Side-by-Side Lab Tests Yield Important Metrics for Smartphone OEMs to Compare Quality of Video Stabilization Technologies

Smartphone Camera Quality a Top Consumer Demand

As with any technology, familiarity breeds high expectations. Consumers want their already multifaceted smartphones to do more when it comes to photography and videography, and to do it better. According to a consumer poll by Morning Consult, 86% of Americans note camera quality as somewhat or very important when deciding on which smartphone to buy. Amateur and professional videographers want better quality results from their smartphones—smooth, clear, high-resolution shots that immortalize special moments worth sharing with friends and family and saving to enjoy again and again.

Imint Addresses Quality Concerns with Vidhance Video Stabilization Technology

Certainly, resolution and zoom influence video quality and end-user satisfaction. There’s another important factor, however, that can impact the outcome of recorded video dramatically—video stabilization. No matter how impressive a smartphone camera’s list of specifications, it can’t overcome the shakiness that occurs when a smartphone moves as a user is recording action.

A subtle shake of a wrist or a wobble of a stance can throw a video off-kilter, making it difficult for even the steadiest of hands to get a good shot. But that’s where video stabilization technology comes in. Smartphone cameras employing this highly specialized software can compensate for the inherent movement that happens while taking videos with a smartphone—a mobile device meant to be carried, transported and used on-the-go. The results are dramatically improved, turning what may have been an otherwise unwatchable video into a treasured memento.

Imint’s Video Stabilization Comparison and Evaluation Tool Provides Verifiable, Objective Evaluations

The level of stability varies, however, by the type of video stabilization technology utilized by the smartphone manufacturer. “Historically, it’s been difficult to compare the quality of video stabilization solutions,” said Imint CTO Johan Svensson. “It’s similar to comparing the quality of a photo; you either notice subtle nuances or overlook them, depending on the situation.”

Still, it helps smartphone OEMs to have some objective measurements on which to base their decision on which video stabilization solution to adopt. Moreover, it gives them another factor on which to differentiate their products from others.

Imint has developed its own Video Stabilization Comparison and Evaluation Tool (VSCET) to provide smartphone OEMs with formal lab evaluations and metrics of competing video stabilization technologies, including its own Vidhance solution.

The test is conducted by recording the same video footage simultaneously from two smartphones, each utilizing a different video stabilization technology. The phones are placed side-by-side on a rig to experience the same degree of movement during the recording, which can include panning the smartphones 180 degrees, shaking them gently, and walking and running with them, among other motions.

Data-Driven Results Make VSCET a Valuable Resource for Smartphone Manufacturers

As video is recorded, the VSCET measures and calculates certain properties (X-movement, Y-movement, Z-rotation Versus Time) of the recorded video to determine how well each camera’s video stabilization software performs. Manufacturers can compare the data and review the reference recordings to determine which solution renders the most stable video.

The VSCET is offered as a service to other video stabilization developers and smartphone OEMs. The results provide objective, quantifiable evidence on which to compare video stabilization solutions to help smartphone manufacturers advance the videography capabilities of their cameras with confidence and keep pace with consumer expectations.

Learn more about our revolutionary VSCET evaluation process here. For more information on how to test video stabilization technology through Imint’s VSCET, contact us here.