Xerox Introduces TextBridge 3.0 for Macintosh; Offers Improved Page Segmentation and Enhanced Accuracy

Business Wire, August 7, 1995

BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 7, 1995--At Macworld, Xerox Corporation today announced the availability of TextBridge(R) 3.0 for Macintosh, a full-featured, highly accurate and easy to use text recognition solution for ad hoc optical character recognition (OCR) needs. This new version offers improved document recognition and better page segmentation through the use of Xerox's DocuRT (Document Recognition Technology) OCR engine, which delivers superior accuracy and ease of use to the entire TextBridge family of OCR products. Shipments are anticipated for early September.

TextBridge 3.0 runs in native mode on a Power Macintosh as well as supports existing 68K-based systems. This enables users to take full advantage of the exceptional performance inherent in the Power Macintosh -- enhancing recognition speed by up to three times for an average document. This increased speed allows Power Macintosh users to significantly reduce the time needed to accurately convert scanned files into editable text. TextBridge 3.0 is also designed to meet the needs of a broad range of Power Macintosh users, offering full-featured capabilities comparable to the more expensive OCR packages on the market today.

"We are delighted that Xerox is supporting the Power Macintosh platform," said Stu Roberson, acting director of Apple's Imaging Peripherals Systems group. "New product announcements from major developers like Xerox make it apparent there is widespread support for the Macintosh community. Affordable OCR technology means more benefits and choices for Macintosh customers."

At only $99, TextBridge enables Power Macintosh users to gain access to full-featured OCR capabilities at an affordable price point. TextBridge requires a 68020 or faster processor, System 6.0.5 or later, and at least 8 Mbytes of RAM. TextBridge 3.0 supports a wide range of file formats, including Microsoft Word, Novell WordPerfect, MacWrite 4 and 5, MacWrite II, and WriteNow.

The application integrates a wide range of leading edge technologies including: neural networks, natural language processing, artificial intelligence, and document understanding, engineered at both Xerox Desktop Document Systems and the Xerox Palo Alto Research Center (PARC).

"I don't know how you could improve upon a product like TextBridge, but you have. It offers even greater accuracy than before," said Joseph Kaiser, owner, Gallery Desktop Publishing & Typesetting, Inc. He continued, "I was surprised at how well TextBridge performed on some of my materials that had been copied several times. The accuracy of the automatic feature even picks up the subscripts and puts them into the document properly...to me that is just amazing."

Forty Percent Improvement in Page Segmentation

Xerox recently conducted a test to compare the automatic page segmentation of the 2.0 and 3.0 releases of TextBridge. The test ran on the UNLV Magazine suite, which was featured in the 1994 and 1995 UNLV OCR tests, and was scored using the 1995 UNLV tools. A reasonable summary indicates that TextBridge 3.0 shows a significant 40% improvement in page segmentation over TextBridge 2.0.

Improved Accuracy

The DocuRT engine substantially enhances accuracy and speed by incorporating a range of new image processing, pattern recognition and document understanding advancements. The architecture couples a dynamic Distributed Controller with intelligent agents optimized for specific document components and formats, including: natural language Lexifier(TM) technology, fuzzy logic and neural network recognizer, and technology to recognize fonts, photos, faxes, and tables. By combining these complementary agents as needed during recognition, the engine will quickly produce highly accurate documents.

Pricing, Availability and Competitive Upgrade

TextBridge 3.0 for Macintosh will be available in early September through computer retail stores, superstores, mail order catalogs and directly from Xerox with a suggested list price of $99 (U.S.). Xerox is also offering a special $59 (U.S.) competitive upgrade version of the Macintosh product, and a $49 upgrade price for current TextBridge users. For sales information, users can call 1-800/248-6550, ext. 3.

Xerox Corporation

Xerox Desktop Document Systems develops, markets and distributes systems and software that capture, communicate, and print documents at the desktop. These systems and software products incorporate advanced Xerox technologies to improve document quality and communication, and are marketed through retail and direct channels and OEM partnerships. The division is headquartered in Palo Alto, Calif., and Peabody, Mass.

Xerox Corporation is a global enterprise serving the worldwide document processing market. The company's document processing business develops, manufactures, markets, services, and finances a complete range of products and services designed to make offices around the world more productive.

CONTACT: Xerox Desktop Document Systems

Melanie L. Fleming, 508/977-2039