Amnis Systems Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: AMNM) (formerly Optivision Inc.), a provider of streaming video communication products, announced the deployment of its MPEG 2 technologies for the Tulsa Fire Department (TFD) in a groundbreaking distance training application. For the first time, cadets and veteran firefighters in 33 work sites serving 400,000 Tulsa residents will receive 60 percent of all their training while at their posts, via streaming video. The distance training to be conducted includes Emergency Medical Services and other emergency response training. With quick response times for emergencies critical to maintaining excellent community service, the TFD deployment represents a significant gain for both distance-learning applications and the Tulsa community.
With 24 weeks of training required for new cadets, the addition of EMS certification created significant scheduling difficulties and time away from work sites, potentially reducing service levels for the community. In addition to keeping firefighters away from service, on-site training requires the use of fire trucks for transportation, increasing fuels costs and ozone pollution. Because of its ease of operation and low cost, streaming video represented a viable solution. Having recently built its own fiber-optic ATM network, the City of Tulsa had the infrastructure available to accommodate the fire department's new training system.
Multi-cast signal was transmitted to an optical link at each work site with an Optivision NAC 3000 connected to Gigabit Ethernet, streaming MPEG 2 video directly to television sets. The department is now able to send work sites live video, recorded programs and satellite transmissions from its broadcast production studio at its central Fire Training Facility. The department has deployed its Optivision system without the need of external consultants or programmers, and connected over 70 percent of its 33 work sites in just three weeks from the beginning of installation. Combined with Optivision's LivePlayer software, the system is easy for broadcast administrators to manage and for firefighters to use.
Optivision's network-attached video systems provide essential network infrastructure, including hardware and software, for broadcast quality streaming video applications. The interoperable components are optimized for network attached streaming video applications and enable enterprises to receive, play, and record live and stored video content that meets both the Motion Picture Experts Group (MPEG)-1 and MPEG-2 industry standards, without requiring additional hardware or costly modifications to network infrastructure. Optivision's modular plug-and-play platform allows fast deployment and offers organizations the scalable tool they need to easily exploit the full potential of their existing broadband networks to enable a full range of collaborative multimedia applications, including distance learning, corporate communications, content distribution, e-commerce, telemedicine and surveillance.
About Amnis Systems Inc. (formerly Optivision, Inc.):
Amnis Systems Inc. develops, manufactures and delivers MPEG network video products for high-quality video creation, management and distribution worldwide. For more information, visit www.amnisinc.com.