POV Videography and VholdR

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Point Of View Video: The Personal Perspective

The phrase “Point Of View” connotes “perspective,” which Merriam-Webster’s traces etymologically to Middle Latin’s perspectivum[1], referring to “sight,” “optical,” and “look.” Perspective in this case refers less to subjective intent and more to objective account, as filming point of view content is an act designed to transfer as real of a visual representation of actual events as possible. [2]

[edit] POV Technology

POV footage has existed since the first cameras were mounted in early airplanes[3] and cars, anywhere a film’s creator intended to take viewers inside the action with the psychological purpose of giving viewers a feel of “What he or she is going through,” he or she being a participant in the subject matter.

Cameras were increasingly introduced into more difficult experiences.

Dick Barrymore[4][5][6], an early action filmmaker akin to the popular Warren Miller, experimented with film cameras and counter weights mounted to a helmet. Barrymore could ski unencumbered while capturing footage of scenery and other skiers. Though the unit was heavy relative to its manner of use, it was considered hands free, and worked.

Numerous companies have developed successful POV designs, from laparoscopic video equipment[7] used inside the body during medical procedures, to high tech film and digital cameras mounted to jets and employed during flight[8]. On professional levels, the equipment is well defined, expensive, and requires intensive training and support.

However the race for hands free POV cameras for use on a consumer level has always faced problems. The technology has had issues with usability, combining lenses with microphones with batteries with recording units; all connected using spidery cables, which proved cumbersome in use when compared to the quality of the end content.

Manufacturers such as Sony, Panasonic and Samsung have developed the smallest of camcorders. However when introduced to the elements, mainly water, dust, dirt and snow and shock, and extremes in temperature, catastrophic equipment failure is common, and plagues them all. Recording units for the consumer market are consumer grade, consisting of plastic-encased parts, which are fragile.