Codestuff has launched the world's first purpose-built touchscreen based CCTV monitoring, recording and management system. Quorum Touch is the result of a 12 month development programme at West Lothian based Codestuff Ltd, which has designed the innovative system for up to 16 camera installations combining all the elements of a traditional multi-part CCTV system into a single, self contained desktop device.

"Quorum Touch is unique, as the interface is designed with a touchscreen user in mind and not just a normal desktop CCTV management system placed into a touch environment," explains David Ritchie, Managing Director, Codestuff. "Operations like pan, tilt and zoom are all handled effortlessly and elements like icons, buttons and alerts are designed to be accessed by touch with minimal training."

The sub 1000 GBP product is available in several hardware versions and supports up to 4, 8 or 16 CCTV cameras from the top 20 CCTV manufacturers, as well as the majority of OEM brands. The unit supports H.264, MPEG4, MxPEG and Motion JPEG video formats,�supports Gigabit Ethernet and WiFi connections and is also compatible with the emerging ONViF standard.

"Unlike other products which simply take a touch screen, add a traditional interface and which require additional NVRs, storage or servers on site - everything needed to run a full recording and monitoring station is integrated within Quorum Touch," explains Ritchie.

Under normal conditions, the Touch will store around 7 days of footage from 4 IP cameras running up to megapixel quality. The Touch uses the same core platform as the rest of the Quorum range which allows control of auxiliary devices such as door openers, alarm systems, lights, speaker phones, public address systems and barriers to be integrated directly into the Touch interface. The unit has a wide range of applications but is particularly suited to retail premises, gatehouses, reception areas and high value private premises.

The unit will be sold exclusively to end users through the channel and Codestuff is currently in discussion with several prospective distribution partners. The unit offers a flexible software licensing model to allow competitive pricing based on the selected feature set and is also available in an OEM version for rebranding.

"We see Touch as the perfect solution for environments where complex CCTV management software would be inappropriate," explains Richie, "The touchscreen interface requires minimal training to operate and the platform can also be remotely managed and monitored over any IP connection."

Multiple Quorum Touch Units can be linked together for larger installations or to provide a second control centre at another location on the same site, or over a network connection. A Quorum Touch has been installed at Brian Girdwood Hairdressing, a fashionable salon in Edinburgh, "The Touch is sleek and unobtrusive within our stylish environment and incredibly easy to use," comments Mr Girdwood, who favoured the all-in-one Touch over a complex and costly system of separate devices.

Quorum Touch is part of a complete security management portfolio with full client/server architecture that enables live and recorded video viewing whilst also providing control of PTZ, alarm management and a map based interface. The complete Quorum range includes modules for IP video streams across the internet, video analytics and Networked Video Recorders.