Integrating High-Resolution Images in a Web Site.

Overview

The EyeSpy™ Image Server from AXS Technologies (www.axstech.com) helps content providers dramatically improve the visual power of their Web sites by broadcasting large, high-resolution images over the Internet at high speed. EyeSpy allows users of standard PCs to access, load and view large image files with supercomputer performance. On the client side, no special applications or plug-ins are necessary beyond standard Web browsers because users receive only standard JPEGs wrapped in pure HTML.

With EyeSpy, you can deliver high-resolution images over the Internet without sacrificing transmission speed. On standard Web browsers, users can receive only the area of the image that interests them, at the level of detail desired. By simply clicking on the browser window, clients can pan or zoom within any image. Nevertheless, the size of the image actually displayed on the browser remains small, resulting in dramatically faster transmission speeds. This enables superior performance on either narrowband (dial-up) or broadband Internet connections.

Capabilities

• No need to compromise speed for image resolution or size
• Saves time — no more need to 'dumb down' images; EyeSpy'd images only need be processed once for multiple resolution options
• Still use jpeg, tiff and other common image formats
• No plug-ins or applets needed — pure HTML technology
• One source image rather than several versions at different sizes and resolutions make file management a breeze
• Image watermarking for security
• Supports U.S. ADA Sec. 508 IT accessibility regulations
  

Standard EyeSpy Features

• Zoom - Multiple zoom levels for high-resolution images
• Pan - Full panning and reset within any zoom level
• Resize - On the fly image resizing for any use
• Combine - Stitch together images of the same size to create one file
• Rotate - Rotate view of an image in 90-degree increments, clockwise
• Viewers: Eight Different Ways to Present Your Images --
  • For example:
  1. Basic - stitches the tiles of the image together before presentation to the screen
  2. LaunchPad - Includes a reference clickable thumbnail and extract to provide context
  3. ProNavigator - 'MapQuest' style viewer includes predefined levels of zoom
  4. Sequence viewer - Display multiple images in a sequence or spin multiple images of the same content

Key Benefits to Faculty

• GMU's EyeSpy software license does not in any way restrict access within GMU nor restrict the number of images or unique applications involved with EyeSpy. The software is robust, and can support many students and researchers concurrently accessing a server for image extractions. So, many WebCT courses and/or GMU websites can be enriched with hi-res imagery on the software license GMU now has.
• EyeSpy provides the capability for integrating high-resolution images into a web site or WebCT course that is simple, easy to use, does not require special plug-ins.
• For a site builder, EyeSpy requires very little effort. One-step pre-production — importing can be automated and batched.

  Applications

  • GMU Library: http://www.gmu.edu/library/specialcollections/baptie_aerialphotos2.html
  • AXS Technologies Demo page: http://www.axstech.com/html/demos/default/index.php?demoImgChoiceNum=1
  • Art History Application: http://tours.daytonartinstitute.org/accessart/
  • Earth Science Application: http://eyespy.cisat.jmu.edu/NASA/NASARISE-Main2.html
    
    

  Reality Check

  EyeSpy is a newly acquired technology at GMU. We do not yet have a lot of experience with the processes involved in creating and delivering a variety of high-resolution images. We are told that the processes involved in capturing images are straightforward, and that good high-resolution cameras yield excellent results. Very good results have also been obtained by scanning slides at high-resolution, such as 2400dpi. The typical resolution of the images created by EyeSpy ranges from as low as 1000x800 pixels to as high as 25000x16000 pixels.

Technical Issues

• Users will have to come in to the IRC lab to access special software needed to upload images to the EyeSpy server. They will then need to get some information from this process to add to their web pages to link to the images, and then just use a standard transfer procedure to upload the web pages.
• EyeSpy v3.0 allows for easy use in Blackboard, WebCT, and other course management systems. Extensions available for Dreamweaver and Adobe GoLive.

  Hardware/Software

  The software for processing and delivering the images is installed on a GMU server. An additional piece of software is needed for uploading images to EyeSpy server which provides the HTML code required to integrate the EyeSpy'd image into a web page. At this time, the special image loader software is only available for use in the IRC lab.

GMU Support Services

• New technology - requires IRC consultation