The effect of content desirability on subjective video quality ratings.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of the desirability of content on viewers' ratings of subjective video quality.


BACKGROUND
Most subjective video quality studies use short-duration clips that are specially designed to exercise the encoding algorithms and do not consider the desirability of the content as a variable.


METHODS
In four studies, we employed a total of 100 participants and 180 movie clips encoded at nine levels from 550 kbps up to DVD quality. Participants viewed clips that were 2 min in length and then were asked about video quality of the clips and desirability of the movie content.


RESULTS
The results of these studies show that there is a strong correlation between the desirability of movie content and subjective ratings of video quality. This strong relationship holds across a wide range of encoding levels and movie content when that content is viewed under longer, more naturalistic viewing conditions.


CONCLUSIONS
The effects of content should be considered when evaluating the subjective quality of encoded video content, as these effects can be as large as those seen between low- and high-quality encodings.


CONCLUSIONS
Researchers and practitioners trying to determine acceptable levels of video quality for actual consumption by consumers may find that the results and methods described here allow for a more accurate assessment of levels of video quality that are acceptable in a fielded service.
Kortum
Philip
P
Department of Psychology, Rice University, 6100 Main Street MS 25, Houston, TX 77005, USA. pkortum@rice.edu
Sullivan
Marc
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009040:Motion Pictures; D014741:Video Recording; D055815:Young Adult