Image-enabled Operations: A New Competitive Strategy for Business

SAN MATEO, CA – September 7, 2006 – The proliferation of digital image capture devices and widespread Internet connectivity are creating new options for more efficient and effective interpersonal communications. Businesses who take advantage of these options are gaining a competitive edge by improving the effectiveness and efficiency of their communications across the spectrum of their operations.

This topic will be explored at the 6Sight™ Future of Imaging conference held on October 24 and 25 in Monterey, CA. The event is hosted by Future Image Inc., Photo Marketing Association International (PMAI), and the International Imaging Industry Association (I3A).

The 6Sight program is an innovative and unique mix of information and entertainment featuring thought-provoking new perspectives, opinions by expert industry insiders, and first looks at exciting new products and technologies in development.  Among the sessions which have direct relevance to IT and Operations executive are:

Building the Visual Enterprise: A “fireside chat” between Bob Goldstein, co-author of “Going Visual: Using Images to Enhance Productivity, Decision-making and Profits” (J. Wiley & Sons 2005) and Russ Mason, Corporate Director of Digital Services for Clear Channel Outdoor, the executive responsible for Clear Channel’s global visual systems – a resource which permeates the company’s operations from Sales to IT, and from Maintenance to Accounting. “At Clear Channel we started digitizing our visual assets in 1991“ says Mason. “As we progressed along that path, we started generating more and more digital images, which we found invaluable in every aspect of our operations - from negotiations with property owners to maintenance, sales, construction and even IT. Today we generate over 27,000 new images per month in the U.S. alone, and are well on our way to rolling out a ground-breaking global system that will provide instant access, backup and recovery in all 65 countries where we operate."

“We’ll focus on an international, multi-billion dollar enterprise which utilizes visual communication as a key component in managing and growing their business in both in local and world-wide markets” says Goldstein. “We'll examine the evolution of this organization's use of images starting with a very modest file cabinet of slides to a million image digital library, and from still images to video, to demonstrate how vitally important visual communication can be in virtually every aspect of any business' day to day operation, regardless of size or industry.” 

Mobile Imaging and Bandwidth: J. Gerry Purdy, PhD, VP and Chief Analyst for Mobile & Wireless at the worldwide business consulting firm Frost & Sullivan will discuss how and when carrier roadmaps and back-end infrastructure implementation will enable high-resolution mobile imaging and visual communication, how the competition between cellular and municipal Wi-Fi networks will play out, and the applications that will drive the need for more bandwidth to support high resolution mobile imaging. "Mobile imaging is becoming good enough for enterprise users to take quality photos and videos using camera-phones," says Purdy.  "The main challenge to using that capability to enhance enterprise-specific applications is getting access to the necessary bandwidth.  Fortunately, new wireless communications technologies are coming on stream that will provide that needed bandwidth, enabling many new high-value applications for enterprise mobile imaging." 

Smart Pictures – Smart Devices: This panel session will examine the opportunities to integrate image capture and display with productivity functions within hand-held devices, in order to deliver new value propositions to mobile professionals. Paul Worthington, Editor of The Future Image Report will examine what's happening at the leading edge with a panel consisting of Kostas Mallios, Senior Director Rich Media, Office of the CTO, Microsoft; Aaron Weiss, General Manager of Mobile Imaging, Digital Photography and Entertainment at Hewlett-Packard; Dr. Andy Tiller, Chief Technology Officer, ShoZu; and Gibu Thomas, Founder and CEO of Sharpcast.

Other 6Sight topics relevant to IT and Operations executives include the evolution of teleconferencing, visual security technology, a keynote address by noted futurist and strategist Paul Saffo addressing how the shift to an economy of creators is erasing the distinction between product and service, and many more. In addition the Dinner Reception at the Monterey Bay Aquarium will feature a New Tech Fair that will provide opportunities for “hands on” interaction with new imaging technologies featured at the event, and for in-person interaction with their developers.

The full program and speaker lineup are available at www.6sight.com.

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. in conjunction with the 6^th edition of the Mobile Imaging Summit conference. Corporate sponsors include Hewlett Packard, Microsoft, Sprint, Corel, WebShots (a division of CNET), Nethra Imaging, and ShoZu. New Technology Showcase presenters include Artifical Muscle, Avago, dBlur, CAP-XX, DxO, IvenSense, Johnson Electric, New Scale Technologies, OmniVision, PerkinElmer, Scalado, Simple Star and Varioptic. Media and Association sponsors include Photokina (Koln Messe), the Mobile Imaging and Printing Consortium (MIPC), Cellular News, SymbianOne, Wainhouse Research, and the 3G World Congress. For information about participating in 6Sight, please email Joe Byrd, Future Image’s VP of Conferences & Alliances at JByrd@FutureImage.com.

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