Xref: utzoo comp.graphics:14390 comp.sys.next:9649 Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!oakhill!dover!spanky!talent From: talent@spanky.sps.mot.com (Steve Talent) Newsgroups: comp.graphics,comp.sys.next Subject: Re: Next machine as animation platform Message-ID: <2463@dover.sps.mot.com> Date: 14 Nov 90 06:15:26 GMT References: <85866@tut.cis.ohio-state.edu> Sender: usenet@dover.sps.mot.com Reply-To: talent@spanky.sps.mot.com (Steve Talent) Organization: Motorola, Inc., Semiconductor Products Sector Lines: 33 In article jim@baroque.Stanford.EDU (James Helman) writes: >I had a similar thought about using a NeXTDimension as an animation >slave to our SGI. My inquiries on this subject both to the net and to >our NeXT rep have gone unanswered. I'd be happy even with 10-15 >frames/sec and minor decompression degradation (most things go out on >VHS anyway). I suspect the lack of response means that a) NeXT is >keeping the specs secret, b) the bandwidth just isn't there, or c) >both. I hope I'm wrong. From my perspective, it's one of the more >intriguing aspects of the product. > >Jim Helman >Department of Applied Physics Durand 012 >Stanford University FAX: (415) 725-3377 >(jim@KAOS.stanford.edu) Work: (415) 723-9127 I have a copy of the NeXT brochure that lists some specs for the new machines, including the NeXTdimension Board. Of course you need the NeXTcube for this board. Image compression and decompression is done using a dedicated JPEG Image Compression Processor from C-Cube. The brochure states that you can do real-time video compression and decompression and store up to 60 minutes of live video on a high capacity hard disk (probably 1.4GB drive). The compression factor is user selectable. The brochure doesn't state any details about how these numbers were calculated. I think the sales rep. stated a compression range of 50X to 200X. It seems that image degradation for animation would be less noticible that for still images. Steve Talent, Motorola Semiconductor Products Sector CAD Tempe, AZ 602-897-5440, talent@dover.sps.mot.com