Related Experiment Videos
Application of M-JPEG compression hardware to dynamic stimulus production
1NASA Ames Research Center, CA 94035-1000, USA. jbm@vision.arc.nasa.gov
Spatial Vision
|January 1, 1997
Summary
New circuit boards allow micro-computers to play real-time video, enabling affordable visual psychophysics experiments. This technology uses special hardware for video frame compression and decompression over low-bandwidth disk interfaces.
Area of Science:
- Computer Science
- Psychology
- Engineering
Background:
- Traditional video playback for experiments was prohibitively expensive.
- Advancements in circuit board technology offer new possibilities for real-time video playback.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the use of inexpensive circuit boards for real-time video playback in visual psychophysics.
- To detail the technical considerations for evaluating these new video disk devices.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing special-purpose hardware to compress and decompress video frames.
- Leveraging micro-computer disk drives as video disks for extended sequences.
- Transferring video streams over low-bandwidth disk interfaces.
Main Results:
- Inexpensive circuit boards transform standard micro-computer disk drives into functional video disks.
- Real-time video playback is now achievable for previously cost-prohibitive experiments.
- The technology relies on efficient video frame compression/decompression hardware.
Conclusions:
- This technology democratizes visual psychophysics research by reducing costs.
- Careful evaluation of technical specifications is crucial when selecting these devices.
- The integration of video playback into micro-computers opens new avenues for experimental design.