BELL'S PICTUREPHONE SYSTEM.

[VARIOUS AUTHORS].

[The Picturephone System, containing 21 articles. See below.].

New York, American Telephone and Telegraph Company, 1971.

8vo. Original full green cloth, bound with the original blue wrappers. Volume 50, 1971 of "The Bell System Technical Journal". Library stamp to free front end-paper and title page. Minor bumping to extremities. A nice and clean copy. [Mentioned articles:] Pp: 219-700. [Entire issue:XXXVII, (3), 1098].

First edition of the technical description of Bell System's picturephone System.

When the system was launched it was regarded as a state of the art information tool. It was being used in various science fiction-movies, among these, Stanley Cubric's A Space Odyssey.
"The AT&T picturephone offered full motion, a monochrome picture, and about half the resolution of a conventional TV image. It worked over three phone lines, and though fairly costly, was somewhat affordable. The AT&T picturephone utilized sophisticated image technology and was a well designed product offering desk-top, impulse use." (Noll, Michael. Highway of dreams: a critical view along the information superhighway, 1997, p. 27).

It never became a huge success and after a few years only, it was taken off the market. In the history of the telephone and communication in general, however, it occupies an important role, as this was the first time that a visual personal communication tool was being offered to a broad audience. In this respect, it can be regarded as the forerunner of web-cam and video mobiles.

Other papers of interest is contained in the present volume:
1. Baird, Jack A. The Picturephone System: Foreword. Pp. 219-220.
2. Dorros, Irwin. The Picturephone System: The Network. Pp. 221-233.
3. Crater, T.V. The Picturephone System: Service Standards. Pp. 235-269.
4. Cagle, W.B.; Strokes, R.R.; Wright, B.A. The Picturephone System: The Station: 2C Video Telephone Station Set. Pp. 271-312.
5. Gordon, A.M.; Singleton, J.B. The Picturephone System: Station Set Components. Pp. 313-349.
6. Brown, H.E. The Picturephone System: Transmission Plan. Pp. 351-394.
7. Brown, J.M. The Picturephone System: Baseband Video Transmission on Loops and Short-Haul Trunks. Pp. 395-425.
8. Bunin, B.J.; Hirsch, R.B.; Olsen, R.E. The Picturephone System: Crosstalk Considerations in the Transmission of Analog Signals on Paired Cable. Pp. 427-457.
9. Millard, J.B.; Maunsell, H.I. The Picturephone System: Digital Encoding of the Video Signal. Pp. 459-479.
10. Broderick, C.W. The Picturephone System: A Digital Transmission System for TD-2 Radio. Pp. 481-499.
11. Gunn, J.F.; Ronne, J.S.; Weller, D.C. The Picturephone System: Mastergroup Digital Transmission on Modern Coaxial Systems. Pp. 501-520.
12. Urich, J.F. The Picturephone System: Switching Plan. Pp. 521-531.
13. Burgess, P.N.; Stickel, J.E. The Picturephone System: Central Office Switching. Pp. 533-552.
14. Breen, Charles. The Picturephone System: Customer Switching Systems. Pp. 553-565.
15. Daskalakis, A. The Picturephone System: Key Telephone Systems. Pp. 567-584.
16. Anderson, H.P. The Picturephone System: The 850A PBX. Pp. 585-604.
17. Brown, D.W.; Horvath, J.R.; Paxton, T.S. The Picturephone System: No. 101 ESS. Pp. 605-620.
18. Dougherty, H.J.; Peterson, E.B.; Schachtman, M.G. The Picturephone System: Maintenance Plan. Pp. 621-644.
19. Favin, D.L.; Gilmore, J.F. The Picturephone System: Line and Trunk Maintenance Arrangements. Pp. 645-665.
20. Bender, E.C.; Howson, R.D. The Picturephone System: Wideband Data Service. Pp. 667-681.
21. Warwick, P.S.; Phipps, G.W. The Picturephone System: Computer Access. Pp. 683-700.
And many other.

Order-nr.: 43031