Intel Corp is releasing as a product the Indeo technology, used in Microsoft Corp’s Video for Windows, that enables operating systems and applications to incorporate video information. Indeo provides scalable performance which Intel claims is unique. This enables an image to adapt to the performance of the hardware available in the computer, without the user ever changing the software or the video file. The quality of an image improves in line with system performance so that an image played back on an 80836-based personal computer will be viewed at a rate of 15 frames per second on one tenth of the screen. The same image, shown on a higher performance 80486-based system will be displayed at a rate of 24 frames per second, on a quarter of a screen. If an accelerator board, using Intel’s 80750 video processor, is added to the system the image will be displayed full screen and full motion, or 30 frames per second. Indeo technology also provides real-time, single-step video capture and compression with immediate playback, when the user adds a video camera and add-in board based on the 80750 processor. It enables instant compression to take place while recording. This eliminates off-line compression and alleviates the expense of additional storage capacity to use video on personal computers. Indeo makes use of the existing installed personal computer and software base enabling video files to be inserted into applications like WordPerfect and Lotus Notes. It also enables users to send video sequences to other computer users, who then can view them without special software or hardware. The product will be available only from licensed Intel sources.
