Introduction to the special issue on video information retrieval

This special issue of the ACM Transactions on Information Systems is focused on the topic of digital video in information systems. Multimedia in general and digital video in particular can deliver more information, more effectively, than any scheme developed to date. But more than just delivering information, effective digital video systems require a deep understanding of how users interact with huge volumes of information in many forms. Early and most current multimedia applications incorporating digital video tend to be based on one of two models: real-time video for communications (desktop video conferencing) or the selection and playback of digital video clips (interrupted video). Because they treat the video segment as a black box, they are inadequate for access to extremely large digital video libraries or for creating truly interactive video applications. Recent developments in consumer electronics and communications can provide a tighter integration of digital video and information system technologies. Computer manufacturers in cooperation with game companies are delivering 64-bit, 100MHz processors, for home machines, costing under $250. While most commercial “Information Superhighway” prototypes focus on video-on-demand, emerging technologies are enabling digital video, multimedia solutions to an ever-widening variety of commercial products and research projects. These advanced, digital video applications have the potential to transform how people work, 1earn, and play. The articles included in this special issue address topics related to video indexing, analysis, content-based retrieval, delivery, and architecture. For example, in the article by Tat-Seng Chua and Li-Qun Ruan a novel system is described that is designed to support the entire process of video information management from segmenting and indexing of video to its retrieval and reuse. The article by Nevenka IXmitrova and Forouzan Golshani looks at extracting semantic information from video, in particular the application of motion analysis to retrieve temporal information associated with video. Dick Bulterman’s article reports on control issues when applications manipulate video data. And finally, the article by Ralf Keller, Wolfgang Effelsberg,