Crystal Vision has created a product to make your life easier.

What is it? It's called Flip and it is the world's first scan reverser.

What does it do? This innovative 100mm x 266mm module literally flips a picture from left to right. It does this by digitally reversing the direction of the video scan, providing a 'mirror image' of the active picture.

Why does it do this? People are more used to looking in a mirror rather than as the camera sees them and find it easier to interact with virtual objects when given this familiar view.

Do I need one? Flip is perfect for virtual studio applications, especially weather.

Putting Flip into the monitor signal path provides a mirror image on the picture monitor for your presenter to watch himself, making it far easier for him to match his movements to the graphics.

Flip can also correct the appearance of reverse camera angle shots on the large sports stadium replay monitors, driven from a single camera on one side. If the replay monitor is behind the camera position the crowd sees the players running towards the wrong goal - by flipping the video the players now run towards the correct goal in the replay.

You might, of course, have an alternative application where you need to produce a simple mirror image.

What else could I use? The only real alternative is to dedicate your DVE machine to this function or even attempt to reverse the scan coils on the monitor. Better to use the unique Flip.

What else do I need to know? Flip provides both full 10 bit serial digital outputs along with 8 bit monitoring composite outputs meaning it can be connected directly to a picture monitor.

Providing both reverse and bypass modes, it passes VBI data, widescreen signalling and closed-caption information unchanged, while it has an input to output delay of only 55us.

Flip can be easily integrated with any of Crystal Vision's full range of modular interface, keying and picture storage products and was developed to 'round out' the company's virtual studio product range, which includes the Safire chroma keyers and ViViD video delays.

The 100mm x 266mm module can be controlled manually from board edge or remotely from active front panel, remote control panel, SNMP, the Statesman PC Control System or by using GPI.

Flexible outputs are available, with the RM01 frame rear module giving two SDI outputs, one PAL/NTSC output and an SDI loop-through, the RM02 four SDI outputs with one PAL/NTSC outputs and an SDI loop-through, and the RM18 four SDI outputs, four PAL/NTSC outputs and an SDI loop-through.

Flip: a simple idea, but incredibly effective.