PRESS RELEASE
25th September 2006

Axis network cameras enable Herries School pupils to get closer to stag beetles

Herries Preparatory School in Cookham Dean, Berkshire has utilised an AXIS 214 PTZ Network Camera from the global leader in network video, Axis Communications1, to help its pupils further develop their renowned studies on the habitat of the stag beetle.

The once-common stag beetle has recently been declared endangered and is a protected species across Europe. Measuring up to eight centimetres long, their name derives from their distinctive mandibles which look similar to a stag’s antlers. Herries School teamed up with the prestigious Royal Society who supported their initial stag beetle habitat research in 2002, with pupils investigating stag beetles preference for different wood types. A year later a new project investigated whether the presence of log fungi was more attractive to mating female stag beetles than type of wood. This project involved pupils taking daily temperature, light, sound and humidity readings from two specially constructed log piles.

Over the years, the stag beetle research has become an integral part of science study at the school. The latest development is the introduction of a high performance AXIS 214 PTZ network camera and Milestone XProtect software funded by sponsors and digital surveillance integrator InCam and Communications Development Company, Jordan. The dome encased, tripod-mounted camera sends live images from the stag beetles’ wood piles across the school’s network to be shared on PCs or classroom whiteboards. Images are also viewed by other schools across the internet. The AXIS 214 PTZ allows the pupils to remotely control the movement of the lens, and to zoom closely to examine the beetles – sensitive even in low-light to watch nocturnal activity.

Milestone software helps to quickly sift through the beetle footage. Pupils can also use it to edit and send key clips on CD or paste them to the ‘Beetle Blog’ at http://www.incam.co.uk/herriesbb.html

Paul Stout, managing director, InCam explained:
“We’re delighted to support a school that is so innovative and focused on ecological issues. Our solution has delivered high quality images which Herries and other schools can use as an integral part of their conservation studies. It is also very sturdy, rugged and flexible so the school can easily move and adjust the camera to focus on new areas. There is also the possibility of running the camera using a battery, so it could be solar or wind powered to make it truly green.”

Anne Sweeney, science co-ordinator at Herries School added:
“The pupils have really been inspired - we spent 10 days totally focused on the project, using it as a base for cross-curricular work in English, Maths, Science, Art and Design Technology. They have put together a class project which I am submitting for an education competition. The quality of the work was very high and the network camera provided both a motivational stimulus and a lot of information"

Steve Gorski, managing director of Axis Communications UK Ltd, commented:
“We are always encouraged to see our network cameras being used in new and interesting ways. For the pupils to be able to control the camera in their classroom and zoom in right up close to the beetles brings their subject to life.”

The AXIS 214 PTZ Network Camera is designed for professional security surveillance and remote monitoring applications. It delivers high quality, full frame rate Motion JPEG video with the capability to remotely control pan, tilt and zoom functions over an IP network such as a Local Area Network or the internet. It also supports simultaneous transmission of video in MPEG-4 mode.

The AXIS 214 PTZ incorporates automatic day/night functionality, providing light-sensitive black and white video images in conditions as low as 0.005 lux. When installed with Axis Dome Housing, the AXIS 214 PTZ is an ideal day and night camera for outdoor use. The Axis outdoor housing, which has an IP-66-rated protection against dust and heavy rain, has been customised for use in this application. The AXIS 214 PTZ is available through Axis’ distribution channels at a recommended retail price of £825 + vat.

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 Notes to editors
Axis Communications is the leading player in the network camera market with 47 per cent market share in the EMEA region according to industry analyst house IMS Research in its latest market report entitled ‘The World Market for CCTV and Video Surveillance Equipment 2005 Edition’ published in October 2005. The network camera market was worth $54.7m in 2004 and is set to grow by 50 per cent per year over the next five years to reach a value of $360.6m in 2009, in EMEA alone, according to the same report.

About Axis
 Axis increases the value of network solutions. The company is an innovative market leader in network video and print servers. Axis' products and solutions are focused on applications such as security surveillance, remote monitoring and document management. The products are based on in-house developed chip technology, which is also sold to third parties.

Axis was founded in 1984 and is listed on the Stockholmsbörsen (XSSE: AXIS) Attract 40-list in Sweden. Axis operates globally with offices in 17 countries and in cooperation with distributors and system integrators in 70 countries. Markets outside Sweden account for more than 95% of sales. Information about Axis can be found at www.axis.com.

For further information about Axis Communications in the UK and Ireland, please contact:
Steve Gorski, managing director, Axis Communications (UK) Limited
Tel: 0870 162 0047. Email: steve.gorski@axis.com

For all UK and Ireland Axis media enquiries and images to support this story, please contact:
Miles Clayton /Simon Bennett, Agility PR Limited
Tel: 01438 310 139/5. Email: miles@ agilitypr.co.uk / simon@agilitypr.co.uk

For all InCam sales enquiries, please contact:
Paul Stout, managing director, InCam Digital Surveillance Limited
Tel: 01329 823020. Email: paul.stout@incam.co.uk