As the name implies, a frame grabber can capture individual frames from analog or digital videos. By using this, people can preserve, analyze, display, and manipulate footage much easier. This was usually added as an expansion card to desktop systems in the past. Now this class of devices can be used externally and connected via high-speed cables even to laptops. Their capacity and capture rates have also increased tremendously through the years. Multiple sources can be connected for parallel processing. They can grab not just the video but also the audio. Batch operations can be programmed for transforming the stills into more usable formats. Below are some of the most common applications of frame grabbers:
Manufacturing
There are many robots in modern factories. The vast majority of these are stationary machines such as robotic arms that can pick up items and place them where they need to go next. Identifying the right pieces to pick up and the proper spots to put them in requires intelligence. It also takes a high degree of precision and error prevention. Cameras are often mounted at several points in a factory to monitor the work being done. The video feed may be fed to a frame grabber so that the images can be analyzed by a computer. The proper commands can then be sent to the arm no matter the situation.
Astronomy
Backyard astronomy continues to thrive with thousands of enthusiasts all over the world looking up at the night sky with increasingly sophisticated consumer-grade equipment. Some people use analog cameras that are known to produce excellent low light footages. They are useful when a live image display is desired for personal viewing or public broadcasting. Since astronomers will probably want to capture the images for further processing later on, they will need a frame grabber to bridge the gap between the analog camera and the computer.
Health Care
Even the way that the health care system works has been changed by current technologies. For example, consultations can take place online such that people who live in remote places can get the best possible advice from competent specialists who often stay in the cities. Experts on the other side of the world may also be consulted about rare cases. The readings from medical equipment may be captured by frame grabbers and sent through the Internet in digital format. The possibilities for applications are endless.
