Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!ut-emx!ccwf.cc.utexas.edu From: clouds@ccwf.cc.utexas.edu (Kathy Strong) Newsgroups: comp.ivideodisc Subject: Re: Video in windows (Was Re: Multimedia at Comdex 1990) Message-ID: <40511@ut-emx.uucp> Date: 1 Dec 90 16:28:25 GMT References: <1853taylorj@yvax.byu.edu> Sender: news@ut-emx.uucp Reply-To: clouds@ccwf.cc.utexas.edu (Kathy Strong) Lines: 74 In article <1853taylorj@yvax.byu.edu> taylorj@yvax.byu.edu writes: >In <40244@ut-emx.uucp>, clouds@ccwf.cc.utexas.edu (I) wrote: > >>Heh... when video multimedia solutions were first appearing on the Mac >>platform, Apple endorsed a "two-screen" solution--your control stuff, >>graphic overlays and so on showed up on one screen (typically the little >>one :-) and your video went on another. A kludgey solution but I guess it >>saved the trouble of making a true overlay card or something. Trouble is, >>it became obvious that the two-screen solution was a flop with users-- >>something about having to swivel back and forth, no cues that "now it's >>time to look at the OTHER screen," and so on... > >I disagree (ok, so I'm not always so agreeable ;-). Why, you disagreeable thing, you! >... But there are a number of arguments for the "low tech" >solution of a separate video monitor. I have conducted informal studies that >indicate students often prefer 2 separate monitors. It let's them distinguish >between the computer and the video (which can be important when teaching about >a video, such as in a cinematography program using Citizen Kane as an example). Hmm, I don't quite follow your argument here. What exactly would be on the computer (the overlay) that a student might confuse with the video? typically we use overlays for things like < {Fast Fwd>> buttons, or a Help button... surely no one would confuse those items or mistake them for something Orson Welles put in..? >It also give you twice the screen real estate so you can use the computer >screen for a videodisc controller, a transcript of the audio track, a >synchronized explanation, etc. True, but in all those cases you'd be moving your eyes (and your attention) from the video to the other thing--why did you spend all that money on that luscious beautiful video if they're not going to watch it? :-) >And perhaps most importantly, a $200 television >monitor is a lot cheaper than a $1500 full-screen overlay card (not to mention >that you tie yourself to complex hardware that may go bad from a vendor that >may not be around forever.) > Now, that argument I'll buy. At our company we get around the real-estate problem the old-fashioned way: we throw money at it. :-) Using 19" and 21" monitors gives you a huge picture, lots of space for even the fattest fingers to do accurate touch-screen coordinates--and all for only mumble megabux. >I admit that video overlay is a lot funner, and is indispensable in many >situations, but you'd be surprised at the number of projects I've worked on >where we've decided to use two monitors instead of one, even when cost was not >an object. > Actually, neither you nor I addressed a case where two screens REALLY makes sense: control-panel simulations. I saw a tape of a system where the video screen was at eye level to a seated user, and the second "computer" screen was mounted underneath it, more or less at hand level, tilted to the same angle as a keyboard. I forget what industrial process it simulated, but you get the idea... Flight simulator is as good an example as any. So I admit, you're right, a lot of my preference for a single-screen solution is due to the fact that (a) it's more fun, and (b) I'm not the one paying for it. But I still think my objections--particularly the "should I be looking at screen A or screen B now?"--still hold. Agreeably disagreeably yours, --K -- ........................................................................... : Kathy Strong : "Try our Hubble-Rita: just one shot, : : (Clouds moving slowly) : and everything's blurry" : : clouds@ccwf.cc.utexas.edu : --El Arroyo : :..........................................................................: Brought to you by Super Global Mega Corp .com