Question

What is the bit rate for transmitting uncompressed \(1200 \times 800\) pixel color frames with 16 bits/pixel at 50 frames/sec?

Short answer

The bit rate is 768,000,000 bits per second.

Step-by-step solution

Understand the Question

We need to calculate the bit rate for transmitting video frames. Each frame is uncompressed, has a resolution of \(1200 \times 800\) pixels, uses 16 bits per pixel, and there are 50 frames per second.

Calculate Pixels per Frame

First, calculate the total number of pixels in a single frame. Multiply the width and the height of the frame: \(1200 \times 800\).

Calculate Bits per Frame

To find out how many bits are required per frame, multiply the total number of pixels per frame by the number of bits per pixel: \[(1200 \times 800) \times 16.\]

Calculate Bits per Second

Finally, compute the bit rate by multiplying the number of bits per frame by the number of frames per second: \[(1200 \times 800 \times 16) \times 50.\]

Simplify the Expression

Simplify the expression to find the bit rate: \[1200 \times 800 = 960,000 \text{ pixels},\]\[960,000 \times 16 = 15,360,000 \text{ bits/frame},\] and\[15,360,000 \times 50 = 768,000,000 \text{ bits per second}.\]

Key concepts

Uncompressed Video Transmission

Transmitting uncompressed video requires sending a large number of bits without using any compression techniques that would reduce the data size. Because no data is compressed, the quality of the video remains high, displaying frames exactly as intended. However, it also results in higher demands for bandwidth and storage because more data needs to be transmitted per unit of time. For educational purposes, learning to calculate the necessary bit rate for uncompressed video helps illustrate how technology depends heavily on hardware capacities.

• Uncompressed video offers the best quality due to no loss in data.
• The trade-off is the significant amount of data that must be managed.
• This knowledge is crucial for professions dealing with data-heavy transmissions like film production or network engineering.

Understanding the need for bandwidth when transmitting high-data-content like video helps in planning networks and selecting appropriate technology levels.

Pixel Resolution

Pixel resolution refers to the width and height dimensions of a video frame, measured in pixels. It is the total number of distinct and tiny squares capable of displaying an image when grouped together. In our example, the resolution is 1200 x 800 pixels, meaning each frame consists of 1200 pixels horizontally and 800 pixels vertically. The more pixels a video has, the clearer and more detailed the image will appear.

• Higher resolution means more detail and often better quality.
• Resolutions such as Full HD (1920 x 1080) or 4K (3840 x 2160) are becoming common for their sharper results.

Thus, calculating the total number of pixels—by multiplying the width by the height—gives insight into the amount of data per frame.

Frames Per Second

Frames per second (fps) is a measure of how many individual images or frames are displayed in one second of video time. In video production and gaming, fps is crucial in providing smooth motion. A higher fps results in smoother video playback because the refreshing rate is quicker, minimizing the lag between frames. In this context, 50 frames per second indicates that 50 different frames are displayed every second.

• Standard frames per second rates include 24fps, 30fps, and 60fps.
• High frame rates are often utilized in fast-paced scenarios to ensure fluid video quality.
• Very high fps, like 120fps, are used for slow-motion video playback, enhancing detail in motion.

For video transmission, calculating fps is essential to understand the data rate, as more frames per second will increase the bit rate, demanding higher bandwidth.

Bits Per Pixel

Bits per pixel (bpp) determines how many bits are used for each pixel, affecting color depth and overall image quality. Specifically, it indicates how much detailed information can be presented per pixel in color or shades. In our example with 16 bits per pixel, you can record thousands of different colors, allowing for rich visuals. More bits generally mean better color fidelity and image detail.

• Common bits per pixel options include 8 bpp (256 colors), 16 bpp (thousands of colors), and 24 bpp (millions of colors).
• Higher bpp increases the potential to represent color depth and ultimately data requirements per pixel.

Thus, multiplying the bits per pixel by the total number of pixels in a frame equals the bits required per frame, directly influencing the bit rate necessary for uncompressed transmission.