6Sight Future of Imaging Conference to Debate Technology
and Impact of Visual Surveillance

Leading Academic/Government Consultant to Set the Stage for Panel Discussion on Digital Video and Digital Imaging Technology in Security Applications

SAN MATEO, Calif. – October 4, 2006 – Privacy expert Professor Dorothy J. Glancy of the Santa Clara University School of Law leads off a debate at the upcoming 6Sight™ Future of Imaging conference (www.6sight.com) on the coming of omnipresent omniscient visual surveillance. Is it technologically feasible? Politically possible? And what of the societal and business impact? The session, entitled “Eyeballs Everywhere,” takes place on Day two of the imaging conference, October 25. (www.6sight.com/program.html)

Growing security concerns have caused the numbers of surveillance cameras to grow explosively, with more than 6 million units now in operation across the U.S. At the same time, these cameras have undergone a technological transformation, from simple analog low-resolution devices to sophisticated high-resolution specialized digital cameras capable of “seeing” clearly in extreme conditions.

• new sensors all but see in the dark, and at multiple-megapixel resolution;
• improved optics and pan/tilt/zoom controls let cameras look almost anywhere
• mass production of digital cameras of all types mean better economies of scale -- and lower-cost surveillance with improved capabilities.

 Truly dramatic changes are in store for the next generation of products, coming from three distinct directions:

• Further advances in optics and sensors, several of which will be demonstrated in the three Technology Showcase sessions on the 6Sight program
• The merger of surveillance technology with information technology — tying corporate and government security systems into IT departments. (Some of this integration will be discussed in the “Building the Visual Enterprise” session.)
• Revolutionary advances in image analysis software. The cliché night watchman falling asleep in front of a dozen screens showing empty halls is about to be replaced by sophisticated algorithms — some of which will be demonstrated and discussed in the “You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet” Opening Session on October 24. These programs detect movements, patterns, behaviors, and recognize faces.

As a result of these combined technologies, average citizens may well, except in the privacy of their own home, always be under the watch of a surveillance cameras, resulting in a permanent record – analyzed, indexed and searchable - of where everyone is or was at any time.

Professor Glancy will open the conversation with a talk covering the technological and societal threats to privacy that we now face. She will then be joined by three leading technologists — 3VR co-founder Tim Ross, Cognisign CEO Bryan Calkins, and Pixim Chief Technology Officer Ricardo Motta — for a discussion of the technological opportunities and boundaries, potential societal impact, and the potential role of the industry in proactively addressing it. The panel is moderated by Future Image Senior Analyst Paul Worthington.

 6Sight is hosted and produced by Future Image Inc., and co-hosted by the two leading imaging industry associations: PMA (Photo Marketing Association International) and I3A (International Imaging Industry Association). 

About 6Sight
6Sight (www.6Sight.com) is a two-day executive event focused on the explosive global spread of imaging technology, and its potential for exciting new opportunities to improve people’s lives in the personal, work, and community spheres. It is hosted and organized by Future Image, Inc. publisher of The Future Image Report since 1993 and host of the Mobile Imaging Summit executive conferences, and co-hosted by the two leading industry organizations in imaging -- the International Imaging Industry Association (I3A) and the Photo Marketing Association International (PMA). The annual event brings together technologists, marketers, futurists, artists, educators, customers and members of the media for a program emphasizing innovative use cases, breakthrough technologies, and creativity. The inaugural 6Sight conference will be held on October 24 and 25, 2006 in Monterey, Calif.

About Professor Dorothy Glancy
Professor Dorothy J. Glancy teaches courses in property, intellectual property, privacy, land use and administrative law at Santa Clara University School of Law. She practiced law in Washington, D.C. and was counsel to the United States Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Constitutional Rights during the time of the Watergate investigations. She has chaired the Association of American Law Schools Sections on Property, on Environmental Law and on Defamation and Privacy. 

A Life Member of the American Law Institute, Professor Glancy is also a research fellow of the Gruter Institute for Law and Behavioral Research. She has worked with Santa Clara University’s Center for Science, Technology and Society on issues related to technology and law.

She was a 1974-1975 Fellow in Law and the Humanities at Harvard University. In 2002 the Chief Justice of the State of California appointed her to the State of California Court Technology Advisory Committee.

About Future Image
San Mateo, CA-based Future Image Inc (www.futureimage.com) is the leading independent center of expertise on the convergence of imaging, technology and business. Future Image hosts the 6Sight and Mobile Imaging Executive Summit conferences, and publishes two continuous information services, The Future Image Report which monitors the impact of new technologies on the imaging industry as a whole, and the Future Image MIR (Mobile Imaging Report) which focuses on camera-phones and the intersection of imaging and wireless communications. Future Image also underwrites and publishes primary research studies on the impact of emerging, imaging- focused technologies or business trends, and provides consulting services to vendors, investors and large-scale users. Future Image is the official information and research partner of the International Imaging Association (I3A).

About the International Imaging Industry Association (I3A)
I3A is the leading global imaging industry association, driving growth of and setting standards for the photographic and information imaging markets. As the industry focal point, I3A offers a framework and environment where members can quickly find resources to solve critical issues and develop market solutions. Members of I3A work together to find common ground for advancing the industry and to enable better products and services for their customers.

I3A is an accredited Standards Developing Organization, serving as secretariat for the International Organization for Standardization Technical Committee 42 (ISO/TC42) on Photography, and as administrator for the USA Technical Advisory Group for this committee. Information about I3A can be found on the World Wide Web at www.i3a.org or by phone at 914-285-4933.

About PMA
For 81 years, PMA^® has served as an international trade association for the changing needs of the expanding photo imaging industry with more than 20,000 members in 100-plus countries, headquartered in Jackson, Mich. In addition to the United States, there are membership offices in Australia, Brazil, Canada, Germany, Italy, Latin America, New Zealand, Russia and the United Kingdom.

PMA membership is open to any firm doing a substantial portion of its business in photo imaging retailing, scrapbook and custom framing retailing, processing (digital and silver halide) or service work. Cooperating memberships are held by firms that manufacture or distribute products or services for the imaging industry. PMA provides more than 100 services to its members, and holds the world’s largest annual international photo imaging trade show, typically drawing well over 600 exhibitors and 20,000-plus attendees.

 
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Media Contacts: Future Image 520 South El Camino, Suite 206A San Mateo CA 94402 V: +1-650.579.0493 F: +1-650.579.0566 Joe Byrd JByrd@FutureImage.com PMA Tom Crawford TCrawford@pmai.org 800-762-9287

I3A Judith Vanderkay Virtual, Inc. jvanderkay@virtualmgmt.com +1-781-876-6208 www.i3a.org