Video Acuity Measurement System

About this technology

Overview

There is a widely acknowledged need for metrics to quantify the performance of video systems. NASAs new empirical Video Acuity metric, is simple to measure and relates directly to task performance. Video acuity is determined by the smallest letters that can be automatically identified using a video system. It is expressed most conveniently in letters per degree of visual angle. Video systems are used broadly for public safety, and range from very simple, inexpensive systems to very complex, powerful, and expensive systems. These systems are used by fire departments, police departments, homeland security, and a wide variety of commercial entities. They are used in streets, stores, banks, airports, cars, and aircraft, as well as many other settings. They are used for a variety of tasks, including detection of smoke and fire, recognition of weapons, face identification, and event perception. In all of these contexts, the quality of the video system impacts the performance in the visual task. The Video Acuity metric matches the quality of the system to the demands of its tasks.