Current Breakthrough in Computer Imaging
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/EUM0000000001426 |
| Published date | 01 March 1990 |
| Date | 01 March 1990 |
| Pages | 18-21 |
| Author | Dermot Ryan |
| Subject Matter | Economics,Information & knowledge management,Management science & operations |
Current
Breakthrough
in Computer
Imaging
Dermot Ryan
18 INDUSTRIAL MANAGEMENT & DATA SYSTEMS 90,3
T
he consumer applications for visual
imaging will cover many areas, such as
language learning, catalogue sourcing and
visual encyclopedias.
Introduction
Industry leaders have begun to speak in terms of hard
facts about breakthroughs in computer delivered pictures
and video. These include Intel, the world's largest chip
maker, claiming effectively a 100-fold advance, and IBM,
offering image facilities at a fraction of previous costs.
At the "Next Revolution" Exhibition in London recently
Intel showed its Digital Video Interactive (DVI). The
company says that the storage space required for 30
seconds of
digital video
can
now give
"more than
one
hour
of full-motion, full screen video with high quality stereo
audio". The data display transfer time requirement
previously necessary for "30 seconds of digital video"
will now permit one hour. Intel recently stated that it
"expects by late 1990 to bring this technology to price
levels demanded by consumer applications".
At the Interactive '89 Exhibition at Brighton, Europe's
leading annual conference on Interactive Media, there was
a sneak preview of IBM's Audio Visual Connection.
Already on sale in the
US,
this is giving its PS/2 computer
an ' 'add on'' enabling it
to give
instant display to full colour
pictures at a cost of less than $600. This involves an
advance in compression of a factor of
10
which is significant
for communications.
Andrew Maclaren, originator of Videologic's Digital Video
Adaptor shown at Interactive '89 as
a
fully commercialised
product, says "that it has cut the cost of image processing
by a factor of 100".
The compression ratios now appearing dwarf the four-
fold reduction which
gave
us the
magic
of fax. They derive
from new PC power. Intel says "that the PC of the early
90s will have 500 times the performance of the original
IBM"[1].
As a mass market product the computer is far
behind the TV, the VCR and the calculator. Now the
computer
is
being tamed and
will be
pressed
into a
service
as ubiquitous as the family
car.
A
time when the computer
will answer our questions and instructions with voice
messages and video images has come.
A quantum leap in digital video technology is being
released
by
the combination of
optical disc
technology and
the Intel 82750 PA/PD video display processor making
it possible to database pictures at a very small percentage
of recent cost. Instant random access has only been
possible by analogue technology until now. Analogue is
expensive, ill fitting in today's digital world, and lacks
standardisation and
a
satisfactory upgrade
path.
The digital
solution will transform our lives. It will reduce the
difficulties of operating
a
computer towards comparability
with a
VCR.
The list of
new
products and services
to
which
it will lead could be written by Isaac Asimov but in the
next year the following can be expected.
Retail Store Product Information Server —
The Automatic Assistant
A Retail Store Product Information Server for shopping
malls and large stores has already appeared. This is the
"goods" version of the "services" facility provided to
branch banking by the auto teller and cash points. An
example is in use at Tower Records in Piccadilly. This
shows the information from the sleeve of a variety of
compact disc programmes which can be called up
randomly. It also gives excerpts from the music. This
automatic assistant will give to the retail shop the same
technological breakthrough as the automatic teller gave
to branch banking. The auto teller has been confined to
banks until today because technology has been unable to
handle the video sequences and graphic pictures
necessary for product display.
This disc will enable shoppers to use screens in store
lobbies to call up news and TV-type advertisements for
the products manufacturers have placed on the shelves
inside. The automatic assistant fulfils a long-felt need by
advertisers to make information about their products
available at the point of
sale.
The basic device offers instant
response, full colour video pictures with voice-over and
text on screen giving price and other information.
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