MSEC Multimedia Elective, Fall 2002, Homework 6: Digitizing Video and Synchronizing Text to Video

Due December 5, 2002

Assignment Requirements

Part 1: Digitizing an interview. You will be responsible for digitizing at least 10 sequences of video of an interview, with yourself as the person being interviewed. We suggest you pair up and have one person ask the questions.  Sample questions might include “how old are you?”, “what is your name?”, “what are your hobbies?”, “where were you born?”, and “what do you like to eat?”  Include “generic” answers such as “no”, “yes”, “how dare you ask that!” and “that question is not within the scope of this interview.” You should then store these digital clips on the MSEC server.  These clips will become part of the synthetic video interview, which you will create in a future homework assignment. Do not record the questions, just the answers. Each answer should be a separate digital file. Select the encoding parameters carefully, you should be using no more than 100MB total space for all the interview files.

You should use the Logitech recording tool. If you feel adventurous, download the Windows Media Encoder and use it to encode the video. If you don't have a camera available, we can lend out some Logitech QuickCam cameras for this assignment. Please use them carefully and return them as soon as you are done, or pass them on to the next group.

On your web site, post a list of the questions and the clips. (85 points)

Part 2: Synchronizing text and video.

For at least one of the clips, create a synchronized presentation format where the video plays and at the same time text appears and disappears. The text could be a 'translation' of what you are saying or a repetition of the question, or a simple transcription of your words. For an example, go back to the lecture on SMILE and multimedia presentations.  For this assignment it will definitely help if you paid attention in class when we discussed synchronous media. Remember, due to lack of standards not everything will work with the windows media player (or the windows media encoded files). If your file only works with the Realplayer or Quicktime, please state that clearly on your submission.

On your web site, make sure you clearly identify the clip(s) with text+video (15 points)

Extra credit (3pts): Can you make the text scrolling across the page while the video is playing.

More extra credit (7pts): Add some of the digitized images from assignment #2, or sounds and music from assignment #4 into the appropriate places in the synchronized media files.   You may also include newly acquired or created material.