What is video annotation? 

Video annotation is a process of training the computer to recognize objects. It forms part of the wider Artificial Intelligence field of Computer Vision. It teaches the computer to imitate the perspective traits of the human eye. Video annotation may include comments, shapes or drawings placed on or over a video frame.

What is a video annotation tool? 

A video annotation tool is a text or drawing tool that helps you to add information to a text, an image, database, or any other piece of content. An annotation tool performs a lot of other functions. It can be applied to other formats as PowerPoint Presentation to annotate the selected content of interest. Annotating complicated and sophisticated videos with high levels of accuracy, precision, and context is the main aim of a video annotation tool. They are important because it allows you to easily define the frames per second according to your peculiar needs.

Top 10 video annotation tools for computer vision in 2022

There are a myriad of video annotation tools for optimal computer vision. However, the top 10 annotation tools for computer vision in 2022 are listed below. In no order they include:

• V7: V7 is an automated annotation platform. It can automatically complete task labeling by combining image and video annotation, dataset management and autoML model. V7 enables teams to annotate, store, manage and automate their data annotation workflows in images, videos etc. The key feature of V7 is that automated annotation feature without having prior training.

• Labelbox: Labelbox was created in 2018, but due to its efficiency, it has quickly become one of the popular data labeling tools. Labelbox is a training data platform built from three essential layers that eases the entire process including labeling, collaboration, and iteration. Labelbox enables annotation with polygons, bounding boxes and other advanced labeling tools. Amongst its many unique features, the Labelbox also has a strong labeler performance analytics.

• Scale A1: This is a data platform that enables annotations of large volumes of 3D, sensor, image, and video data. Scale A1 is strong for autonomous driving use cases involving LIDAR and mapping.

• Dataloop: This is known as the all in one cloud-based annotation platform. It is embedded with tools and automation for producing high-quality datasets. It can accommodate the whole AI lifecycle including annotation, model evaluation, and model improvement by utilizing the human feedback in the loop.

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• Isahit: Isahit is the first european ethical data labeling platform for AI and Data Processing, certified B Corp.

Isahit offers two options: 

Isahit lab: which is an agile and free labeling tool for data science teams to annotate internally and monitor it. 

Isahit data labeling solutions : if you want to annotate larger volumes and scale quickly, isahit takes over the customer's projects and trains its workforce on the projects. It is a special annotation service that combines customizable labeling tools, a dedicated project manager and a task force trained for your needs. Thanks to these projects, Isahit will recruit and train women worldwide, from socio-economically weak countries, to work on the projects. They will earn an additional income on average 5 times higher than their country's income, have free training and will be able to rely on a caring community present in 39 countries. 

• SuperAnnotate: This is another data platform for annotation. It is a video annotation and an end-to-end image annotation platform that streamlines and automates computer vision workflows. With the SuperAnnotate platform, you can create high-quality training datasets for numerous computer vision tasks such as object detection, video tracking and cuboid annotation.

• Playment: This is a fully managed platform generating training data for computer vision models. Playment is capable of supporting image and video data and offers a wide range of annotation tools such as bounding boxes, polygons, cuboids, or landmarks.

• Supervise.ly: This is a web-based image and video annotation platform where researchers of all kinds can annotate and experiment with datasets and neutral networks.

• Hive Data: Like Playment, this is a fully managed data annotation solution and training data for AI/ ML Models. It can support image, video, text, and 3D panoptic segmentation.

• CVAT: CVAT stands for Computer Vision Annotation Tool. This is an open-source, web-based image, and video annotation tool for naming data for computer vision and it is mainly supported by Intel. It provides four types of annotation including boxes, polygons, points, and polylines. CVAT supports the primary tasks of supervised machine learning: image classification, image segmentation and object detection.

• LabelMe: this is an online annotation tool created by the MIT Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory. It makes provision for dataset of digital images and annotations.

Why do these video annotation tools qualify to be the top 10 video annotation tools for computer vision in 2022?

Here are some reasons why they are considered as the top 10 video annotation tools for 2022:

The Playment for instance has a built-in advanced quality control tool and it is strong for autonomous driving teams.

With the CVAT, it is quite easy to deploy. CVAT can be installed in the local network using DOCKER, although it must be maintained as it scales.

Aside from offering free image annotation tools, the Hivedata is also considered as effective because it offers pre-trained models and offers free image annotation tools.

The Supervise.ly is also preferred among others because it has the option to draw holes within the polygon.

Lastly, among the key features of LabelMe is that it has six types of annotation, and it comes at no cost, it is totally free to use.

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How to know the best video annotation tool to choose

It is imperative to have a step-by-step guide when choosing the best video annotation tool.

a) Know your need

Prior to choosing the best video annotation tool to suit your needs, you must have clarity. What do you seek to achieve? You must know why you are annotating your video data? You must identify if it is for a long or short-term project. Being knowledgeable of this will help you choose the appropriate video annotation tool. Hence, if it is a long-term project, it will be appropriate to purchase a studious and dedicated tool. However, if it is only for a short-term project, then probably outsourcing will be a better alternative.

b) Identify your selection criteria

As already mentioned, if it is for a short-term project, then outsourcing is more economical. So, when it comes to outsourcing the service, there are certain technical aspects to be taken into consideration. A video annotation tool must be chosen:

I.  Based on application

II.Based on efficiency

III.Based on formatting

IV.Based on functionality

Having said this, it is important to also consider the price, the functionality, the quality, and efficiency of an annotation tool before purchasing.

c) Evaluate and re-evaluate

After identifying your selection criteria, the next important thing is to thoroughly search and evaluate vendors on the market that can supply your needs. In doing so, it is important to ensure that the selected vendor provides you with flexibility and post-purchase services that will align to your specific needs.

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