jwg@duke.UUCP (Jeffrey William Gillette) (03/18/86)
[] The humanities computing project at Duke University is ready to link interactive video into its Computer Assisted Language Instruction System (CALIS). What we would like is a very high speed video peripheral which is completely programmable. Typical functions might include quick random seeks, overlay of computer generated graphics on video, possible connections into a broadband PC Network installation. What suggestions do I hear regarding hardware? What questions should the computing humanists be asking? Anyone know of particular vendors with really exciting products in the video market? Thanks, Jeffrey William Gillette uucp: duke!phys!lisa The Divinity School BITNET: DYBBUK at TUCCVM Duke University Durham, NC 27706 -- SUPERCHICKEN
aglew@ccvaxa.UUCP (03/20/86)
PC, graphics, and video. Sony's video system is half decent. It comprises their infamous screen (touchscreen if you want), a NAPLPS decoder, and a videodisc player (perhaps compact disc now - I used the big flat laser disk beast). The videodisc had reasonably fast random seeks. The TV had multiple inputs, so you could overlay different signals, or play them in different halves of the screen. If you want graphic overlays, not animation, the easiest thing to do is to use the NAPLPS decoder which lets you use. text and medium resolution graphics (I think 200 by 320 16 colours, with a good bit larger palette). Trouble is, this runs a bit expensive - but has the advantage of all equipment coming from one manufacturer. Most annoying problem is that the videodisc insists on going through an ACKnowledge sequence for each *BYTE* of 10-12 byte command sequences. Newmedia in Vancouver has a similar but higher-resolution NAPLPS decoder, plus a touch-screen that really works (and is robust enough for supermarkets). There are several add-on boards performing similar functions for micros, but I'll let more knowledgeable people describe them.
tj@utcs.uucp (tj) (03/21/86)
I think you might look at video games. No really, there are a number of games, the first of which is Dragons Lair, which as I understand it uses laser video disks that are computer controlled to go to the various scenes quickly as possible depending on the responses the player has to stimuli. Should be fast enough for video CAI.