Eye on Imaging Volume 4, No. 2 • March 2007
Welcome to the I3A “Eye on Imaging” newsletter, which is issued every other month. We will keep you informed and up-to-date on key I3A and industry activities and breaking news, as well as highlight the accomplishments of the individuals whose efforts keep our organization humming. If you have comments or questions, please send a message to Editor@I3A.org.

The President’s Focus

Report from PMA 2007: Something New is in the Air

There was something in the air at PMA in Las Vegas, and thanks to the new law, it wasn't cigarette smoke. It was anticipation and excitement about our industry. After years of uncertainty about the digital future of the photo imaging industry, the products and services on display at PMA were like a breath of fresh air.
Lisa Walker, President, I3A
Lisa Walker
"After years of uncertainty about the digital future of our industry, PMA was like a breath of fresh air."
We used to worry about how vendors and retailers alike would replace the lucrative print engine that has supported the industry for a hundred years. That fear has been replaced with a vision for the future, a future of new products and services for consumers, new technologies, new opportunities. Even though there were no real
"breakthrough" announcements, there was, perhaps, something better: a clear path to prosperity that didn't
require a breakthrough.
PMA 2007 sessions were interesting and fresh, the tempo on the show floor was upbeat. Attendance may have been slightly lighter than previous years, but it didn't really matter. All the important companies and people were there. Excitement and energy levels in the booths were high. The future holds much promise.
PMA HIGHLIGHTS:

  • "Everyone" has new DSLRs 
  • General Imaging introduced products that extend the General Electric brand promise
  • Photobooks were everywhere
  • I3A 2007 Leadership Award went to Eastman Kodak CEO Antonio Pere
  
On the Show Floor
On the show floor, DSLRs were everywhere. As one attendee put it, "everybody has one," save one notable exception whose initials are "EK." Sigma introduced its 14 megapixel model SD14, which uses the Foveon color image sensor designed to capture color the way film does. Nikon made a splash with its new D40x, successor to the D40. Improvements include a 10.2 megapixel sensor, up from 6.1 on the D40, which does make a noticeable image capture difference.
Olympus introduced the E-410 and E-510. The 510 is slightly larger and includes image stabilization. Both models use the TruePic image sensor which delivers better low light performance. The Canon name earns its keep once again. Canon showed off the incredibly fast EOS 1D Mark III. In burst mode, this DSLR can grab an astounding 100 jpg images, with a full frame CMOS sensor. Not to be left behind, Sony showed a couple of DSLR prototypes. No firm availability date was given.
Most noticeable in the "point and shoot" category, primarily due to their gigantic booth and new, but very familiar name, was General Imaging. Using the licensed GE brand to,
according to booth personnel, "take over the market," General Imaging showed several point and shoot models and one ink jet printer. Their strategy is to produce equal quality at a lower price, and take the market on brand. We'll see if the brand can really cross over from refrigerators to cameras.
Photobooks were everywhere. The photo albums of the future, photobooks are a convenient, fun way for consumers to create the albums they've always wanted but never had time to put together. Photobooks take advantage of the speed and convenience of digital. Automated software, via Kiosks and online, allow consumers to create beautiful, custom books in mere minutes. Users can spend more time for a customized result, or just take the quick and easy automated route. Compared to the hours, days and even weeks it would take most people to put together a film photo album, digital photobooks are a real advantage for digital
photographers. We like them because they get photos off the computer or camera, and into print, providing a nearly effortless way to archive one's favorite photo memories.
CPP Initiative Launches SaveMyMemories.org
Speaking of archiving, I3A's SaveMyMemories.org Web site was introduced at PMA through an I3A Technical Forum. Held at the Las Vegas Hilton, the half–day seminar used the Web site structure to guide attendees through discussion of the technical and standards issues and barriers to longterm preservation of digital photos. While the issues are not trivial, I3A's initiative has shown that they can be overcome with the collective effort of the industry. More standards, testing and grading systems are clearly needed to help consumers identify products and services designed to meet their photo preservation needs, but we're well on our way on this front.
I3A 2007 Leadership Award
That evening, I3A held its 10th Spotlight Reception at PMA. The industry luminaries who attended were rewarded not only by great food, drink and company. They also  witnessed the presentation of the I3A Leadership Award for 2007 to Antonio Perez. Mr. Perez, the sometimes controversial, always charismatic CEO of Eastman Kodak, graciously accepted the award, and joined the I3A board and its guests for dinner afterwards. See the article below for details.
PMA 2008 will come early, February 1–4, 2008, fairly close on the heels of CES. Mark your calendars now! I3A will be there. We hope you will be too.
Lisa Walker
I3A President
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Antonio M. Perez: 2007 I3A Leadership Award Winner

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Eastman Kodak Company Honored for Bold Initiatives
I3A conferred its prestigious annual Leadership Award upon Antonio M. Perez, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Eastman Kodak Company. Mr. Perez received the honor at I3A's yearly Spotlight Reception at the PMA 2007 conference.
Antonio M. Perez, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Eastman Kodak Company, receives the 2007 I3A Leadership Award
Antonio M. Perez, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Eastman Kodak Company, receives the 2007 I3A Leadership Award from I3A President, Lisa Walker, and I3A Chairman, Harald Siegers of Felix Schoeller Jr., GmbH
Awarded annually since 1980, I3A's Leadership Award recognizes those individuals in the international imaging community who have exhibited the exemplary qualities and innovative vision of a leader. Recent recipients of the award include Fumio Iwai of Konica Minolta Holdings, Inc. (2006), Vyomesh Joshi of HP (2005), Shigetaka Komori of Fuji Photo Film Co. (2004), Friedrich Hujer of Agfa-Gevaert (2003), and Philippe Kahn of LightSurf Technologies (2002).
"It is an honor to present this year's award to Antonio Perez," said Lisa Walker. "His vision is guiding Kodak through its most challenging transformation ever: from film giant to an industry leader in the digital age. With his international experience and track record of success in innovative initiatives boldly undertaken, Mr. Perez is an exemplary leader for the 21st century. I3A applauds his efforts, and collectively looks forward to working hand in hand with Kodak for many years to come."
"My thanks to the I3A Board of Directors and to I3A members for giving me this prestigious award, which I would like to share with all of Kodak's dedicated employees,” said Mr. Perez. “We have enjoyed a long and fruitful relationship with this organization, and it is gratifying to see the leadership roles our employees are playing in launching and driving recent important and successful I3A initiatives. As the future unfolds for both of us, I have no doubt that our paths will continue to be intertwined."
Antonio M. Perez joined Kodak as President and Chief Operating Officer in April 2003, was elected Chief Executive Officer in May 2005, and became Chairman of the company’s Board of Directors in January 2006. He has extensive expertise in digital imaging technologies, including a 25 year career at HP, where he spearheaded that company’s efforts to build a business in digital imaging and electronic publishing.
Just prior to joining Kodak, Mr. Perez provided counsel to large investment firms on the effect of technology shifts on financial markets. Previously, he was President and CEO of Gemplus International, where he led the effort to take the company public and transformed it into the leading Smart Card–based solution provider in wireless and financial markets.
In addition to his responsibilities at Kodak, Mr. Perez provides leadership in the global business community, serving on the Diversity Best Practices CEO Initiative, The Business Council, the Business Roundtable, and the International Consultative Conference on the Future Economic Development of Guangdong Province, China, an advisory body for the Governor of Guangdong, China. He is a native of Spain.
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I3A at CTIA 2007:  Multimedia Trends and Image Quality Tech Forum 

I3A had a strong presence at the Emerging Technology Forums (ETF), March 26, at CTIA Wireless 2007. ETF sessions offered OEMs and decision makers "The Inside Scoop" from high–tech analysts and industry leaders, on the tangible opportunities, critical trends, and breakthrough technologies inside next–generation wireless devices and platforms. CTIA Wireless 2007 logo
Multimedia Trends Panel
I3A's Lisa Walker was a selected panelist for the opening EFT session, the discussion of Multimedia Trends. The panel, moderated by analyst Richard Doherty of Envisioneering, covered advanced media processing ICs, image sensors, entertainment content, software, standards, and more.
Camera Phone Image Quality – Is Technology to Blame?
Since its launch in June 2006, I3A's CPIQ Initiative, made up of key players in the mobile imaging industry, has been working to remove poor image quality as the top barrier to the utilization and enjoyment of camera phones by consumers.
The Camera Phone Image Quality session at CTIA 2007 continued that momentum. The CTIA EFT session reviewed how camera phones, unlike their digital still camera counterparts, are mass–produced multifunctional devices. Presenters discussed how demands for small form factors, reliability, low cost, durability, and high volume manufacturing processes all affect the capabilities of camera modules, constraining the overall quality of images captured using camera phones. This session focused on technology that affects image quality and possible solutions to improve overall camera phone image quality.
I3A Image Quality Initiative logo
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I3A 61st Annual Conference

Meet Us at Denver's Curtis Hotel, June 6–8, 2007
The 61st Annual Conference will take place at Denver's Curtis Hotel, June 6-8, 2007. The Annual Conference will look in depth at the latest technology innovations and market trends, propelling our constantly-changing imaging industry forward.
More than two thirds of 2006 attendees rated the event “Excellent” – be sure you stay in the know, and find out what the future holds for photo imaging markets at this year’s conference.
The Annual Conference's superior content and outstanding networking opportunities will again provide attendees a concentrated dose of highly relevant, actionable information to take back to their companies. The I3A Annual conference is also open to non-members, making this the premier gathering point for innovators in the world of imaging.
Presentations will include:
  • Fluidic Lenses…A Vision of the Future
    Intriguing, new tunable lens systems for miniature and mobile imaging systems (camera phones, digital still cameras, video recorders). Come hear about this astounding new technology.
  • Single-Pixel, Compressive Sensing Imaging
    The hallmarks of Compressive Sensing include the ability to obtain an image with a single detection element while measuring the image/video fewer times than the number of pixels – this can significantly reduce the computation required for video acquisition/encoding.
  • Online Photo Services: Dead or Alive? Moderated by Kristy Holch
    Take a hard look at the players remaining in the online and mobile photo services sector. Have they fulfilled the promise of online photo services to consumers? Has the market achieved the growth of early projections? What does the future hold for this sector?
David Doubilet
This year, we will be joined by world renowned underwater photographer David Doublilet.
David has photographed over 60 stories for the National Geographic Magazine where he is currently a Contributing Photographer-in-Residence.
David has documented our changing underwater world since his first assignment with the Geographic in 1971. In addition to the Geographic, David's work continues to appear in countless publications worldwide. He is a contributing editor and feature columnist for the "Behind the Shot" in Sport Diver Magazine (US) and Seascapes and Dive Magazine (UK).
  • Camera Phone Image Quality Panel – Subjective Evaluation
    This panel session will focus on the importance of subjective evaluation – can we really measure how people decide which photos they like?
  • Metadata: The Elusive Grail of Imaging Moderated by Gene Mopsik
    Combined with "smart camera phones" that know your calendar, your GPS location, and other pertinent details, intelligent metadata could finally deliver the promise of easy organization, search and retrieval of images. What are the real roadblocks?
  • Megapixel Myths: The Biggest Lie Ever Perpetrated on
    Consumers     Moderated by Sally Grotta
    Experts argue about why additional megapixels should deliver better prints. But the reality is that extra megapixels may be more of a marketing strategy than a real advantage to consumers.
  • Analyst Update Crucial information on the state of the industry
Benefits of Attending:
  • Extensive networking opportunities with the leaders in the imaging industry
  • Opportunity to learn about the technologies that are driving the future of imaging
  • Presentations from industry analysts to help you find out where the real growth opportunities are and where the reality won't meet the hype
The Curtis Hotel is offering I3A Annual Conference attendees a discounted nightly rate of $149.00 plus tax USD for a single room and $159.00 plus tax USD for a double room, provided you book your rooms by
Friday, May 18. Make your reservation by calling the Curtis at +1(800)525–6651. Be sure to mention I3A to receive the group rate.
Sponsorship opportunities are still available. As a staging ground for an exchange of ideas among attendees and industry influencers, the conference is a very effective platform for promoting your company's innovative product or service offerings. This prime audience is I3A's special blend of member companies and interested parties, reaching every corner of the global imaging industry, plus industry luminaries and experts. For sponsorship details, please contact Shannon Taylor, +1 781-876-6223.

Register today!
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Annual I3A Achievement Award

Nominations for Outstanding Contributions in the Categories of Standards and Initiatives or Advocacy Are Welcome Until April 27, 2007
The I3A Achievement Award recognizes, encourages and celebrates outstanding contributions by an individual who has provided significant contributions to the advancement or growth of the imaging industry through his or her participation in I3A.
The I3A Achievement Award honors outstanding accomplishments by an individual who exhibits the insight, determination and drive to positively affect the advancement or growth of the imaging industry in one of two major categories:
  • Standards and Initiatives: Contribution to the success of National or International Standards through participation in the accredited National Standards Developing Program of I3A’s Image Technology Committees or in ISO/TC42 Committee on Photography; or contribution to the success of an I3A Initiative Group.
  • Advocacy: Contribution to the success of an I3A advocacy or government affairs program resulting in significant benefit to the industry in areas such as environmental protection, resolution of trade barriers, or positive consumer education.
Nominations for the I3A Achievement Award may be submitted by any member representative of the Association or its Boards, Councils, and Committees. The I3A Achievement Award Committee must receive all nominations by April 27, 2007.
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The I3A Safety Excellence Award Program was started eight years ago and has been very successful in recognizing outstanding occupational safety and health programs among our member companies. The Program recognizes exemplary occupational and health activities among the Association's member companies.  The awards are given to I3A member company sites that demonstrate the best levels of safety performance and leadership.
The major purpose of the award program is to assist member companies in bringing about sustainable improvement in all areas of health and safety in the workplace.
The 2007 awards will be presented at I3A's 61st Annual Conference membership dinner on Thursday, June 7, 2007.
I3A member companies eligible for this award have business units that manufacture or process digital, imaging, photographic, graphic arts, or medical diagnostic products or equipment, or technology or services. Member companies with distribution (warehouse) centers and photo service operations are also eligible.
Qualified members can request an application form from Jeannette Bouthillet at jeannetteb@i3a.org.  The deadline for application submission is April 20, 2007.
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Industry Briefs
Notebooks, Digital Cameras in Demand
Executives at AU Optronics Corp., the world's third largest LCD panel maker by revenue, said demand for notebook PCs and digital cameras has picked up recently, and predicted better times ahead. "There has been a sharp uptick in notebook demand," said H.B. Chen, president of AU Optronics. The company's supply of notebook PC screens is tight now, a situation likely to continue over the next few months. Demand for digital camera screens is also rebounding, he said.
Nokia
Unveils tie–up with YouTube
Nokia said it is to partner with Google Inc.'s YouTube to enable mobile users access to video content through the forthcoming YouTube mobile site. The content will be available to Nokia N–series device users, with the required software available to download or already pre-installed on new N–series models, the company said at the 3GSM show in Barcelona.
Nokia Revamps North American Operations
In a move that looks to bolster its North American presence, Nokia announced it is revamping its sales and marketing initiatives in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Nokia said it is moving most of its support functions for the handset sales organization from Irving, Texas to Nokia's corporate offices in White Plain, NY. The company also named Mark Louison, who currently heads Nokia's North American network business, head of its device business in North America. He's replacing Tim Eckersley, whose future plans will be announced later.
Markets on watch for Palm sale
Palm could be sold for $2 billion, with Nokia, Motorola and two private equity players thought to be in the running to acquire the technology group. Industry sources have suggested that the Palm board would prefer a private equity bid, with Texas Pacific Group and Silver Lake Partners cited as possible buyers. It is understood that Palm, best known for its Treo Smartphone devices, hired Morgan Stanley, the bank, to explore a sale earlier this month.

Digital Photography Trends
Fuji Tying Dealers Into Program Offering Images on Postage Stamps
Fuji has entered the photo-postage stamp market with a program that provides for orders to be placed by the consumer on the Internet through one of the dealers listed on its
Web site, yourstamps.com. Putting a personal photo onto a real U.S. post office stamp is not new, having been authorized by the postal service in 2005. However, such programs have been solely web-based and the Fuji plan differentiates itself by tying retail photo dealers into the activity.
GE Debuts a Slew of Digital Cameras
One of the most noted brands behind kitchen appliances and washing machines is going small. GE, known for "bringing good things to life," is hoping to bring good things to photographers. The company has expanded its consumer electronics division to include digital cameras. The eight models, created by GE subsidiary General Imaging — a small manufacturer founded by the former president of Olympus — were unveiled at the Photo Marketing Association conference in Las Vegas.
Olympus Wins Three DIMA Awards for Innovation
Olympus received an unprecedented three Digital Imaging Marketing Association (DIMA) 2007 Innovative Digital Product Awards at the recent Photo Marketing Association (PMA) industry tradeshow.
Ricoh Releases GPS Digital Camera
Ricoh Corporation, a leader in business solutions, solidified its leadership position in providing cameras with integrated GPS technology by releasing the 500SE GPS-ready digital camera today. Developed for outdoor location-based photography, the 500SE boasts extreme ruggedization and high resolution to meet the image quality and all-weather usability demanded by the mobile GPS photographer.
Sony Releases Its First Wireless Camera
Wire by wire, electronic products are losing their tethers. Sony cut another cord with its announcement of its first wireless digital camera. The DSC-G1, a 6-megapixel digital camera in the Cyber-shot line, can send photos without wires to any other camera or PC that is enabled with the Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA) standard, which works with Wi–Fi 802.11b/g networking.
Sony adds HDTV output to digital cameras
Sony is aggressively promoting high–definition televisions (HDTVs) to consumers and soon it will have a range of digital still cameras to match. Many of the company's new Cybershot cameras, which will hit global markets in March and April, offer an output for HDTVs.
Most current digital cameras support the ability to view pictures on a television set, but this is almost always at standard definition, which is close to VGA resolution of 640 pixels by 480 pixels. More often than not, the original image is much higher quality, so a better image could be displayed on an HDTV if the camera were capable of generating such a video image. That's what Sony has enabled its new Cybershot cameras to do.

Camera Phone Trends
Customers Not Convinced of the Benefits of Smartphones

According to a new report from MarketStar, 42 percent of 300 mobile users said they "just want a phone" and are not sold on additional features. MarketStar VP Stan Bassett claimed that: "To convince a typical mobile phone user to upgrade to a combination device requires a coordinated effort between the manufacturers and retailers, from the design to the sales pitch."
Microsoft eyes day when camera phones aid map searches
Lost in Seattle with nothing but a camera phone? Just snap a picture of a nearby building, send off the photo to a database and soon you'll get back a map and information about where you are. The new Web service is one of over 40 new technologies and ideas displayed by Microsoft Corp. at its research department's annual TechFest fair. The map-search technology required Microsoft to get millions of street-level pictures of Seattle's buildings and landmarks. Those pictures were added to a database and indexed by distinguishing features that can be cross referenced to pictures sent in by users. Increasingly sophisticated mobile phones are becoming a popular device to search for maps, directions and other local information and Microsoft said the service is a logical next step.
Samsung claims title to world's thinnest mobile phone
Samsung Electronics unveiled the ultrathin U100 measuring only 5.9 millimeters thick. The phone, along with the U600 and U700 in the Ultra II series, will be available by the end of March, and three multimedia models — which feature large displays, high-quality cameras, TV tuners and music software — will all be available by the end of the third quarter.
Texas Instruments aims for low–cost and high–end markets with 3D and high–definition video chips
Texas Instruments has announced the release of two new mobile-phone chips, one of which will tout 720p high–definition video–playback capabilities. The second chip will add to TI's successful LoCosto line, which the company hopes will drive down market prices while also adding features that cater to emerging markets.
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Personal Spotlight — Ming Gao
Ming Gao is a program manager in HP’s Mobile Imaging organization. His responsibilities include industry alliances, technology standards and business development. Currently, Ming leads the I3A Camera Phone Image Quality Initiative. He also serves as secretary of technical committee in Mobile Imaging and Printing Consortium.
Ming Gao, HP
Ming Gao
Program manager
Hewlett–Packard Company
Chair, I3A Camera Phone Image Quality initiative
Ming has over 15 years of experience in the technology industry, with software development and project management expertise in fields ranging from computer graphics/scientific visualization, UNIX kernel and X–Windows/Motif, to enterprise IT management.
Ming holds a M.S. in Computer Engineering and an M.B.A., both from Rutgers University.
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I3A Meetings and Events
To arrange to attend any of these meetings, please register on the members’ Web site or contact the Standards Department at i3astds@i3a.org.
Regularly
Scheduled I3A Initiative Conference Calls
Bi-weekly,
Tue 		CPIQ Initiative — 11:00 EDT
April 2007
Thu 5 Management Committee
Tue 24 SaveMyMemories Web site Meeting
May 2007
Thu 3 Management Committee
Tue 15–
Fri 18 		WG5 – IT9 Meetings
Tue 22 SaveMyMemories Web site Meeting
June 2007
Wed
6 		Management Committee — Denver, Colorado
Wed
6 		Board of Director's Meeting — Denver, Colorado
Wed
6-
Fri 8 		I3A 61st Annual Conference — Denver, Colorado
Mon 25–
Fri 29 		ISO/TC42 20th Plenary Meeting — Lausanne, Switzerland
Tue 26 SaveMyMemories Web site Meeting

Industry Events
As a service to its members, I3A provides a listing of events affecting the imaging industry.
April 17–19, 2007 Channels Exhibitions
Photo World–Dubai 2007
April 18–20, 2007 ISFL
Professional Imaging 07 – Zurich
May 4–7, 2007 PMA Australia/PICA
21st Annual Convention
May 16–19, 2007 ExpoUA
Kyiv PhotoFair 2007
May 17–20, 2007 COEX, KOIA
Photo & Imaging 2007
Seoul
May 21–24, 2007 IS&T
Archiving 2007
May 30–June 1, 2007 IMI Europe
Ink Jet Technology Showcase 2007
June 5–7, 2007 FESPA
FESPA Digital Printing Europe 2007
Berlin
June 6–8, 2007
I3A logo

I3A 61st Annual Conference
Denver, Colorado
July 3–6, 2007
Shanghai Modern
15th Advert. & Technology Equipment
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