Graphics Creation for Television Using the Sony SMC-70G Microcomputer

Carleton University operates an instructional television channel across the Ottawa cable companies. There was a need to modernize the equipment used for feeding course and University activity information over the channel when not broadcasting telecourses. This article examines the selection process and describes the attributes and limitations of the microcomputer system eventually selected

Synergy of seismic, acoustic, and video signals in blast analysis

The range of mining applications from hard rock quarrying to coal exposure to mineral recovery leads to a great variety of blasting practices. A common characteristic of many of the sources is that they are detonated at or near the earth`s surface and thus can be recorded by camera or video. Although the primary interest is in the seismic waveforms that these blasts generate, the visual observations of the blasts provide important constraints that can be applied to the physical interpretation of the seismic source function. In particular, high speed images can provide information on detonation times of individuals charges, the timing and amount of mass movement during the blasting process and, in some instances, evidence of wave propagation away from the source. All of these characteristics can be valuable in interpreting the equivalent seismic source function for a set of mine explosions and quantifying the relative importance of the different processes. This paper documents work done at the Los Alamos National Laboratory and Southern Methodist University to take standard Hi-8 video of mine blasts, recover digital images from them, and combine them with ground motion records for interpretation. The steps in the data acquisition, processing, display, and interpretation are outlined. The authors conclude that the combination of video with seismic and acoustic signals can be a powerful diagnostic tool for the study of blasting techniques and seismology. A low cost system for generating similar diagnostics using consumer-grade video camera and direct-to-disk video hardware is proposed. Application is to verification of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty

Graphics Technology in Space Applications (GTSA 1989)

This document represents the proceedings of the Graphics Technology in Space Applications, which was held at NASA Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center on April 12 to 14, 1989 in Houston, Texas. The papers included in these proceedings were published in general as received from the authors with minimum modifications and editing. Information contained in the individual papers is not to be construed as being officially endorsed by NASA

NASA Tech Briefs, May 1990

Topics: New Product Ideas; NASA TU Services; Electronic Components and Circuits; Electronic Systems; Physical Sciences; Materials; Computer Programs; Mechanics; Machinery; Fabrication Technology; Mathematics and Information Sciences; Life Sciences

MIRACLE Handbook : Guidelines for Mixed Reality Applications for Culture and Learning Experiences

Siirretty Doriast

Development of a low-cost video imaging system for pavement evaluation

The evaluation of pavement condition is an important part of pavement management. To evaluate a pavement, a distress survey has been performed mainly by manual field inspections. Several automatic pavement evaluation systems have been developed to overcome the drawbacks of field inspections. Automated evaluation systems, however, imply their own limitations in terms of cost, technical problems, and adaptability for pavement management. The main purpose of this research is to develop a low-cost automatic pavement video imaging system. The secondary purpose is the development of techniques to process the collected video images. A low-cost video image-collection system and an in-office system were developed. A video test was implemented on a selected route including various pavement types and several variables. As a result of the test, seven loop tests provided acceptable results to allow image analysis. By using the video camera with fast shutter-speed, it was decided that the survey vehicle could drive at high speed (65mph) while maintaining good picture quality. To evaluate the performance of the system, video and field inspections were performed using two approaches: the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) and Metropolitan Transportation Commissions (MTC) approaches. The inspections were conducted on 107 sample sections. Also, sample still images were digitized for analysis. To conduct a video inspection, the Global Positioning System (GPS) technique was applied for conversion of video mileage to real field mileage. The results of video and field inspections were compared using statistical analyses. The ODOT approach shows a good correlation between video and field inspection for AC sections. In particular, patching and non-load crack indices provide good correlation. The MTC-PMS analysis showed strong linear relationships between video and field inspections. The analysis of crack indices from digitized images shows poor repeatability for each test loop. Using general linear model analysis, variable effects on crack indices were tested. The cost for development and operation of the system was estimated as well as cost for an enhanced prototype system. Discussions on various aspects of the developed system are provided. Finally, summary and conclusion are included as well as recommendations for future system development

Investigation into the design of educational multimedia : video, interactivity and narrative

This study critically examines the design of multimedia in education. The study begins by reviewing existing media in education and then uses a series of empirical studies to uncover, and then examine the key issues for the design of educational multimedia.The research involves two studies. The first, a preliminary study, that identifies specific areas of interest for the research. This study looks at the existing use of an interactive video disc program for training in Price Waterhouse. The literature search, combined with the outcomes of the preliminary study, identified the areas for further research as: the use of video, forms of interaction, and the role of narrative. The main study examines these areas using two phases. The first phase analyses three treatments of the same educational text, on linear video, multimedia, and structured multimedia, each treatment maintaining the same content and narrative structure, but differing in presentation and control. The second phases builds on the results of the first with the creation and analysis of an interactive multimedia program that takes advantage of the identified strengths of multimedia, and specifically tackles problems found in the first phase. Qualitative data collection techniques are used in both phases, and form the basis of the findings.The findings are presented as implications for multimedia design, and discuss the use and development of narrative and grammar in multimedia, as well as the importance of carefully designed user interaction and goal definition

Miracle Handbook : Guidelines for Mixed Reality applications for Culture and Learning experiences

The purpose of this Handbook is to summarize the knowledge collected in the MIRACLE research project, and deliver application design guidelines based on the project results, all in one compact document. The Handbook provides a summary about possibilities of applying augmented and virtual reality technologies in cultural travel and education. It includes • Guidelines for designing and building successful Augmented Reality applications • Advice for experts in one profession about working with people of another profession • Toolkit: a list of software components, tools and methods for developing augmented reality applications serving cultural travel • Chapter 2 describes the potential 1. Futuristic History: uses of mixed reality in museums http://ar.utu.fi/ar/research/futurisand other cultural sites, and the tic-history/ pedagogical aspects involved in it. • Multidisciplinary co-operation in • MR creation and maintenance is discussed. • Chapter 3 concentrates in the actual production and maintenance processes, business opportunities and connections to social media. • Chapter 4 describes the individual pilot applications that were implemented in the MIRACLE project: how they were planned and built, what were the research targets and what was learned. • Chapter 5 summarizes the outcome of the project. • Chapter 6 describes the Toolkit, • i.e. the collection of software tools and components tested and developed within the MIRACLE project. • References and related literature • are listed at the end of each chapter. • A glossary is at the end of the • document