At present a user can pre-set the recording of TV broadcast programmes and can choose from a set of different browser interfaces which allow navigation through the recorded programmes. As our research develops we have been plugging in increased options such as personalisation and programme recommendation, automatic recording, SMS/WAP/PDA alerting, searching, summarising, and so on.

To initiate the recording of a programme, a user browses the online TV schedule and selects those programmes to be recorded - our system will then automatically record (digitally) that programme at broadcast time, much the same as a home VCR.

After we record a programme, we then automatically segment it using our shot boundary detection technique based on colour histogram comparison, so that the content becomes easily browsable through our various user interfaces. The analysed programme is then added to our archive of recorded programmes which a user can scroll through and then select one for searching, browsing and playback. As a user browses through a programme he/she can then stream the video to their desktop. More details on how to use the system is available in User's Guide page.

For copyright reasons, Físchlár is available on the DCU.IE intranet without restriction, and via a password on the internet.


The idea of browsing video content in random fashion is a relatively new development - although there are quite a few experimental systems and a small number of commercial ones offering this for video content management, we expect this video browsing feature to be useful for research, teaching and learning. The usage is then monitored and fed back to the system, in the form of refined browser interfaces. Currently several distinct video browsers are featured in Físchlár including a linear browser with a timeline bar, a slide show and an interactive hierarchical browser. Work is under way in our research centre for identifying important attributes in video browsing and designing browsers based on those attributes. Implemented browsers are carefully tested and refined by applying usability assessments and interaction logging.

The name Físchlár - pronounced - comes from fís (video) and clár (programme) in the Irish language.

The following diagram summarises the architecture of Físchlár, both the present system and the planned enhancements: