SURROGATE TRAVEL VIA OPTICAL VIDEODISC
by
Peter E. Clay
Submitted in partial fulfillment
of the requirements for the
degree of
Bachelor of Science
at the
MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
September 1978
Signature of Author
Department of Urb7"FuTdies adiRI"Panning
August 11, 1978
Certified by
/
Nicholas Negroponte, Thesis Supervisor
Associate Professor of Computer Graphics
Accepted by
Professor Aaron Fleisher
irector, DUSP undergraduate program
The work documented in this report has been sponsored by the
Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency under contract
MDA903-78-C-0039
MASSACHUSETTS
OF TfC8NO9L)YINSTITUTE
JUN 1 1984
LIBRARIES
-
Table
is
a Videodisc?
The System Implemented
The
Contents
3
Abstract
What
of
2 -
Theoretical
Framework
4
8
12
Appendix
15
Notes
19
Bibliography
20
-
3 -
ABSTRACT
Surrogate Travel
Via Optical Videodisc
by
Peter Eastman Clay
submitted to the Department of Urban Studies and Planning on
August
11,
1978 in partial
fulfillment
of the
requirements
for
the degree of Bachelor of Science.
Abstract:
This
paper
describes
a
system
which
"teaches"
the landmarks of a path through an area
to
an
unknowledgeable
user.
The user is taught
these
landmarks
by
a
sequential
display
of
pictures
taken
along the user defined path.
The
system
draws on the capabilities and explores the
a graphic
possibilities
of an optical
videodisc,
and a dedicated mini computer. The
frame buffer,
the
system
is
two-fold:
1)
To
intent
of
demonstrate
some
of
the potentials
for
computer
aided
graphical
instruction,
2)
To add to the
field
of knowledge about cognitive
mapping.
-
WHAT
Optical
video.
one
video
Videodiscs
videodisc
can do that,
some
are
something new
can
other
rather
numbers
defines
instantly
1/60th
of,
second,
a
to desired
location
One can also
the
scratch,
thin
of color
videotapes
contact
of
a
depending
on
harming
the
the
videodisc
data
in
plastic.
signal
54,000
jargon that
frames is UNIQUELY
Current technology
on
than
proximity of current
disc.
image in
laser.
material,
any way.
for as long
frame
any way.
from the
power
low
with the stored
of clear
However,
second is
computer
look at any individual
or harm the
layer
with
these
images are reconstructed
deflection
physical
special,
frames a
ACCESSABLE.
location
without
as one wants,
because
hour
than 5 seconds but not better
as less
to
information on one side of one
each one of
INSTANTLY
and
30
to
54 billion bits of
IDENTIFIED
one half
30 minutes of video
(Translating
On a videodisc
disk.)
videodiscs are
associated
impressive.
frames.
to
the world of
to cassette tapes. One side
about
minute times
60 seconds a
comes
store
in
and they have been around for years.
are
individual
by a
VIDEODISC?
This figure is nothing
the
of
technology
the
A
videocassettes are
imagery.
times
IS
A good introductory comparision is:
LP records as
of
4 -
This is
disc through
Thus there
is
no
nothing to wear,
The data
is
protected
Except on the most
exotic
-
individual
frame
frame,
if
accessable
to
frames,
is
a
keyword
thousand
market.
public
TV set
These
and
dollars
socket,
are in
the same means.
in
material
cost
dollars
ten
of
price
on
it.
cost
of
show
is
shape,
that
a
price
five
blank videocassette.
are far
one
to
ten
on the
to your home
they are self-contained.
they are
day LP's,
and are
through
manufactured
a
producing
disc
is
first
to
then to
laser.
high powered
copies can be made.
Overhead
$1000,
but the
sixty cents.
Eight to
runs
to
about
retail
the
for
estimate
a two sided disc with some
videodiscs
and
directly
industry
very
The
of between
player,
of each copy is about
current
do not
videodiscs.
source material on videotape,
This compares
a
selling
otherwise
The process of
the
They too,
optical
interface
makng the master
involved
instantly
though they are not yet
this master thousands of
From
Magnetic
long.
master using a relatively
a
out
1000.
an
done to that
and
the fashion of present
obtain a master of the
carve
a
too
for
discs,
the same size,
exactly
identified
with
The players
a wall
discs
for
harm is
couple minutes.
but only up to
for recorded
dollars
than a
look at
to
possible
then great
are suggesting a
manufacturers
four
not
uniquely
one place
remain in
Cost
and
for more
have
also
is
and even
one looks
videodiscs
like
it
machines,
videotape
5 -
movie like "The Sting"
favorably
to the
The comparisions
and away
the
dollar
fifteen
in
table
cheapest
storage
one
6 -
-
medium around.
Table
Per frame
1:
cost,
in
cents,
(54,000 per set)
MEDIUM
1
10
visuals
1
QUANTITY
100
1000
35mm color slides
35mm color
film strips
Microfiche, color
0.25
0.122
0.15
0.20
0.02
0.022
Microfilm, monochrome
Videodisc
0.10
0.0083
0.017
0.0076
0.0076
0.0008 0.000006 0.000001
Videodiscs
are also
possible
and
all
to
store
of
it's
then there
with current
supplements,
on one
space.
each other
to
any
find
minutes,
particular
not
seconds
available
include:
stepping
playing
backward,
second(fps),
fps,
Britannica
side of a disc.
Even
you where each slide was
slide?
The
as it
one
time would be measured
with the videodisc.
is
of
user
a
an
frame forward,
forward
searchinq
to
at
a
any
fps,
specific
The
set
in
of
videodisc
optical
stepping one frame
standard
30 frames
frame
per
number,
scanning backward at 60
slow motion forward and
from 30 down to 0,
It is
how long would it take you to
scanning forward at 60 to 1000
1000
technology.
slide,
to
functions
storage
If someone gave you 54,000
slides and a stack of paper telling
relative
picture
of the Encyclopedia
every page
would be extra
0.09
0.0085
0.0083
0.15
0.0085
0.0083
the most convenient
medium of any form available
to
for still
backward at
any fps
selection of on/off for the two channels
-
of
sound,
plus
other
technology
the
set
possible
is
only
by
Other
possibility.
the
of
A storage
on
the
are listed
piece
as
possibilities,
in
MCA,
one half
medium capable of storing
video
Capable of complete
signal.
any of
random access to
54,000 frames.
3. Cheap to reproduce in large quantity
4. Convient because
of broad
range
built into player.
5.
Compatible with your home TV set.
6.
A
read only medium.
of
(one
the Appendix.
of a videodisc
capabilites
of
is
This project
videodisc is:
hour of NTSC
2.
this
the Movie Corporation of America,
summary
order. A
1.
for
being discovered.
producer of optical videodiscs)
A
depending
of applications
just
beginning of one
suggested
capabilites
is controlling the disc.
microprocessor that
The
7
functions
is
in
-
THE
The
landmarks
system
wishes to
about,
the
scan frame
central
place
map
sits
the
wishes to
learn
in
the
the
of
representation
delete
the
from
points
a path
he/she
the user the
done through the
of an optical
capabilities
of a
system,
he/she is
is
a
digitized
Various
map of the
controls
are placed
changes over the course of
machine.
about.
a
a path on the base
This path is stored as a
the machine.
of
memory
onto the
path.
this
Through the use of
user defines
of
location
exact
use the
One
overlaid
dots are
transparent
show
down to
the
with
points
of
This is
capabilities
This picture
sensing tablet
series
machine
The other image is a picture of some
map.
stay
she/he
with the physical
manipulation
video images.
this
users
help teach the
buffer.
on that map.
location
path.
of the MIT campus.
part
to
system "teaches"
storage
image
user
two
along-side
the
image
the
a
and the
along that
large
and
presented
one
to the
use
When
is
The user defines
landmarks
raster
implemented
unfamiliar
physical
videodisc
IMPLEMENTED
someone
learn
of
SYSTEM
of an area to
environment.
8 -
each
base map.
in
point
The user
is
free
Small
These dots
the machine
to add and
through
simple
defined the path,
he/she
representation
control mashanisms.
After
the
user
has
fully
9 -
-
touches
The
the
machine
of
set
The
then
pictures
button which
looks
into
its
which are taken
system
then
and in
where,
On
"START"
overlays
is
overlaid
onto the map.
data bases and pulls
from points
out
along that
a
path.
onto the map representations of
which direction,
each
picture
is
taken from.
the other monitor the actual pictures are shown, one at a
The
time.
shown
pictures taken nearest to the path beginning are
first
finally
and then moving
reaching the end.
slowly
he/she
point
The
by point
along the path,
controls
how quickly or
user
to see these pictures.
wishes
The user can
also stop and review any group of the p*ctures from anywhere
the
along
symbol
corresponding
from.
symbol
the
a
color
comes
changes
the new picture
monitors,
core
configured
memory
as
This is
its
to
viewpoint
a
original
the symbol
color and
color.
the system consists
of
Ramtek RM9300 frame buffer graphic
an MCA videodisc
player,
an Interdata 7/32 minicomputer with
Summagraphics tablet,
256k
color.
on the monitor,
to its
returns
display system(640 by 480 rasters),
a
being displayed,
exactly where that picture has been taken
previous picture
for
is
the map changes
on
From a more specific
two
picture
When the next picture
the
for
user
the
inform
As
path.
and
shown in
a Trident magnetic disc.
diagram
1.
These are
-
Diagram
1:
10
-
Block diagram of i;stem configuration
--------------------------------------------
All
input
from
the
user
on
the
map
superimposed
position
on the
via
the tablet.
monitor
the
cursor is
coresponding to
the pen
to the
tablet
cursor on the screen to move to the
right
will
right.
This allows an easy method of "pointing"
All of the picture
on the map.
A
Moving the pen on the
tablet.
cause
is
at
any place
images are stored on
the MCA
form an independant
videodisc.
The MCA and monitor together
subsystem.
The central processor sends only a frame number;
the
up
calls
MCA
number and shows
on
storage
in
The
source,
the
monitor are
frame
also
a seperate
display
base map is loaded into the Ramtek from
magnetic
the
onto this
Overlays
residing
and
area
The
system.
with that
it on the monitor.
Ramtek
The
associated
picture
the
disc
through the main
map are controlled
processor.
by the system program
core of the Interdata.
magnetic
disc
and a permanent
stores
static
the
data
base map,
base.
the program
This data base
is
-
by
used
program
the
base stores:
videodisc,
what
when to generate
current
path,
when
Some of these
a
to
a
new
of pictures
set
clear
functions
frame
the
are
directly
such as clearing the overlays;
user,
as in
new point is
regenerating
inserted
into
the set
the
in
running
on the map in
overlay
to
buffer,
when
and what angle
the
show what picture from
controlling when to
It is
Interdata.
by the
from,
the software
of the system is
The heart
the user,
taken
the data
picture
covers.
of view it
overlays.
For each
is
where the picture
on the
which pictures
determine
are around which point.
videodisc
the
to
-
11
the
frame
based on the
buffer
controlled
of all
by
others are implied
of pictures
path.
to show
-
-
12
THE THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK
In the process of way-finding, the strategic
link
is the environmental image,
the
generalized
mental picture
of the exterior
physical
world that
is
held
by
an
individual.
This
image is the
product
both of immediate sensation,
and of the
memory
of
past
experience,
and
it is used to
interpret
information
and
to
quide action.
The
need
to recognize and pattern
our surroundings is
so
crucial,
and has such long roots
in the past,
this
that
image has wide practical and emotional
importance
But
to the individual.
how is
it
of the environment?
often
for
grasps
anything
in
to
Yet
"mental picture"
very
complex
an unfamiliar place.
be they road maps,
walks
descriptions,
in
which one
almost
The value of these tools
of
a set
the individual
landmarks
in
One
tourist
remembrences of movie scenes;
can and will be used.
and
we must get arond.
survive,
aids,
friend's
the scene,"
teaching
this
The world around us is
directional
"checks out
obtains
one finds oneself in
handouts,
office
one
that
overwhelming.
Occasionally
2
is
the area,
from which one can navigate easily.
Landmarks
Empire St-ate
crack
"learns"
an environment
Building
to a tuft
these
in
the
from the
squeezing out 'of a
of grass
landmarks.
with different
elements
can be anything
looks
Each individual
the sidewalk.
in
comfortable
with
in
By
for,
and is
becoming familiar
environment,
an individual
about a place.
But how does one
learn
these landmarks;
how does one
-
come
to form a
"mental image",
cognitive map,
of
research
known.3
answer.
the
Lynch's
in
1960,
Yet it
in
in
"The
stand as
was those same
the first
to as a
is
not yet well
Image
of the City",
the answer
studies
still
referred
Despite almost twenty years
the subject,
into
questions
technically
of a new place?
Kevin
published
13 -
the best attempt at
studies
place.
that
In
that
posed
basically
he
an
stated.
If an image is to have value for orientation
in
the
living
space,
it
must
have
several
true in a
sufficient,
It
must
be
qualities.
to
allowing
the
individual
pragmatic
sense,
the
extent
to
his
environment
within
operate
must be
whether exact or not,
The map,
desired.
be
must
It
home.
one
get
to
enough
good
to be
well
integrated
and
clear
sufficently
effort:
the map must be
of
mental
economical
with a surplus of
should be safe,
It
readable.
and
are possible
actions
alternative
clues so that
a blinking
is
not too high. If
of failure
the risk
a
turn,
only
sign for a critical
the
is
light
The image should
may cause disaster.
power failure
adaptable to change,
open-ended,
be
preferably
to
continue to investigate
allowing the individual
should be blank spaces
there
and organize reality:
for himself.
drawing
the
can
extend
he
where
Finally, it should in some measure be communicable
The relative importance of
other individuals.
to
vary with
a "good" image will
for
criteria
these
one
situations;
different
in
persons
different
system,
economical and sufficient
an
prize
will
another an open-ended and communicable one. 4
a high-bandwidth
This system is
It
get
is
seeks to
from one
form a
"good"
place to
presented with
group of symbols.
It
the MIT
the mind of
image in
another.
map of
is
rich
in
a
campus.
user how to
clues.
The
a set of photographs of the reality,
These photographs
are choosen
specifically
user
not a
-
to
14 -
fit the user in his task.
worth
a
thousand
pictures.
There
presented. It
pick
words;
out
is
a
It
this
has been said a picture is
system gives
gross
redundancy
you a thousand
of
information
is left entirely to the user which elements to
and
store
away
in his/her cognitive map of the
area.
If
it
is
one has
usuallly
the
way
seemingly
to
go next
"reading"
system,
to
the
system is
two-dimensional
dimensional
little
world.
quest
for
exploration.
travelling
acquaint
traditional
none
of
the
comes back"
all
Someone using this
same feeling
This
from
translation
the
highly
a
to
system gives you both,
a
three
leaving
errors.
attempts
understanding
images of
is
it
maps,
representation
of translation
system
"it
One
from
being photographic
to
symbolic
possibility
This
becomes
real
steps."
the path.
accurate,
is
there
readable;
clues,
developes that
map,
Compared
reality.
one's
clues
follows easily.
the
to another once,
insignificant
without ever having travelled
The
"retrace
placed among these
Once
journey.
and
possible
many
remembers
travelled from one point
to
the
work
with the user in
It
environment.
their
invites
When using the system, one is visiting, almost
through
the
area mapped.
one with the area.
Thus,
actually
This
visit
going to
like returning to someplace already known.
serves
to
the area
15 -
-
APPENDIX
APPLICATIONS
OF
THE
MCA
(as stated in
In
audio-visual
lieu
as
and
fill
materials
PLAYER
activities,
needs.
The
first,
applications will be for training purposes,
A variety
of departments,
of their
storage and distribution
the
in
such
can enjoy dramatic cost
HEW and Justice,
Agriculture,
in
agency
public
two well-defined
film and videotape.
of
savings
training
on disc.
governmental
urgent
will
use
second
A
an
will
INDUSTRIAL
MCA marketing literature)
government
DISCO-VISION
DISCO-VISION
archival
be
in
for
nature
public departments or agencies which have
and
capacity.
storage
high-density
for
need
DISCO-VISION's enormous packing density exceed that provided
by
photographic
conventional
microfilm
via
service
retrieval
"electronic
filing
cabinet"
and
easy access to
quick
facility
and retrieval
be
of any
stored on the
their
to offer
be able
will
information
material
and
tape
magnetic
systems.
Libraries
have
film,
the
concept will
the centralized
library.
videodisc,
patrons
videodisc.
a mass
This
enable patrons
to
information
Not only will
printed
but motion pictures,
16 -
-
slide presentations, and
on
film
or tape can easily
and made available
to
Audio-visual
be
the
presented
the library
material
which
material that
conjunction
with
the
in
tools
sales
tape
machines
for
could
storage
the
information
to
store
to
back a
predicated
upon
counters
checkout
and
film and
the more costly
such locations.
can
systems
feed
be used as point-of-purchase
replacing
use at
equipment,
presentations
outlets,
retail
multiple
"branching" and
material
can
systems
a
continuously
initial
can
When used in
processing
audio-visual
for salespeople,
devices
ability
employing
now in
Videodisc
the
routines
salesroons,
automobile
training
standard TV receiver using
data
response
Videodisc
and
minimal
appropriate
students
patron.
for instruction
has
capability
program of
to the videodisc
can be selected at will.
question-and-answer
'sub-routine"
be transferred
interactively on a
videodisc,
answer
even television programs now stored
also
utilized
be
mechanics,
as
training
and others,
technicians
retrieval of maintenance manuals and
and
and other
airplane
for automobile,
maintenance
mechanics.
An important DISCO-VISION
is
.the potential
X-rays.
Storing
medicine
of
significantly
for archival
X-rays
the amount
of
on
in
application
the
field
of
storage and retrieval
videodiscs
space needed
at
could
present
reduce
for this
17
-
purpose.
Once
immediately
The
stored
on the disc,
for viewing on
-
X-rays
can be accessed
a CRT monitor.
disc could be used as an inexpensive,
information
storage
medium
for
credit
mailable,
card verification.
Each week videodiscs containing the numbers of all cancelled
or
stolen
credit
subscribers.
into a
The
reader
film
easily
to
same
of
way,
onto
lock
complexs at
sea.
commercial
The
information
where no
15
hours
outlets
as
videodisc
need
over-the-air
on
in
one
fill
emerging
TV exists
more
player's
cueing
In
film or videotape
or
for Muzak
and
the
for
platform
can play recorded
be
used in
type services.
and
training
instruction,
or lesser
on oil
can
side
disc
or is
form
frame within a
easy
which
replacement
can
or
ships,
videodiscs
on
the
program material.
replace
movies,
Audi o-only optical
The
and
precise
can
in
videodiscs.
any given point
permits
videodiscs
in-flight
for
retail
could be distributed
commercials and other
showings of
music
on
economically
program
insertion
to
card inserted
distributed
or magnetic tapes
an d
videodisc
mailed
or conterfeit
programs currently
prints
capability
unacceptable
be
terminal would flash a red light.
Television
of
could
cards
developed countries
available
on a
limited
basis.
The
applications
of
the MCA DISCO-VISION system are
-
far
the
more numerous than
18
-
few examples
high-density
optical
videodisc makes
it
the core,
rapidly developong video envoronment.
applications lie in all known
storage
still
and retrieval
and motion,
systems
The
technology of the
storage and retrieval
unique
universal
provided above.
the
vital
element
in
a
Opportunities for its
print,
graphic, audio-visual,
aural,
visual
ever devised.
and information
-
N 0
1.
19 -
T E S
E. W. Schneider, "Videodiscs, or the Individualization
of Instructional Television", article in "Educational
Technology" May 1976: Englewood Cliffs, NJ, pg 56
2. Kevin Lynch, (1960)
page 4
Mass.
"The Image of the City",
Cambridge,
3.
"Maps in Minds:
Roger Downs & Donald Stea, (1977)
Reflections on Cognitive Mapping", New York, NY,
pages 4-5
4.
Kevin Lynch,
ibid,
page
9
B
I
B L
-
20
IO
G
-
R A
P H
Y
Appleyard, D., Lynch, K., Meyer,J.,
(1964)
"The View
Cambridge, Mass.: M.I.T. Press
from the Road",
Automotive Safety Foundation,
(1958)
"Driver Needs
Freeway Signing", Washington D.C.
DC
in
"Maps in Minds: Reflections
'ns, R., Stea, D, (1977)
New York, NY: Harper and Row
on Cognitive Mapping",
"The Image of the City", Cambridge,
(1960)
Lynch, K.,
Mass.: M.I.T. and Harvard Univ. Presses.
Schneider, "Videodiscs, or the Individualization of
Instructional Television",in "Educational Technology"
New Jersey
May 1976, Englewood Cliffs,
Townbridge, C.C.
Orientation
"On Fundamental Methods of
(1913)
Science, 38, 888-897.
and imaginary maps",