[AG-TECH] Video Titling for All...for the Cost of One VideoStream

[Paul Salva]

Good point!  Gabriel pointed out that it would be good if the video viewer
supported titling. That way sending program would only need to send a stream of
time coded text to port associated with the multicast group the video rendering
would take the text received and Blt the text on a frame by frame basis. This has
the advantage that no matter what the video quality is the text will be readable.
If the text is sent compressed into the video frame you won't be able to read the
text when higher compression settings are used.

note: Gabriel is working for Jason on enhancing the VVP - getting multiple iPAQs
to receive streams from the AG.

Thanks!

Bob Olson wrote:

> I'd be even more interested in an extension that would present titling as
> additional text below the window that doesn't use up our already-limited
> pixel space.
>
> --bob
>
> On Tue, 30 Oct 2001, Ivan R. Judson wrote:
>
> >
> > Alternatively if anyone is interested in testing Open Mash's vic, it claims
> > to have the ability to load a ppm overlay.  We are interested in it's
> > comparative performance to the ucl vic we've been using, as well as it's
> > stability.
> >
> > http://www.openmash.org/
> >
> > --Ivan
> >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: owner-ag-tech at mcs.anl.gov [mailto:owner-ag-tech at mcs.anl.gov]On
> > > Behalf Of Allan Spale
> > > Sent: Tuesday, October 30, 2001 3:09 PM
> > > To: ag-tech at mcs.anl.gov
> > > Subject: [AG-TECH] Video Titling for All...for the Cost of One Video
> > > Stream
> > >
> > >
> > > Hello,
> > >
> > > I have determined a way for * everyone * to have the capability to add a
> > > banner title in a manner similar to what is seen on the video stream of
> > > EVL.  Even though the setup is a bit more cumbersome than using a video
> > > mixer, I would estimate that you would have about the same degree of
> > > flexibility.  All of these steps must be performed on the video machine
> > > running a Gnome desktop (it is probably possible to do these steps on
> > > another windowing system, but I am not experienced with Linux desktops
> > > like KDE, so I would not know how offhand) with at least four
> > > "pagers"/desktops (this is the thing in the center of the task-bar-like
> > > thing that shows how windows are arranged on your desktop).
> > >
> > > Here are the steps to take:
> > >
> > >
> > > 1.  Determine the video stream that you would want to have the banner
> > > title (called "SOURCE VIDEO" from now on).  Find the VIC window that
> > > contains this video stream and bring up its window in one of the top
> > > desktop (that is, on this diagram, make sure that the "highlighted
> > > desktop" is one of the top desktops or rectangles).
> > >
> > > 2.  Move the "task bar" by pressing one of the arrow buttons on the "task
> > > bar".  If done properly, it should slide to the left or the right and
> > > "disappear".  (To bring it back, press the visible arrow button.)
> > >
> > > 3.  Move the SOURCE VIDEO to the bottom left-hand portion of the screen so
> > > that only the title bar of the window is seen on this desktop.  On the
> > > desktop below, the video stream should appear.
> > >
> > > 4.  Find the VIC window that contains a video stream that is not needed
> > > (called "X11 VIDEO" from now on).  On that VIC window, press the Menu
> > > button.  In the dialog box that appears, press the Device button.  From
> > > the list that appears, select X11.  Then press the Dismiss button.  This
> > > will now allow that video stream to capture the upper-left hand corner of
> > > whatever desktop is currently viewed on your screen.
> > >
> > > 5.  Use the applet in the center of the task bar to switch to the lower
> > > desktop.  This should display the desktop that has the SOURCE VIDEO window
> > > with the title bar appearing in the above desktop.  If you have your
> > > display machine video visible at this time, bring up the X11 VIDEO window.
> > > You will notice that the X11 VIDEO window should be transmitting the
> > > SOURCE VIDEO.  As a result, you should have two video windows that have
> > > exactly the same content.  If you are unhappy with the location of the
> > > video window, return to the above desktop and move the video window again
> > > until it is in an acceptable location.
> > >
> > > 6.  Staying in this desktop, bring up a graphics program or text program
> > > that you will use for titling.  Electric Eyes (found in the Graphics menu
> > > that appears when pressing the "G" button on the task bar) is a good
> > > program because it allows graphics to be scaled depending on how large the
> > > window is.  For text, try gEdit (found in the Applications menu that
> > > appears when pressing the "G" button on the task bar).  For animations,
> > > you could try Flash and a browser or Java.
> > >
> > > 7.  Open the file or create the content that will act as the banner title
> > > (called "CONTENT" from now on).
> > >
> > > 8.  Position the CONTENT somewhere on the video window ignoring the fact
> > > the location of the CONTENT's title bar.  For name titling, placing the
> > > CONTENT on the lower portion of the X11 VIDEO is suitable.
> > >
> > > 9.  Once the CONTENT has been placed, right-click on the title bar of the
> > > CONTENT, and select "Set Border Style" -> BORDERLESS.  Once this is done,
> > > the borders of the CONTENT window and the title bar of the CONTENT window
> > > disappear.  Note that once you do this, you cannot move that window.  You
> > > would have to reload the content and repeat this step.  Repeat this step
> > > for all windows that should contatin content.
> > >
> > > 10.  On the X11 VIDEO, switch to the desktop containing the title bar of
> > > the X11 VIDEO.  Right-click on the title bar of the X11 VIDEO and select
> > > "Set Border Style" -> SHAPED.  This will remove the borders of the X11
> > > VIDEO window.
> > >
> > > 11.  Now, make the CONTENT windows active so that they appear over the X11
> > > VIDEO, and you have a titled video window.
> > >
> > > 12.  On any desktop where you hid the task bar, press the button on the
> > > hidden taks bar to make it reappear.
> > >
> > >
> > > So, that's it.  If anyone has any questions or comments or better ideas,
> > > please share them.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Allan
> > > EVL/UIC
> > > node-op
> > >
> >
> >