[wfriesen]

I think of the classic sci-fi depiction of "picture phones", and they are almost exclusively a device mounted on a wall, much like the original telephone. Maybe it's just a usability issue, in that holding a phone pointing at yourself is a bit annoying?

[teddyh]

Colossus: The Forbin Project had videophones everywhere, but they were shaped like tiny terminals, placed on desktops, and there is at least one scene where a someone wants to use the device and moves it to face them, so the devices are not fastened.

[euroderf]

It also has A.I.s that concoct their own language so that they can conspire on the Q.T.

When does that happen ?

[teddyh]

At 21:50, 29:49, and at 33:08.

[EvanAnderson]

These sound similar to the video intercoms in Star Trek (1966). They sit on desktops and can rotate.

[teddyh]

Those can rotate, but they are not discrete units, and can not be moved around on the desk.

[doctor_eval]

Everyone had a video phone in Space: 1999; it was called a Comlock. It could open doors and communicate via video. It would take another 11 years for iPhones to catch up! Sadly those people living on the moon in 1999 would never get to see one.

https://catacombs.space1999.net/main/cguide/umcomlock.html