PictureWorks Technology, Inc. and Sarnoff Corporation Partner to Create Imaging Software for Both Digital Still and Video Cameras

Business Wire, Jan 12, 1999

DANVILLE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 12, 1999--

Sarnoff's VideoBrush Technologies to be Acquired

by PictureWorks

PictureWorks Technology, Inc. and Sarnoff Corporation today announced the formation of an exclusive partnership to develop imaging technologies and products for use with both digital still cameras and camcorders.

The partnership brings together the technology and marketing expertise of two industry pioneers: PictureWorks, with its digital still camera solutions and Sarnoff's VideoBrush Corporation with its innovative array of video mosaicing applications.

For the first time, a software company will be dedicated to the development and marketing of products for the users of digital still cameras, as well as camcorders, live video and tethered video cameras.

Since PictureWorks Technology's inception in 1994, it has been a leader in supplying software for use with imaging products including digital cameras, scanners and video conferencing cameras. VideoBrush Corporation, a Sarnoff Technology Venture, was first to market immersive imaging software for camcorder users when it released VideoBrush Panorama, a product that creates panoramic images from video images.

The partnership grants PictureWorks an exclusive license for a broad range of Sarnoff imaging technologies, particularly within the area of video image capture. Sarnoff will take an equity interest in PictureWorks. The strategic relationship expands PictureWorks' leadership position beyond digital still imaging into video imaging to define a new category: "MOST", motion and still, software.

"Sarnoff is a world-class leader in imaging technology," said Don Strickland, president and CEO of PictureWorks Technology. "Coupled with our product development capabilities and market leadership in still image technology, the two companies working together will enable a whole new generation of imaging solutions."

Dr. Norman Winarsky, Sarnoff's vice president of Information Technologies and chairman of the board at VideoBrush, said, "We chose to partner with PictureWorks because they are the best positioned company in the industry for realizing the value of our imaging technologies. PictureWorks' established position in PC photography and close relationships with suppliers of imaging peripherals provide an outstanding development and marketing channel for our technologies."

Imaging technologies at Sarnoff have led to industry applications such as high definition television (HDTV), human iris recognition for security applications and satellite imaging.

As part of the agreement, the companies will co-develop software for combining multiple images to produce a single image having enhanced resolution, increased depth of field and improved dynamic range.

PictureWorks Technology, Inc. was founded in 1994 to pioneer new technologies in the emerging field of PC photography. A privately-held company based in Danville, PictureWorks has quickly become the aggressive leader in mission-critical applications for digital imaging. This leadership has been most evident where growing numbers of users depend critically on the Internet for future growth.

To meet demand for its products, PictureWorks has expanded its product portfolio and distribution in six international markets. The company's products have also expanded to include horizontal applications as well as enterprise-wide client/server solutions in "vertical" markets such as real estate, insurance and on-line commerce.

VideoBrush Corporation, founded in 1997, has been a leader in the development of innovative digital video and photographic technologies.

Sarnoff Corporation creates and commercializes electronic, biomedical and information technology. Founded in 1942 as RCA Laboratories, Sarnoff has been a wholly-owned, for-profit subsidiary of SRI International since 1987. Building on decades of innovation that includes the development of color television and the liquid-crystal display, Sarnoff now works for a wide variety of industries and government clients to develop and improve specific technologies that will help change the world.