Assessment of the Quality of Video Sequences Performed by Viewers at Home and in the Laboratory

Abstract

The paper presents the results of subjective and objective quality assessments of H.264-, H.265-, and VP9-encoded video. Most of the literature is devoted to subjective quality assessment in well-defined laboratory circumstances. However, the end users usually watch the films in their home environments, which may be different from the conditions recommended for laboratory measurements. This may cause significant differences in the quality assessment scores. Thus, the aim of the research is to show the impact of environmental conditions on the video quality perceived by the user. The subjective assessment was made in two different environments: in the laboratory and in users’ homes, where people often watch movies on their laptops. The video signal was assessed by young viewers who were not experts in the field of quality assessment. The tests were performed taking into account different image resolutions and different bit rates. The research showed strong correlations between the obtained results and the coding bit rates used, and revealed a significant difference between the quality scores obtained in the laboratory and at home. As a conclusion, it must be underlined that the laboratory tests are necessary for comparative purposes, while the assessment of the video quality experienced by end users should be performed under circumstances that are as close as possible to the user’s home environment.