This work involves the design and implementation of a real-time Machine Vision-based Human Computer Interface (HCI) that analyzes and interprets a music conductor's gestures to detect the musical "beat". This HCI system interfaces directly with the "Virtual Orchestra", an electronic MIDI sequenced "orchestra". Prior to the development of this HCI system, the real time control of the tempo of the "Virtual Orchestra" could only be controlled by tapping a tempo on a MIDI controller device--a process that is foreign to most music conductors. The real-time beat information detected by this HCI system allows a conductor to conduct the "Virtual Orchestra" as if it were a live orchestra. This system was developed using the Broadway real-time color image capture board manufactured by Data Translation, Incorporated. The implementation involved the use of Microsoft Visual C++, Microsoft Foundation Classes (MFC) for the Graphical User Interface (GUI), Video For Windows (VFW), MIDI note generation, and Intel assembly level code optimization. Algorithms were developed for rapid RGB color thresholding, multiple contour extraction, fast contour based area and center of mass calculations, and gesture interpretation. Real time, live-video interpretation has been achieved and an end-to-end system has been demonstrated in conjuction with a MIDI sequencer.

This master's thesis deals with lossless video compression. This thesis includes basic concepts and techniques used in image representation. The reader can find an explanation of basic difference between lossless video compression and lossy video compression and lossless video compression limitations. There is also possible find a description of the basic blocks forming the video codec (every block is described in detail). In every block there are introduced its possible variants. Implemented lossless videocodec was compared with common lossless videocodecs.

This thesis deals with modern methods of a lossy still image and video compression. Wavelet transformation and SPIHT algorithm also belong to these methods. In second half of this thesis, a videocodec is implemented based on acquired knowledge. This codec uses Daubechies wavelets to analyse an image. Afterwards there is a modified SPIHT algorithm applied on gained coefficients. A lot of effort was put in order to optimize this computation. It is possible to use the created codec in Video for Windows, DirectShow and FFmpeg multimedia frameworks. At the end of this thesis, commonly used codecs are compared with newly created one.

This diploma thesis deals with a interface USB and FireWire cameras to a computer through a technology called DirectShow. I used mostly a development kit „MontiVision“, which cooperates with a programming environment as is e.g. Microsoft Visual C++. You find here how to use a direct pixel access, how to get singles photos from a video, how to set up and calibrate a camera and how can look a particular application of the image processing. I wrote an introduction to the stereo-vision above the frame of my task. This thesis is like a manual for students. It includes my personal experiences and experimentations too.