Principles of Video Technology

By: Halima Khan

Television StandardsAnalog

There are many types of analogues and many are included below:

PAL (Phase Alternating Line), SECAM (Sequential color for memory and NTSC (National television system committee).

These all are analogue television color encoding system that are used in broadcast television systems in many countries. These analogues help the national television systems to have good quality and good color encoding in countries around the world.

It can be represented as a series of sine waves. It is described as any fluctuating, evolving or continually changing process.

Broadcast and telephone transmission have used analog technology.

Television StandardsComponent video signals

Component video signals is a video signal that has been split into two or more component channels. The signals are broken up into different bits and are different to Composite video signals.

All the video information is combined into a single line level signal that is used in analog television.

Like composite video signals, component video cables do not carry audio.

They are often paired with audio cables.

Strengths: Component video signals have better color quality than composite video signals.

Weaknesses: -They are very expensive to buy

- There are many wires and not like the composite video cable where everything is in one cable

Television StandardsComposite video signals

In a composite video signal the Brightness and the Color signals are put together into one signal but for the component signal the brightness and color consists of three different signals.

Everything is put together in one cable so it is easier rather than the Component video signal as that has many signals.

It can easily be directed to any broadcast channel.

It is a signal that combines on one wire for color as well as frame

Strengths: -easier to use because its all in one cable.

Weaknesses: - Carrying the color information means everything is on one signal and has to be encoded in one way. It has to be compatible.

- Requires less processing to feed analog televisions but more complex processing.

Television StandardsDigital

A digital system is a technology that uses many values. It is a system that uses continuous range of values to represent information.

For example, numbers, letters and icons for images and sounds.

When data is transmitted, a certain amount of noise enters the signal.

The opposite of digital is analogue. All data that a computer processes must be encoded digitally because of the values and the numbers.

Computers are digital because they consist of discrete units and numbers.

A modem is used to convert the digital information in your computer to analog signals for your phone line.

Television Standards Digital HDMI, DVI and High definition video

Digital HDMI (High definition multimedia interface) is a audio and video interface for transmitting uncompressed digital data.

HDMI define video formats and waveforms. It supports on a single cable.

HDMI are easier to use and are good for audio. All you need for HDMI is one cable so it works properly and does not interfere with your other cables.

DVI (Digital video interface) is a video interface that covers the transmission of video between a computer and a display device.

Many DVI interface are featured on desktop computers.

DVI works for analogue and digital but does not work for audio.

HDV (High definition video) refers to any video system that is clear and better quality than normal. It also refers to having a video with higher resolution than normal.

Television StandardsWidescreen aspect ratios

The aspect ratio is an image projection that shows the proportional relationship between the width and height of an image. It is expressed in two numbers separated by a colon.

They are very important in the use of filming and also camera photography.

When images come on the TV, the image is normally enlarged from the original image and is cut off or zoomed to make the image form on the screen clearly. This is done by using aspect ratio.

It is a numerical comparison. It is normally the size of the picture in a film, for example, The black borders on the side of the picture on a TV.

Anamorphic lens is used during filming because it helps to squeeze the image in a film so it fits in well in the film on the TV screen.

Broadcast SystemsTerrestrial

Sometimes called Broadcast Television

These system includes local channels such as TVB Pearl, Jade and World.

It needs a tuner (a TV) with an Ariel to receive.

It is using radio waves through transmitting and receiving antennas.

It is free but the channels are limited.

Multiplexes

Multiplexing is sending multiple signals or streams of information on a carrier at the same time in the form of a single, complex signal and then recovering the separate signals the the receiving end.

Broadcast SystemsSatellite and Digital Broadcasting

It is a television programming delivered by communication satellite and are received by an outdoor antennae.

It is broadcasted then directed by a parabolic mirror (which is a satellite dish).

It requires a satellite receiver and can be analogue or digital.

In many areas of the world satellite television provides a wide range of channels and services especially to areas that don’t have terrestrial or cable providers.

The first satellite television signal was in relayed in Europe over North America in 1962.

Broadcast SystemsCable and Internet TV

Many people get their TV signal from cable television because cable TV provides a clearer picture and a more variety of channels.

Many people who have cable TV can get a high speed connection to the internet from the cable provider.

Strengths: When using the internet, the connection is faster and easier. Also its all in one provider box both TV channels and internet so its easier and simpler.

Weaknesses: Getting all the modem and provider box is expensive as it will cost a lot for all the internet usage and the different channels you have to pay for. Also, there may be problems because of everything being in one provider box and many problems can occur because of connection mix up.

Back in the olden days, many people didn’t have this technology so they never had a provider box that could handle all the channels in cable TV and their internet. Now a days many people are using this because it’s a faster and easier way of working and it doesn’t take up too much time to install.

Digital Recording

Professional and broadcast formats

There are many broadcast formats in different programs. For example a broadcasts format includes digital video formats including Blu-ray disc and DVD. These different broadcast formats tell us that there are many different formats in the broadcast area. You need to have these formats to either watch TV or use the internet because these formats help make the different programs on the TV or internet.

Digital RecordingTape and hard drive recording

Hard drive recording is a method of recording data to a hard drive disc. So that all the data you recorded is safely kept in that disc. There are many magnetic particles in the hard drive disc that keeps all your recording safely.

People can record all their favorite shows and programs and all the data and information would be saved in the hard drive disc.

Strengths: Many people would buy a hard drive disc because its easy and for anything. You can record anything digitally and it would be saved in the disc. Also it is easy to use if you need to record some important work. Also it is easy to buy because there are many shops around the world that sell hard drive recording discs.

Weaknesses: It may be expensive because it is latest technology and it is digital. Also it depends on what brand you buy because there are many different brands that sell hard drive recording discs. Some brands can sell not good quality but most of the discs have good quality recording.

Tapes also can record and store data inside but it depends what brand you buy because sometimes the quality is not so good. Now a days its harder to buy tape because hard drive recording is more convenient in stores.

Digital RecordingSolid state disc recording

Solid state disc recording is designed specifically for latest applications that require high data rate and storage capacity.

They are similar to hard drive recording because all the data is stored into the disc. But the solid state disc recording would store a higher data rate and store more recordings.

Strengths: It uses up to 50% less power and has no moving parts. It is convenient because of all the data being stored in the disc and it has more storage area. Many people buy this over the hard drive disc because there is more storage space in this one and the quality is much clearer.

Weaknesses: Many people also don’t buy this disc because it is much more expensive than the hard drive disc. This one is much more expensive because there is much more storage space and also the quality is much better. It also allows latest applications.

Digital EditingFile Management And File types

File management is a operating system or program that Is used to organise and keep track of files. It keeps all your files organised so that you don’t have to waste time in sorting them out yourselves. People use file management because a lot of the time there is a lot of files that get lost in different hard drives so using the file management program will help store and organise everything you record or tape.

Strengths: It is quick and easy because it organises all your files. Also the operating system runs smoothly and also provides more features such as improved back up procedures and stricter file protection.

Weaknesses: Very expensive especially with the new features and procedures with stricter file protection. Also there may be problems that will include losing files and not enough storage space.

File types have a system that stores codes for each file type. There are many different file types and programs and for that you need to have a code for each file type.

Digital EditingFile Size and Compression

File size measures the size of a computer file.

File size means that each and every file on your computer has its own size. The bigger the size the slower it takes to upload or import/export that file to another disc or computer.

Compression is the reduction in size of data in order to save more space. It helps the file size to become smaller and be compressed. When the file size becomes smaller it means that then when importing or exporting that file to another computer or disc, the importing and exporting time will be saved and everything will go faster.

Digital EditingHardware and Software

Hardware refers to the physical parts of a computer device. These also include hard drives.

Internal and External hardware devices all fall under the category of Hardware.

Software on the other hand consists of the programs and applications that run on the computer because software programs runs on computer hardware.

Software programs often have system requirements that list the minimum hardware required for the software to run.

Hardware also refers to objects that you can actually touch like disks, disk drives, display screens, key boards and printers. The opposite is software which you can not touch. It exists as ideas, concepts and symbols.

Software is important because you need software to make the computer useful. Otherwise you wont have any programs on your computer.

Digital EditingData Transfer and System Compatibility

Data transfer refers to the amount of digital information that moves from one computer to a device or another computer within a given period of time.

Data transfer also means that when you are exporting or importing a file to a device or the computer, how long it takes for that file to download into the area. It also depends about the file size. If the file size is very big then it will take along time to download into the computer as it takes more time when a file size is large.

System compatibility means that a piece of software or hardware will work conjointly with what you have already installed on the computer. For instance if you were installing software that was created to work with Windows XP, the software could also be designed to work with Vista.

Developers of the hardware or software will tell you either on their website or on the packaging what is compatible with what program.

Digital Editing

This is what happens when you are checking if your computer system programs are compatible or not.

Thank You for watching my Presentation