Press releases
Google, BBC and Electronics Arts to speak at International Multimedia Conference
10 November 2006
Senior figures from Apple, Google, BBC and Electronic Arts will speak at the 2nd IET International Multimedia Conference in London on 29-30 November.
The Multimedia Conference will update delegates on the latest developments and applications in the field of multimedia technology. Including the shooting of the World Cup 2006; preparing the visual content for the next generation games on Xbox 360TM and Sony Playstation 3; and broadcasting to portable devices such as mobile phones.
Michele Covell, Staff Research Scientist, at Google and keynote speaker at the conference said: “It’s an interesting time to be working in multimedia. The factors for widespread use of internet-based audio and video, compression standards, bandwidth and processor speed, have been in place for long enough now that we are seeing interesting content, both professional and consumer, moving into this arena. Much of the content is not well documented or categorised, making browsing and searching interfaces difficult.
My presentation will lightly trace the evolution of Google Video and the different, and often unexpected, ways that video is being used on the net. I will then go through some of the research issues that gain in importance as the volume and variety of video being shared and searched through grows. These include summarisation, similarity and presentation. It’s not that these issues themselves are new but the video collections on sharing sites place are more difficult than previously”.
The Multimedia Conference is a major European event for the visual media, gaming and high definition television industries, providing an opportunity to hear about the latest developments from some of the most respected industry figures.
Dr Alf Roberts, CEO of the Institution said: “Speakers at this conference include people who are working at the cutting edge of developing technologies, products and services which are revolutionising the way we live and which are creating whole new industries”.
For further information and to register for the event please visit: http://conferences.theiet.org/multimedia/
Sian Weaver
Media & PR
T: 020 7344 5443
E: sweaver@theiet.org
Notes to editors:
The conference includes four tracks over the two days:
The 3rd International Conference from IT to HD sessions include: beyond HDTV; visualisation of sports scenes; broadcasting to portable media devices; next generation of HDTV format and the challenges for broadcast television over wireless in-home networks
VIE Multimedia Standards Workshop
The 3rd European Conference on Visual Media Production (CVMP 2006) including sessions on production; tracking; post-production; modelling of human action and computer gaming.
John Logie Baird lecture and buffet
Speakers include:
Ron Brinkmann, Product Designer, Apple, USA
Michele Covell, Staff Research Scientist, Google Inc, USA
Supporting Video Sharing, Browsing, and Search
Joe Flaherty, Senior Vice President of Technology, CBS, USA
History of the US approach to HDTV
Keiichi Kubota, Deputy Director-General, NHK, Japan
History of the Japanese approach to HDTV
Mike Seymour, Co-founder, FXguide.com, Australia
Dietrich Westerkamp, Director Standards Coordination, Thomson, Germany
History of the European approach to HDTV
Conference Sponsors
Platinum sponsor: Sony
Silver sponsor: BBC
Supported by: Association for Computer Machinery (ACM)
The IET
The Institution of Engineering and Technology is the largest professional engineering society in Europe and reflects the interdisciplinary, global and inclusive nature of engineering and technology.
With a worldwide membership of more than 150,000, the Institution aims to lead in the advancement of engineering and technology by facilitating the exchange of knowledge and ideas at a local and global level and promoting best practice, ensuring that its members are thoroughly equipped to meet the needs of today's rapidly changing technological world.
Membership comprises of individuals from a diverse range of technical backgrounds including IT, communications technology, electronics, electrical, power engineering, software, control, informatics and manufacturing and range from students to leading figures in industry, research and development and education.
The IET was formed in 2006 by the Institution of Electrical Engineers and the Institution of Incorporated Engineers.
For more information about the IET please visit www.theiet.org