- Are you or have you been an MPEG member?
I was an MPEG active member for about 5 years (1991-95) - What do you think makes MPEG special?
The methodology of work and the group ambiance made MPEG special.
I started to be involved in standardization activities in 1968. The organization was ITU-CCITT, first Commission Special D and later on Commission XVIII, and the topic was digital communication networks. The group counted several hundred participants, the work was formal and cautious, tightly linked to research since digital techniques were new and evolved simultaneously. Although the context was to some extent similar, MPEG was different in all aspects. The participants made a bunch of young people, from all continents, able and willing to work day and night during meetings. In spite of fierce competition on some issues at some times, there was a team spirit, a willingness to cooperate, share and achieve mutual progress towards a common goal. In fact, the ambiance was characterized by freedom, speed and friendship. - What do you think is the most important MPEG impact?
Rationalization of multimedia techniques, contribution to the emergence of practical and economically viable schemes and acceleration of the transition to the digital society. - Do you think MPEG is a good conduit for research?
MPEG has stimulated research by setting ambitious yet realistic objectives and providing feedback from real world experiments and from industrial developments. - Can you comment on your MPEG experience?
The experience I remember best concerns MPEG2 and digital television.
For several years, I was an adviser to the technical director of the television operator Canal+. By keeping him informed of the achievements and perspectives of MPEG, explaining and demonstrating the potential benefits, I and some colleagues succeeded in convincing him to move to digital techniques and Canal+ was the first operator to broadcast MPEG TV in Europe. - Are you happy with MPEG standards?
Yes, for TV and sound. - Do you think MPEG standards are the right choice?
In view of the wide acceptance and deployments of MPEG standards throughout the world, I think so.
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