Subject: Customized data compression needs

From: szabo at netcom.com (Nick Szabo)
Date: Wed, 13 Jul 1994 07:02:48 GMT

I'm embarking on a project, one of the applications of
which is developing data compression algorithmns optimized 
for specific kinds of data.  By taking advantage of domain specific 
pattern knowledge (eg redundancy in the genetic code for DNA, 
patterns in astronomical phenomenon, etc.) customized compression 
algorithms can in some cases provide a substantial improvement 
over general-purpose algorithms like Lempel-Ziv.  I'd like to 
find out what data formats in the scientific community would most
benefit from customized compression.  Specifically,
	* What formats account for the largest volume of
	data transmitted over networks?
	* What kinds of data have the greatest amount
	of redundancy (especially domain-specific redundancy
	that wouldn't be caught by a normal compression
	algorithm)????

much thanks,
-- 
N1ck Szab0				 szabo at netcom.com
Big Brother is parsing you.