Compression techniques include the following:

• JPEG
  
  
• MPEG 1, 2, 3, and now 4
  
  
  
  
• Wavelet compression
  
  
• Proprietary algorithm compression

JPEG is used for standard film compression which basically compresses a photograph to one tenth its original size.

It is extremely accurate and can be further adjusted for clarity by defining low, medium or high resolution during the saving process.

This is now common to most graphics software programs.

A JPEG saved from a digital video recorder usually reflects the quality which was originally scanned into the recording mechanism.

MPEG stands for “motion picture experts group.”

The 1 through 4 stands for versions and are compression generations – being able to reduce the original source to a product that is substantially more compressed for each successive number.

Wavelet compression uses a very advanced theory of predictive motion so that pixels in‑between are saved from having to be written and algorithms are produced to then re‑expand the signal – thus saving significant amounts of memory space.

While this was once a cutting edge technology, its influence from studies in numerous universities and research centers throughout the country expanded its use to numerous manufacturers for a significant amount of deployed equipment today.

Proprietary compression algorithms utilize costly and expensive means to provide compression at the high quality rate.

Many of these software based systems are proprietary and thus allow no other systems to be competitive.