Start at the Beginning

A beginning is a very delicate time... OK, I'm a bit of a Sci-Fi Geek borrowing a line from Frank Herbert's Dune. But that aside, how does one start something new – a blog, a painting, a software program, overhauling a Chevy 350 small block, etc...

I figure that since this is my first blog no one is going to read it as nobody knows about it. That gives me the freedom to basically say whatever I want without ramifications. And yes I understand that this will remain on my permanent record but how many people will say, “Hey, I like this blog, I think I'll go back and read all the old issues”? I mean, the first part of the sentence is a bit of stretch to begin with. No, I think this is more like a preface than an introduction, even though there are introductory elements to the content, and let's face it not very many people (besides me of course) bother with the preface.

So with that rambling introduction out of the way let's get to the real introduction. My name is Graham Joys (clicking on my name will take you to my LinkedIn profile) and I am writing this blog on behalf of Vista Networking Solutions (VNS). We design and build Network Video Recorders (NVR) and you can learn more about us by clicking on our name.

While of course it is tempting to use this forum as a vehicle for company news and self promotion I'm pretty sure that that would become pretty boring after oh, say, one article. So it is my intent to create a platform to discuss technology within our Industry – namely physical security. Of course I reserve the right for a shameless plug at some point in the future (wink). OK now, you ask yourself, what the H E double hockey sticks does this mean. Well, I envision that in the future (when people are actually reading), we will present some tutorials, discuss industry trends and challenges, invite guest speakers, include a video or two and address topics championed by readers... all in a conversational manner with hopefully a little humor – at least enough to make you smile (or groan) if not chuckle but I draw the line at guffaws – those are just creepy. I should state up front that I am, like everyone else in business, biased; so the OpEd elements of this space will be slanted. I believe IP will (and actually is) take over our industry like it has everywhere else – if you don't believe this try talking to someone who used to work at Alcatel or Nortel. My goal here is to provide information that you will find interesting and useful. I am not competing with the industry journals, which are mostly filled with long articles by advertisers masking as case studies. Here we'll keep the content to one page so you can consume it easily and move on – sort of like a taco.

Alright then, I've made it through my first blog and already I've violated one of the tenants I stated above – I've not imparted any information, wisdom, message or anything else for that matter. If no wisdom is imparted and no one is there to receive it did anything really happen? So since I have a little space left and I'd rather not grapple with the philosophical implications of the previous question let me give a preview of the topics we are kicking around for future issues (in no particular order).

• RAID for Dummies (and me)
• The IP address
• The MAC address
• Video compression
• Power-over-Ethernet
• Market Segmentation
• Things to consider when...

I guess in hind sight the last paragraph was like one of the phantom endings in The Return of the King. This is really the end. If there was anyone reading please let me know – I suppose there are always hecklers.