CognoVision

CognoVision
audience measurement software
Founded 2006
Founder Haroon F. Mirza (CEO), Dr. Shahzad Malik (CTO), Faizal Javer (President & COO)
Headquarters Toronto, Canada
Services digital signage metrics & retail intelligence
Website http://www.cognovision.com

CognoVision Solutions Inc. is a Toronto-based provider of real-time audience measurement and retail intelligence solutions. The company creates Anonymous Video Analytics (AVA) [1] software that uses small video cameras and real-time Computer vision algorithms to detect faces and people for measuring viewership of Digital signage or estimating traffic flow patterns in a retail store.

On November 15, 2010, it was announced that Intel Corporation, the world's largest semiconductor chip maker, had acquired CognoVision - the acquisition closed in September 2010.[2][3] Intel Corporation announced August 8, 2011 that Anonymous Video Analytics from Cognovision would be the underlying technology powering their Intel AIM Suite service.[4]

History

CognoVision was founded in 2006. The company was privately financed and was acquired by Intel Corporation in 2010.

The company was started by Haroon F. Mirza (CEO), Dr. Shahzad Malik (CTO), and Faizal Javer (President & COO). The founders all met while students at Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada in 2000.[5] Each founder independently relocated to Toronto - Malik completed his Ph.D. at University of Toronto, Javer was expanding a mattress manufacturing business from Western Canada to Ontario, and Mirza was working at Cadbury Adams.

Privacy

CognoVision's technology respects privacy by never recording images or video footage, and relying on pattern detection algorithms not to be confused with biometric recognition technologies which matches a particular face to a face in a database.[6] Once the AVA program has determined pixel patterns of a human face, the software categorizes how long the display is viewed, the approximate gender and approximate age of the viewer.[7]

However, the technology is often incorrectly compared to the retina scanners in Minority Report (film), which privacy groups are pushing for legislation to prevent more intrusive biometric recognition technologies from becoming mainstream.[8]

Milestones

References

  1. ↑ Anonymous Video Analytics ""
  2. ↑ Globe & Mail Article. "Intel buys Canadian start-up CognoVision." Nov 15, 2010.
  3. ↑ Official Intel Newsroom. "Intel Confirms CognoVision Acquisition." Nov 17, 2010.
  4. ↑ Intel® to Launch AIM Suite Anonymous Video Analytics Technology Support "".
  5. ↑ Carleton University News. "A Company Founded by Carleton Alumni Named as Canada’s Most Innovative Firm." Dec 3, 2009.
  6. ↑ MIT Technology Review. "In-Store Signs Get Smart." Dec 16, 2010.
  7. ↑ Anonymous Video Analytics ""
  8. ↑ World Privacy Forum. "The One-Way-Mirror Society." Jan 27, 2010.
  9. ↑ TiEToronto News. "TiEQuest alumni Cognovision acquired by Intel." Nov 16, 2010.
  10. ↑ MaRS Article. "CognoVision: Improving the in-store experience."
  11. ↑ Digital Signage Today. "Audience measurement at DSE." Feb 28, 2008.
  12. ↑ Artisan Complete News. "Artisan Complete Recognized for Excellence in Digital Signage." Oct 27, 2008.
  13. ↑ rAVe DS Volume 1, Issue 3. "rAVe DS 2009 CHAMPS." March 12, 2009.
  14. ↑ Digital Signage Weekly. "DIGI Award Winners Unveiled." Nov 11, 2009.
  15. ↑ Canadian Innovation Exchange. "CIX 2009 Top 20." Nov 2009
  16. ↑ ITBusiness.ca. "Ontario firm named Canada's 2009 Innovation Leader." Dec 4, 2009
  17. ↑ rAVe DS Volume 2, Issue 3. "rAVe DS 2009 CHAMPS." March 23, 2010.
  18. ↑ Branham300 2010 List. "Branham300 Top 25 Canadian ICT Up and Comers." Apr 6, 2010.

External links

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