dan@ece.arizona.edu (Dan Filiberti) (02/20/91)
Our program is considering purchase of NEXT Dimension for color image analysis software development. The research requires the ability to not only display and manipulate 24-bit color images, but also to input these images from a video camera. Unfortunately, most high resolution video cameras only output via rgb signal connectors, not ntsc or s-video. And, we couldn't afford to lose image resolution by using ntsc or s-video. Question: Is there any way to input 24-bit truecolor images into the next via rgb signal? If not, is there any third-party video boards that will? Why didn't NEXT think of this when they made their color board? After all, some people don't want to do more with their computer than use it as a vcr. Any answers greatly appreciated... Thanks dan@helios.ece.arizona.edu [:)}
dan@ece.arizona.edu (Dan Filiberti) (02/21/91)
{What you want to input the video is to use the digital signal processor.
There are several products which already do this for audio.
ie they digitize the input to I believe cd quality 44khz/sec or some such
number.
And then they input it via the dsp port. Should be able to do this for
color (and it is ideally suited for this type of transfer)}
{We here at Los Alamos also have needs to get TrueColor RGB into the
NeXT box. I talked with Leo Hourvitz (NeXT's graphic's guru) when he
was out here in August showing us NeXTdimension under non-disclosure.
When I asked about why NeXTdimension had RGB output but no RGB input,
he replied that because of the chip set NeXT used, they essentially
got RGB output almost for free (with very minimal extra hardware and
labor), whereas RGB input would've required a lot of both. Maybe
there will be a "NeXTdimension II" in the future? In the meantime,
check into what MetaResearch is doing with Digital Eyes. There were
rumors they were going to do a color version.}
Ok, given all this stuff, here's a tougher question...
Is it practical, given that we require truecolor input, to purchase the
NextDimension....We don't need all the goodies on the color board, they
just add to the price. In other words, is there a third party vender
(such as the mentioned Digital Eyes) that will sell a 24-bit frame
buffer and capture board in the near future (3-5mos)? Why didn't NeXT
think of this, given that their machine will be used frequently in a
research environment that will most often require this sort of image
capture? After all, what good is built-in 24-bit color, capture, and
compression/decompression in real time if you can't get the images to
the board? At first we thought, hey this is great!, everything that we
need built right in to the machine! I don't think so, like they say, to
good to be true.
Any suggestions? Thanks for the comment on the dsp port, but how hard
is this, really? I'll take your suggested time frame for development of
the software and double it...or maybe some software already exists? Let
me know, this is important, if NeXT wants our purchase (we need lots of
equipment). After all, I like most everything else about the
machine....
Thanks...
Daniel Filiberti
dan@helios.ece.arizona.edu [:)}
P.S.: MUDders unite, I know you can run a MUD on the NeXT, why not
this??? :)