Book excerpt: Compression technology has been employed for a long time, but until recently the technology was too complex for everyday applications. However, compression has now reached the stage where it can economically be applied to video and audio systems on a wide scale. This book recognises the wide applications of compression by treating the subject from first principles without assuming any particular background for the reader. An introductory chapter is included which suggests some applications of compression and how it works in a simplified form. In addition a fundamentals chapter contains all of the background necessary to follow the rest of the book. Theory is balanced with a wide range of practical applications in transmission and recording and throughout the book the reader will find notes of caution and outlines of various pitfalls for the unwary. Various descriptions are also included of the kinds of impairments which can result from the misuse of compression. John Watkinson is an independent consultant in digital video, audio and data technology. he is a fellow of the AES and presents lectures, conference papers and training courses worldwide. he is the author of numerous other Focal press books, including the Art of Digital Audio, the Art of Digital Video (both now in their second edition) and The Art of Data Recording, An Introduction to Digital Audio, An Introduction to Digital Video, The Digital Videotape recorder and RDAT. he is also co-author, with Francis Rumsey of The Digital Interface Handbook. covers basic principles no unnecessary mathematics includes a wide range of practical applications