Nokia
Observation Camera

The Nokia Observation Camera combined a digital VGA camera, GSM connectivity and Multimedia Message Service (MMS) technology. It was one of the first cellular-enabled wireless cameras. When it was launched it was a revolutionary device. At the time, there were a small number of cameras that could be integrated into Wi-Fi systems and alert owners via email if there was motion recorded on the camera, but the idea of a cellular-enabled camera was completely new. In addition to capturing photographs, it could also report the ambient temperature via a text message or open a voice channel to allow live audio monitoring. The camera incorporated an “infrared light source” to enable a picture taking even in low light conditions. There were two key functions supported by the camera. Users could either send a text message and receive an image via MMS in return or the camera could be pre-set to send images/text warnings if it detected movement or if the temperature deviated from pre-set limits. When it was launched in the UK the camera cost £300, but interestingly, one commentator noted that users would need to budget an extra £35 a year because the camera was classified “as a CCTV device and owners have to register and pay in order to ensure compliance with the 1998 Data Protection Act.” A copy of the user guide for the Observation Camera can be found here.