A video system appears to have considerable potential as a means of disseminating visual information via a suitable interconnection network. In addition, modern video recording offers low cost, high capacity storage so that information could be stored in a convenient, easily retrieved form. The limiting factor to the usefulness of such a system is its resolution. Since an information system needs to display text, the textual resolution of a video system is analyzed both theoretically and experimentally and the results compared. The techniques for recording video signals are outlined and the problems involved in storing information in single pictures is discussed. The cost of video storage is analyzed and the figures compared with other storage techniques. Video tape has a slightly higher cost per single frame than microform techniques. Methods of indexing the information and of controlling a video system are outlined and the nature of a video network is described. The applications of a video system to information retrieval are discussed. The resolution capability of currently available equipment represents a fairly severe limitation to the design of an information retrieval system using video techniques. With improvements in the technology it is possible that more general information retrieval systems could usefully exploit the technique. (Author)