Axis Marks Two Decades of IoT Revolution with World’s First Network Video Cameras

Axis Communications announces to commemorate 20th anniversary of the world’s first network video camera. The company asserts to have laid the foundation of a true Internet of Things (IoT) device way back through its introduction of AXIS 200 in 1996, which significantly marked an industry shift from analog to IP-based video surveillance.

AXIS 200 was the world’s first network video camera to connect directly to the Internet or an intranet, an extension of Axis’ original focus of connecting printers, and then optical storage devices, to networks.

At the time, the company claims to have pioneered what it called ‘ThinServer’ technology, which drove a shift away from mainframe computers by utilizing more flexible, lightweight servers and was to become the enabling concept behind IoT.

Key Nuggets of the First Network video Camera

• It delivered 1 frame /17 seconds in normal resolution, or 1 fps in CIF resolution.
• It went on to win several industry awards and laid the foundation for a long litany of innovative network video cameras, encoders and physical access control devices pioneered by Axis.
• AXIS 200 served as the first step toward the company’s current industry-leading position as the world’s top supplier of IP-based security solutions, which included milestone introductions such as the security industry’s first HDTV network camera and first thermal network camera that helped accelerate the move from analog to digital video in the security market.

From then to now, The Company has expanded beyond cameras and now includes other IP-based products for physical access control, a network horn speaker and an IP-based video door station.

Citing on this indelible moment, Martin Gren, along with Mikael Karlsson and Keith Bloodworth, founded Axis in 1984 said, “Looking back over twenty years, we are proud that our original vision of connected devices and smarter networks for a wide range of applications, using what we called ThinServer technology, has taken hold in such a broad-based way. Little did we know in 1996 that the IoT would take off like it has, but are gratified of the role we played as one of the pioneers in this area, especially for security purposes where we have accelerated the shift from analog to digital solutions. It gives us great confidence in how Axis will continue to add value and innovation for the future of connected devices and for making the world a safer place.”

Today, Axis is known to offer more than 200 network camera models for every need adding next-gen features for a full scope of high-resolution performance, analytics, mobile monitoring and cloud-based implementations, adding powerful and smart features that have fueled global growth and adoption.