancy based in Philadelphia, PA, when they began work on the Ojo Video Phone for their client Worldgate.

Demographic targeting and potential customer interviews suggested that the new device needed to be cool enough for early adopters but understandable enough for everyone - for the kids on the West coast to keep in touch with grandma in Cleveland.

Human factors and user inputs drove the basic functionality, calling for a video phone that also worked as a traditional cordless phone. The 30 frames per second video quality also demanded a generous high quality display. Beyond that the team was free to explore forms that define what video telephony should be, resulting in an elongated form with a sweeping base.

While Bresslergroup focused on design and mechanical engineering, electronics, video compression and communication issues were handled neatly by the engineering team at Worldgate. Critical issues included developing effective navigation aids that complemented the advanced GUI experience. The design team also solved rigidity and stability issues through effective proportioning of screen and base, including Finite Element Analysis and materials and processes evaluation for the hand set and cradle.

Aside from the patent pending video enhancement algorithms developed by Worldgate, the technology driving this phone is an enhanced version of the H.264 digital compression standard and high fidelity full duplex speakerphone technology. The 30 frames per second video delivered by the phone can be transmitted at low data rates, 110 kbps, a level of bandwidth usage that won't clog high-speed transmissions even at high scale.

More info: www.bresslergroup.com

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Date Posted: January 01, 2005
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