Digital Movies Research Articles

Is hyperlinking to decryption software illegal?

Is a computer program a form of speech, protected in the United States under the First Amendment of its Constitution, or is it a device? In a case now under appeal, a federal court in New York City ruled that so called DeCSS software $computer code that breaks the encryption scheme of DVDs - while deemed speech of a sort, does not merit the constitutional protection afforded to "pure expression." The federal court agreed with the case's movie-industry plaintiffs that DeCSS "accomplishes a mechanical task," and so resembles a device and is not protected. The court went even further: hyperlinks to pages with the DeCSS code may in some cases not be constitutionally protected speech and could be prohibited from being implemented. The plaintiffs in the case, eight movie studios, belong to an industry trade group, the Motion Picture Association of America, in Encino, Calif. The studios sued 2600, a quarterly magazine for hackers, for publishing the DeCSS code on its Web site and linking to other pages that also displayed the DeCSS code. The suit asked that 2600 be enjoined from both activities. The studios are concerned that code like DeCSS renders their encryption scheme ineffective, and that illegal copying and distribution of digital movies could become widespread.

Finite-Difference-Time-Domain Analysis for Electro-Magnetic Field Distribution on Near-Field Optical Recording Probe Head

In recent years there has been a strong trend and movement towards digitalism and high memory capacity in the multi-media field including digital movies. It is expected that new kinds of high density data storage to match this environment will be developed. The optical disk system using near-field optics and technology is considered to be a strong candidate for ultra-high density optical memory. In order to realize a new optical recording system we have focused on the writing head with high optical efficiency and resolution. We evaluated the properties of pyramidal probe heads using the FDTD (finite difference time domain) method and obtained simulation results in order to find the best structure and design for new near-field optical probes. From these results, we understood that a novel probe structure having metal layers on just 3 side planes (scoop type) shows the best performance in optical power density and beam size. We believe that optical enhancement and beam confinement arise from the effect of surface plasmon on a metal layer and the beam blocking of metal, respectively. Using this scoop-type probe having a tip size of 55 nm, we can get a very small spot size of 33 #x00D7; 60 nm2 in FWHM (full with half maximum), which allows us to realize the recording density of 300 Gb/in2.

Visual quantum mechanics: selected topics with computer-generated animations of quantum-mechanical phenomena

From the Publisher: Visual Quantum Mechanics uses the computer-generated animations found on the accompanying CD-ROM to introduce, motivate, and illustrate the concepts explained in the book. By watching QuickTime movies of the solutions of Schrodinger's equation, students will develop a feeling for the behavior of quantum-mechanical systems, which cannot be gained by conventional means. There is no special emphasis on computational physics or requirement that the reader know a symbolic computation package. Visual Quantum Mechanics carefully describes the mathematical principles of the theory and aims to fill a gap between classical quantum mechanics texts and mathematical physics books. Despite the presentation of rather advanced topics, the book requires only calculus, making complicated results more comprehensible via visualization. The CD-ROM provides easy access to more than 300 digital movies, animated illustrations, and interactive pictures. The supplementary material also includes hundreds of Mathematica notebooks for the reader's own experiments and Mathematica-related software for the numerical solution of Schrodinger's equation.

Abstracts of Recent Articles and Literature

Abstracts of Recent Articles and Literature

Three-dimensional planning and simulation of hip operations and computer-assisted construction of endoprostheses in bone tumor surgery.

This article presents the VIRTOPS (VIRTual Operation Planning in Orthopaedic Surgery) software system for virtual preoperative planning and simulation of hip operations. The system is applied to simulate the endoprosthetic reconstruction of the hip joint with hemipelvic replacement, and supports the individual design of anatomically adaptable, modular prostheses in bone tumor surgery. The virtual planning of the operation and the construction of the individual implant are supported by virtual reality techniques. The central step of the operation planning procedure, the placement of the cutting plane in the hip bone, depends strongly on the tumor's position. Segmentation of the tumor and the bones in MR and CT data, as well as fusion of MR and CT image sequences, is necessary to visualize the tumor's position within the hip bone. Three-dimensional models of the patient's hip are generated based on CT image data. A ROI-based segmentation algorithm enables the separation of the bone tumor in multispectral MR image sequences. A special registration method using segmentation results has been developed to transfer CT and MR data into one common coordinate system. During the 3D planning process, the surgeon simulates the operation and defines the position and geometry of the custom-made endoprosthesis. Stereoscopic visualization and 3D input devices facilitate navigation and 3D interaction in the virtual environment. Special visualization techniques such as texture mapping, color coding of quantitative parameters, and transparency support the determination of the correct position and geometry of the prosthesis. The VIRTOPS system enables the complete virtual planning of hip operations with endoprosthetic reconstruction, as well as the optimal placement and design of endoprostheses. After the registration and segmentation of CT and MR data, 3D visualizations of the tumor within the bone are generated to support the surgeon during the planning procedure. In the virtual planning environment, individually adapted endoprostheses can be constructed without the need to generate expensive solid 3D models. Furthermore, different operation strategies can be compared easily. Three-dimensional images and digital movies generated during the virtual operation planning can be used for case documentation and patient information purposes.

Three-Dimensional Planning and Simulation of Hip Operations and Computer-Assisted Construction of Endoprostheses in Bone Tumor Surgery

Objective: This article presents the VIRTOPS (VIRTual Operation Planning in Orthopaedic Surgery) software system for virtual preoperative planning and simulation of hip operations. The system is applied to simulate the endoprosthetic reconstruction of the hip joint with hemipelvic replacement, and supports the individual design of anatomically adaptable, modular prostheses in bone tumor surgery. The virtual planning of the operation and the construction of the individual implant are supported by virtual reality techniques. The central step of the operation planning procedure, the placement of the cutting plane in the hip bone, depends strongly on the tumor's position. Segmentation of the tumor and the bones in MR and CT data, as well as fusion of MR and CT image sequences, is necessary to visualize the tumor's position within the hip bone.Materials and Methods: Three-dimensional models of the patient's hip are generated based on CT image data. A ROI-based segmentation algorithm enables the separation of the bone tumor in multispectral MR image sequences. A special registration method using segmentation results has been developed to transfer CT and MR data into one common coordinate system. During the 3D planning process, the surgeon simulates the operation and defines the position and geometry of the custom-made endoprosthesis. Stereoscopic visualization and 3D input devices facilitate navigation and 3D interaction in the virtual environment. Special visualization techniques such as texture mapping, color coding of quantitative parameters, and transparency support the determination of the correct position and geometry of the prosthesis.Results and Conclusions: The VIRTOPS system enables the complete virtual planning of hip operations with endoprosthetic reconstruction, as well as the optimal placement and design of endoprostheses. After the registration and segmentation of CT and MR data, 3D visualizations of the tumor within the bone are generated to support the surgeon during the planning procedure. In the virtual planning environment, individually adapted endoprostheses can be constructed without the need to generate expensive solid 3D models. Furthermore, different operation strategies can be compared easily. Three-dimensional images and digital movies generated during the virtual operation planning can be used for case documentation and patient information purposes.

Making movies on a weekend.

Digital movies have become popular for displaying micrographs at seminars (14) or on the Web (6). It is now practical to produce acceptable presentations using digital images collected with various microscopes and affordable laboratorybased microcomputers. This column will describe some of the methods that are now available to the microscopist for producing digital movies and the requirements for their display using different media including video, digital slide presentations and the Web.

Challenges in DMD™ Assembly and Test

ABSTRACTThe Digital Micromirror Device™ (DMD™) developed at Texas Instruments is a spatial light modulator composed of 500,000 to 1.3 million movable micromachined aluminum mirrors. The DMD™ serves as the engine for the current generation of computer-driven slide and video projectors, and for next generation devices in digital television and movie projectors. The unique architecture and applications of the device present several packaging and test challenges. This paper provides a description of package humidity modeling and verification testing, as well as an overview of the automated optical testing and test equipment that have been developed to support manufacturing of the DMD™.

Moving Particles and Wave Packet Propagation: A Computer Animated Supplement

Authors and educators have frequently been frustrated by the inability of equations and graphs to properly convey the temporal qualities of dynamic systems. Digital animations have been developed to help overcome this frustration. These animations compare classical and quantum trajectories of a pulsed particle beam, a harmonic oscillator in the absence of external perturbations and a harmonic oscillator irradiated with a resonance electromagnetic field. These digital movies supplement and enhance several previous journal articles.This JCE Internet article can be accessed from http://jchemed.chem.wisc.edu/JCEWWW/Articles/.

Remediating Theatre in a Digital Proscenium

The paper examines and evaluates the transposition of live theatre performance into a digital multimedia environment utilising QuickTime (or equivalent) movie software for use on standard PCs. Writers such as Brenda Laurel have discussed the close correspondences between theatre and computers, and CD-ROM authoring software such as Director clearly adopts theatrical paradigms and terminology. The differences between attending a performance in a theatre and viewing a recording on a computer screen are outlined, and how these two experiences differ in what is expected from the audience/user. The distortions inherent in any video recording of a theatre event are explored, with particular reference to differentials in performance scale. The flickering, low-r esolution picture typifying video playback on CD-ROMs is then argued to be a positive virtue in the remediation of theatrical footage, and far preferable to full-screen video recordings. A number of reasons are proposed which explore ideas around documentary realism, visual and aesthetic convention, totemic fetishisation, and Brecht's alienation theory. It is suggested that the small-window digital movie placed within the larger multimedia screen where other graphical codes and images can co-exist and interact with the video footage, creates a dual proscenium that is poetic, evocative, and inherently theatrical.

Transient temperature measurements in a convectively cooled droplet

The transient cooling of an evaporating water droplet, suspended in a jet of dry air, was experimentally investigated in this study using thermochromic liquid crystal thermography. Microencapsulated beads of thermochromic liquid crystals, suspended in the water droplets, enabled the visualization of the transient temperature fields within the droplets. Digital movies of the convectively cooled droplets reveal spatial and temporal temperature gradients resolved down to length scales of ∼100 μm and time scales of ∼0.03 s. The transient temperature measurements were analyzed to yield total droplet convective heat transfer rates. Droplet heat transfer rates determined from a heat balance on the droplets compare favorably to previously published measurements.

Using digital video analysis in introductory mechanics projects

During the first semester of our calculus-based introductory physics course sequence, students work in small groups on mechanics projects. Many teams choose digital video analysis for projects involving mechanics. We discuss the management of collaborative projects and schemes for critiquing collaborative papers and assigning individual grades. We also describe some of the more interesting projects. Finally, we offer some advice on how to find the information needed to create good digital video movies.

Increased Resolution on an ICFLCD Through Field Sequential Sub Pixel Illumination

AbstractThe ultimate goal of many types of display system (HMD, digital movie projector, simulator) is to produce images with an angular resolution approaching the human eye's natural limit. For most displays, this implies a resolution of many thousands of lines — far beyond what is possible for any real time system in existence today. DTI has demonstrated a technique that promises to produce ultra‐high resolution images through innovative illumination of a fast low cost ICFLCD or potentially a DLP. DTI's method creates images with more resolution than is provided by the pixels themselves by using time multiplexed illumination. Specifically, during four sequential scans of the ICFLCD, the four quadrants of each pixel are illuminated in sequence, building up an image made up of the illuminated quadrants rather than the pixels themselves.

Firewire goes Hollywood

Leading PC and consumer electronics companies have joined forces to deploy a technology to protect digital movies and music from being illegally copied. The upcoming plug and play connection technology will play a big role in protecting content in DVD devices.

Multiple descent cost competition: restorable self-organization and multimedia information processing

Multiple descent cost competition is a composition of learning phases for minimizing a given measure of total performance, i.e., cost. If these phases are heterogeneous toward each other, the total learning algorithm shows a variety of extraordinary abilities; especially in regards to multimedia information processing. In the first phase of descent cost learning, elements of source data are grouped. Simultaneously, a weight vector for minimal learning, (i.e., a winner), is found. Then, the winner and its partners are updated for further cost reduction. Therefore, two classes of self-organizing feature maps are generated. One is called a grouping feature map, which partitions the source data. The other is an ordinary weight vector feature map. The grouping feature map, together with the winners, retains most of the source data information. This feature map is able to assist in a high quality approximation of the original data. Traditional weight vector feature maps lack this ability. Another important capacity of the grouping feature map is that it can change its shape. Thus, the grouping pattern can accept external directions in order to metamorphose. In the text, the total algorithm of the multiple descent cost competition is explained first. In that section, image processing concepts are introduced in order to assist in the description of this algorithm. Then, a still image is first data-compressed (DC). Next, a restored image is morphed using the grouping feature map by receiving directions given by an external intelligence. Next, an interpolation of frames is applied in order to complete animation coding (AC). Thus, multiple descent cost competition bridges "DC to AC." Examples of multimedia processing on virtual digital movies are given.

Production and presentation of digital movies

222, 84-94 Over the past five years, photographic and video-tape documentation of microscopic data has gradually be- come outmoded and has been super- seded by digital image acquisition systems. There are many advantages of digital images over film or video. Acquisition is convenient and fast, and images can be duplicated without loss of information. Furthermore, digital images provide quantitative and pos- itional data maps of specimens, mak- ing them amenable to digital process- ing to enhance features of interest and extract information that is not readily apparent to the eye. With the advent of the digital-imaging age has come the problem of how to present digital movies in a video world. Televisions, monitors and projectors in the USA adhere to the National Televisions Systems Committee (NTSC) standard signal with 525 horizontal lines of resolution scanned at 30 times a second; most of Western Europe uses the phase-alternating line system (PAL) standard of 625 lines at 25 Hz, while in France and Eastern Europe 'Sequential Couleur ~ Memoire' (SECAM, sequen- tial colour with memory), which is similar in resolution to PAL, is standard video format. By contrast, modern computer displays typically offer res- olutions nearly twice as good as video (e.g. 1280) 150 Hz. In preparing for presentations at major scientific meetings, we were recently confronted with the task of presenting our time-lapse series of digi- tal fluorescence images of living cells using the audio visual (A/V) equipment available, without degrading the qual- ity of our data. We produced 20-min movies on super-video (S-VHS) tape, including timed text, graphics and movie clips. This article outlines the equipment requirements for this type of small-scale scientific digital movie production (see Table 1 ).

Insights on WWW-based geoscience teaching: Climbing the first year learning cliff

In early 1995, The University of British Columbia Department of Geological Sciences (now Earth and Ocean Sciences) initiated a project that explored the effectiveness of the World Wide Web as a teaching and learning medium. Four decisions made at the onset of the project have guided the department's educational technology plan: (1) over 90% of funding recieved from educational technology grants was committed towards personnel; (2) materials developed are modular in design; (3) a data-base approach was taken to resource development; and (4) a strong commitment to student involvement in courseware development. The project comprised development of a web site for an existing core course: Geology 202, Introduction to Petrology. The web site a a Url http://www.science.ubc.ca/ is a gateway to course information, content, resources, exercises, and several searchable data-bases (images, petrologic definitions, and minerals in thin section). Material was developed on either an IBM or UNIX machine, ported to a UNIX platform, and is accessed using the Netscape browser. The resources consist primarily of HTML files or CGI scripts with associated text, images, sound, digital movies, and animations. Students access the web site from the departmental student computer facility, from home or a computer station in the petrology laboratory. Results of a survey of the Geol 202 students indicate that they found the majority of the resources useful, and the site is being expanded. The Geology 202 project had a “trickle-up” effect throughout the department: prior to this project, there was minimal use of Internet resources in lower-level geology courses. By the end of the 1996–1997 academic year, we anticipate that at least 17 Earth and Ocean Science courses will have a WWW site for one or all of the following uses: (1) presenting basic information; (2) accessing lecture images; (3) providing a jumping-off point for exploring related WWW sites; (4) conducting on-line exercises; and/or (5) providing a communications forum for students and faculty via a Hypernews group.

Use of World Wide Web server and browser software to support a first-year medical physiology course.

We describe the use of a World Wide Web (Web) server to support a team-taught physiology course for first-year medical students. Our objectives were to reduce the number of formal lecture hours and enhance student enthusiasm by using more multimedia materials and creating opportunities for interactive learning. On-line course materials, consisting of administrative documents, lecture notes, animations, digital movies, practice tests, and grade reports, were placed on a departmental computer with an Internet connection. Students used Web browsers to access on-line materials from a variety of computing platforms on campus, at home, and at remote sites. To assess use of the materials and their effectiveness, we analyzed 1) log files from the server, and 2) the results of a written course evaluation completed by all students. Lecture notes and practice tests were the most-used documents. The students' evaluations indicated that computer use in class made the lecture material more interesting, while the on-line documents helped reinforce lecture materials and the textbook. We conclude that the effectiveness of on-line materials depends on several different factors, including 1) the number of instructors that provide materials; 2) the quantity of other materials handed out; 3) the degree to which computer use is demonstrated in class and integrated into lectures; and 4) the ease with which students can access the materials. Finally, we propose that additional implementation of Internet-based resources beyond what we have described would further enhance a physiology course for first-year medical students.

Topical Papers on Applications of Lasers to Memory. DVD-RAM Recording Media.

DVD-RAM is a rewritable DVD disk which has a capacity of 5.2GB. DVD-RAM disk can be recorded an MPEG2 compressed digital movie that is 2.5 hours in length, and is planned to be readable in DVD-ROM drive. DVD-RAM drive can also read CD-ROM disk and DVD-ROM disk.

Using digital video techniques to identify correlations between behavior and the activity of single neurons

Digital movies were made of freely behaving rats in a cylinder. At the same time, action potentials were recorded from single hippocampal neurons. We describe a data processing scheme that allows the spike data and the movie to be merged. A display of the ongoing unit activity was added to each frame in the movie. This provided a powerful new way to examine the relationships between behavior and spike discharge. A second type of data processing, activity-edited video identified and used interesting episodes of neuronal activity (e.g. fast firing) to select the corresponding frames from the original movie. The activity-edited movie can then be viewed to look for behavioral invariances during the episodes that were selected according to the cell's firing rate. The feasibility of these methods was tested by applying them to post-subicular head direction cells and hippocampal place cells because these cell classes have well characterized behavioral correlates. The digital video techniques captured the head direction and place cell phenomena and provided a novel and robust description of the relationship between the firing of these cells and the overall behavior of the rat.