Video playback is a technique used to study the visual communication and behaviors of animals. While video playback is a useful tool, most experiments lack the ability for the visual stimulus to interact with the live animal. The limited number of experiments involving interactive video playback can be attributed partially to the lack of software available to conduct instructive interactive video playback experiments. To facilitate such interactive experiments, I have created a method that combines real-time animations with video tracking software. This method may be used to conduct interactive playback experiments. To demonstrate this method, a prototype was created and used to conduct automated mating choice trials on female swordtail fish. The results of the mating choice trials show that this prototype is able to create effectively interactive visual stimulus automatically. In addition, the results show that the interactive video playback has a measurable effect on the female swordtail fish, Xiphophorus birchmanni.

The problem with which this investigation is concerned is that of determining the effects of videotaping and subsequent playback on the communication performance of introverted and extroverted individuals. The principal method of determining these effects is the subjective judgment of a panel of qualified speech instructors who viewed videotaped speeches made by the subjects. All subjects were repeatedly subjected to videotaping, and half were exposed to playback. Statistically, by using one-way analysis of covariance, the effects of playback were measured: The speaking scores achieved by the experimental introverts and extroverts were compared with the speaking scores of the control introverts and extroverts. Sixty-four subjects were used; these were limited to college students enrolled in the teacher-education program. To carry out the purposes of the study, the following hypotheses were tested: 1. There will be a significant difference between the scores of introverted trainees who are videotaped and exposed to playback and the scores of introverted trainees who are videotaped but not exposed to playback. 2. There will be a significant difference in the scores of extroverted trainees who are videotaped and exposed to playback and the scores of extroverted trainees who are videotaped but not exposed to playback.

<p>Active safety systems for automobiles in the form of camera systems have evolved rapidly the last ten years, Autoliv Electronics in Linköping develops multiple such systems. In their development process there is a need for a Break out Box (BoB) to record and playback video and CAN data as if the camera system was used in an actual automobile. The aim of this thesis has been to develop a BoB for these camera systems. The work has been divided into three phases; identification of requirements, design of the BoB and implementation of a prototype. The project has addressed four known issues with the currently used BoB; bandwidth, modularity, synchronization and usability. The result is a new BoB which is based on an FPGA connecting to a PC over Gigabit Ethernet. The design is an extendible platform for multiple channels of video, CAN data, other serial data and future extensions. A prototype proves the design concept by successfully recording video for the Autoliv NightVision system onto a PC.</p>

<p>A central goal of evolutionary biology is to understand the processes responsible for morphological, genetic and behavioural differentiation between sexes and among geographically distinct populations. Perhaps the most significant processes are genetic drift, natural selection, phenotypic plasticity and sexual selection. The main aim of this thesis was to investigate differentiation among individuals and populations of the sex-role reversed pipefish (<i>Syngnathus typhle</i>) and, consequently, determine which processes may be responsible for emerging patterns. This unique species is characterised by males predominately choosing amongst displaying females.</p><p>In this thesis I revealed, on a microgeographic scale, morphological differentiation without genetic divergence among populations. Interestingly, females differed in size whereas the males did not. For females in this sex-role reversed species, the costs of expressing a plastic phenotype may be outweighed by the potential gains from greater survivorship, higher fecundity or increased mating success. Thus, females gain the ability to make themselves as conspicuous and attractive to males as possible in the specific environment they are living. Moreover, behavioural experiments, which focussed on describing “personalities”, reproductive investment strategies, and mate-sampling tactics, also indicated that males as well as females had the behavioural plasticity required to adjust to the environment in which they live. To this end, using video playbacks as experimental stimuli may be especially rewarding in this species.</p><p>Overall, the studies in this thesis acknowledge the ability of species to fine-tune their phenotype to maximise fitness and, therefore, highlight the importance of considering patterns of differentiation in an environment-specific context. </p>

A central goal of evolutionary biology is to understand the processes responsible for morphological, genetic and behavioural differentiation between sexes and among geographically distinct populations. Perhaps the most significant processes are genetic drift, natural selection, phenotypic plasticity and sexual selection. The main aim of this thesis was to investigate differentiation among individuals and populations of the sex-role reversed pipefish (Syngnathus typhle) and, consequently, determine which processes may be responsible for emerging patterns. This unique species is characterised by males predominately choosing amongst displaying females. In this thesis I revealed, on a microgeographic scale, morphological differentiation without genetic divergence among populations. Interestingly, females differed in size whereas the males did not. For females in this sex-role reversed species, the costs of expressing a plastic phenotype may be outweighed by the potential gains from greater survivorship, higher fecundity or increased mating success. Thus, females gain the ability to make themselves as conspicuous and attractive to males as possible in the specific environment they are living. Moreover, behavioural experiments, which focussed on describing “personalities”, reproductive investment strategies, and mate-sampling tactics, also indicated that males as well as females had the behavioural plasticity required to adjust to the environment in which they live. To this end, using video playbacks as experimental stimuli may be especially rewarding in this species. Overall, the studies in this thesis acknowledge the ability of species to fine-tune their phenotype to maximise fitness and, therefore, highlight the importance of considering patterns of differentiation in an environment-specific context.

Active safety systems for automobiles in the form of camera systems have evolved rapidly the last ten years, Autoliv Electronics in Linköping develops multiple such systems. In their development process there is a need for a Break out Box (BoB) to record and playback video and CAN data as if the camera system was used in an actual automobile. The aim of this thesis has been to develop a BoB for these camera systems. The work has been divided into three phases; identification of requirements, design of the BoB and implementation of a prototype. The project has addressed four known issues with the currently used BoB; bandwidth, modularity, synchronization and usability. The result is a new BoB which is based on an FPGA connecting to a PC over Gigabit Ethernet. The design is an extendible platform for multiple channels of video, CAN data, other serial data and future extensions. A prototype proves the design concept by successfully recording video for the Autoliv NightVision system onto a PC.

A videotape playback treatment was investigated in the present study with regard to its effects on acceptance of responsibility for conflict in distressed couples. Three major hypotheses were tested. The first hypothesis that subjects given videotape playback of their pretherapy sessions would show a significant increase in self-attribution was supported.The second hypothesis that subjects who received videotape playback of their pretherapy sessions would show a significant increase in the frequency of self-attributional statements was also supported. Results of the present study did not support the final hypothesis that following a significant increase in self-attribution. It was concluded that videotape playback may provide an effective means of facilitating acceptance of responsibility for conflict in distressed couples. The implication for practitioners is that videotape playback could accelerate the marital therapy process through facilitation of the acceptance of responsibility.