Effectiveness of Video:

Video can effectively portray a sense of scale and continuity of
the total landscape that conventional photography cannot convey
as vividly or accurately.  The video medium is especially
appropriate for describing a context where motion is an essential
factor (wind, water, etc.).  Research studies have examined the
extent that videotape presentation of landscapes provoke
responses which replicate responses by observers of the actual
landscape.  Experiments with video surrogates suggest that if the
video image includes most of the textural and color variation
present in the actual scene, respondents will react similarly to
the scene and the video surrogate (Smith, 1985).  This means that
visual completeness and perceived resolution and color are
important attributes for successful surrogates.  Since it is the
function of the video system to reproduce the original scenes as
faithfully as possible in terms of resolution, geometry,
photometry, and color, it can be effective in enhancing the
communication between designers/planners and the public
constituency.  Public perceptions of site values and design
intentions can be clarified with the skillful production of video
presentations (Chenoweth, 1984).  Since video has become a
familiar medium of popular communication and VCR's are becoming
as ubiquitous as television itself, video technology is
positioned to play a significant role in the information
acquisition and dissemination activities of the preservation
process.  

<cfile42>   Video Systems