Tables with cameras

[truplaya_177]

does anybody know if you can buy a table with a bunch of tiny cameras? this would be cool for home games. :D

[Always_Bored]

it would be very expensive and you may have to build it yourself.

[PocketRocket]

Think about it ... Would you go to a home game where the host has the table equipped with cameras? If you would, I'd suspect that there may be more than a few people who would be glad to have you at their games.

That kind of table is fine for TV broadcasts, but if you're thinking that such a table might be "cool" for a home game, I'd suspect that you may be watching a bit too much TV.

does anybody know if you can buy a table with a bunch of tiny cameras? this would be cool for home games. :D

[Pokerfarian]

Actually, it may be easier and cheaper than you think.

On e-bay, look for spy cameras. I bought one a ways back for less than $15. The thing was tiny, was "wireless" and had an ok picture.

I put wireless in quotes because while it is not hardwired to the reciever, but did have some wires for the batteries. Sould be easy to mount in an unobtrusive way.

We toyed with the idea of doing this for our big tourneys, so that we can record the action for later taunting, but really, whats the point? We were there for the hand, and once you know the outcome, the drama is gone.

[Muck]

I think you could build something using USB cameras and a dedicated PC.

Digital cameras have plummeted in cost and size while increasing in quality, probably thanks to R&D funded by mobile phone manufactures. So I think equipping the table would be very doable.

USB based cameras would be cheap because they don’t need the extra wireless circuitry.
The cameras can draw power from the PC so you wouldn’t need to make them accessible to change the batteries, meaning you could build them into the table.
The cables could be concealed within the table too and terminate at a USB hub leaving a single neat connection point for the cable from the PC.

Although it might be difficult to capture the feeds on the PC. You’d need an application that was designed to record 10 simultaneously video feeds and most of the software I’ve encounter only likes to deal with one USB camera input at any one time.

Still I like the idea and it was fun to contemplate

[HalfSugar]

Why would you do this? You'd have to sift thru all your old footage to try and find something good and even then, because you literally ONLY have the cards on the screen, you'd never be able to tell which hand it is and which cards other people were playing unless you ran all 8 or so cameras on 8 monitors at once.

Even if you were to synchronise all these little cameras and create a hand, what would you do with your edited footage? Would you narrate over the top of it or something? Who would want to see it?

Sorry to rain on your parade but before you spend thousands of dollars, consider whether it serves any purpose whatsoever...........

[galderon]

I agree to both sentiments: It's a fun idea to contemplate, but I wouldn't want to play on one. Chances are, the main use for the table would be to provide data to the host in order to analyze my play.

No thanks!

[R Deckard]

Ahh, once again, the innocent dreams of impulsive, superficial thinking are crushed by the cold, hard reality of comprehensive analysis. I love it. Analytical thinkers (some call us pessimists), unite!

[hectorproind]

I just finished making my table. It's a four seater with built in cameras infront of each player.

Custom printed table material too. Just waiting on the chips to arrive. It's a sweet setup.

[Muck]

Sweet, you should post some pics when it’s all setup.

[hectorproind]

yep i will do so.

We're making our own poker show for a local station down here in Australia. It's gonna be great! More of a gameshow style poker show where anyone can come on, all you have to do is apply. No buy in, just fun for the average at home poker player with their chance for 15 mins of fame!

It will be podcast too so all round the world can watch. I'll let you all know when we start!

Jase

[raisebot]

Although it might be difficult to capture the feeds on the PC. You’d need an application that was designed to record 10 simultaneously video feeds and most of the software I’ve encounter only likes to deal with one USB camera input at any one time.

Still I like the idea and it was fun to contemplate

I bet a site like www.x10.com (the same site that used to always have the 'spy cam' pop-ups and that spams the shit out of people) would have some sort of adapter where you can record simultaneous video feeds on your computer.

I'd also recommend having to microphones built in to the table to record all the trash talk as well.

The original post sounded like this would be something done for fun; it's not like we're analyzing Daniel Negraneau on HSP or anything..

[aaronw]

You would need another camera to see the flop cards and whatnot as well.

[jackdog1963]

sounds like a lot of expensive hassle for a home game. Myself, I just add that extra money to my bankroll and leave the camera tricks to the Television folks

[hectorproind]

Hi guys,

Here are some links to pics of my table with cameras. Also my chips.

http://www.hectorpro.com/images/table1.jpg
http://www.hectorpro.com/images/table2.jpg
http://www.hectorpro.com/images/chips1.jpg

In a shameless plug they're for my new poker show i'm making for community TV here. We make no money on it, it's made by one guy (me) totally out of my own pocket. We have a lot of work to do but it's slowly improving. I'd love to know what you think.

Search for ACES HIGH in the iTunes Music Store podcast section to download it. or head to www.hectorpro.com/podcast.xml

Tell all your friends i'd love it to be seen around the world!

Love to hear from you all soon

Jase