Sony Electronics is finishing development of its smart video recorder system. The SmartFile electronic indexing system enables users to view the contents of indexed video tapes simply by waving them in front of an appropriate video recorder. A microchip embedded within the videocassette's label stores programming contents during recording. SmartFile also identifies and advances to blank tape space on an inserted videocassette. Sony officials say the first generation of the smart video recorders will be available within six months.
Based on "Sony prepares smart video recorder," Computergram International, 13 January 1998, p. Issue Number 3324.