An examination of automatic video retrieval technology on access to the contents of an historical video archive

Abstract

Purpose \n \nTo provide a first understanding on the constraints historical video collections pose to video \nretrieval technology and the potential that an online access offers to both archive and users. \n \nDesign/methodology/approach \n \nA small and unique collection of videos on customs and folklore was used as case study. Multiple \nmethods were used to investigate the effectiveness of technology and the modality of user access. \nAutomatic keyframe extraction was tested on the visual content while the audio stream was used to \nautomatic classification of speech and music clips. The user access (search vs. browse) was \nassessed in a controlled user evaluation. A focus group and a survey provided insight on the actual \nuse of the analogue archive. The results of these many studies was then compared and integrated \n(triangulation). \n \nFindings \n \nThe amateur material challenged automatic techniques for video and audio indexing thus \nsuggesting that the technology must be tested against the material before deciding on a digitization \nstrategy. Two user interaction modalities, browsing vs. searching, were tested in a user evaluation. \nResults show users preferred searching but browsing becomes essential when the search engine \nfails in matching query and indexed words. Browsing was also valued for serendipitous discovery; \nhowever the organization of the archive was judged cryptic and therefore of limited use. This \nindicates that the categorization of an online archive has to be thought in terms of users who might \nno understand the current classification. The focus group and the survey showed clearly the \nadvantage of an online access even when the quality of the video surrogate is poor. The evidence \ngathered suggests that the creation of a digital version of a video archive requires a re-thinking of \nthe collection in terms of the new medium: a new archive should be specially designed to exploit \nthe potential the digital medium offers. Similarly user’s needs have to be considered before \ndesigning the digital library interface as needs are likely to be different than those imagined. \n \nResearch limitations/implications \n \nThe study is limited to a single archive; other institutions provided the technology used on which \nwe had no influence. \n \nPractical implications \n \nThe guidelines drawn as result of this study could impact on the strategy and policy of digitization \nprojects that include video archives. \n \nOriginality/value \n \nThis paper is the first attempt to understand the advantages offered and limitations hold by video \nretrieval technology for small video archives like those often found in special collections.

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