----------------------------Original message----------------------------
I've been noting the discussion on visual image retrieval with some interest,
so I might as well mention that my department at Microsoft is using the Virage
Visual Intelligence Retrieval engine as part of our media asset management
system -- a product called BULLDOG (http://www.bulldog.ca) (Nope, it ain't
made by Microsoft: too small of a market). Bulldog is a front-end application
which combines many cutting edge technologies to provide a comprehensive
multimedia database, retrieval system and workflow management tool. If there
is any interest, I can give details in another posting or offline, as they are
fairly cumbersome. Right now the BullDog VIR implementation is still in
development, and should be finally released sometime in Q2 1997.
I am familiar with the PIRS project, and the Virage technology is quite a bit
more sophisticated (Not to belittle PIRS in any way), thus its implementation
has more opportunity for end user error. The premise of Virage is that when a
still image is registered into a database, the Virage component interrogates
the image file, and compiles a mathematical construct of the image, in
categories Virage refers to as color, composition, structure, & texture.
In simple terms, to Query an image database using Virage, you first select an
image to serve as a baseline for the search. Thus you would use the tool not
so much to find specific subject matter, like "Monarch Butterflies," but
instead to find 'butterfly-like shapes'. Once a baseline image is selected,
the user adjusts, or weights the importance of the 4 categories above, and VIR
uses the 'tuned' data to query against the database. Thus, 'color' values in
an image can be emphasized over composition and texture, etc. The Virage web
site has an excellent demo of the Visual Intelligence Retrieval (VIR) product
at http://www.virage.com/cgi-bin/random.
Another VIR demo site can be found at INFORMIX, which provides an even more
interesting collection of images to search against. The INFORMIX VIR demo web
site is at: http://www.illustra.com/virdemo/cgi-bin/Webdriver?MIval=welcome.
INFORMIX has licensed the VIR technology as an optional component in its
Illustra / Universal Server product.
Virage is truly mind boggling in its capabilities, but it will still be quite
awhile before it or other content-based searching tools can match the
abilities of a well-trained (human) picture indexer.
Regards,
Kevin Comerford
Media Archive Manager
Microsoft Corporation
-----Original Message-----
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Tue, 17 Dec 1996 11:55:01 -0500
From: paula wilhelme <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Re: FINDING IMAGES IN A DATABASE
You might try to contact Chuck Patch at the Historic New Orleans
Collection. He wrote an article titled Tell Me a Story: A System for
Thematically Querying a Multi-Media Archive in the Fall 1994 Spectra,
describing PIRS, the Picture Indexing and Retrieval System. PIRS allows
images to be indexed according to the shapes contained with them, and
retrieved by "drawing" the shape desired.
This is probably a little dated by now, but might be worth a look.
At 3:39 PM 12.17.96, Jennifer Brasher wrote:
>Please excuse duplication in cross posting.
>
>Dear ARLIS-Lers, ImageLibers,VRALers,
>
>Better and better. I'm finally catching up with old email here.
>
>I've had a look at this site below, Virage.
>
>I've heard of something else (QBIS?) with a sketch pad facility (like
>Adobe Illustrator) to draw irregular shapes or click on a shape within an
>image to find. Has anyone else come across this and a supplier? I've done a
>Web search in MetaCrawler and Yahoo under QBIS which may be a misnomer.
>When I do a search doing image, serch, software I come up with 7 hits which
>includes VIRAGE, other stuff less relevant. Any guidance appreciated!
>
>Jennifer QCA
>
>
>>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>>This is probably old news to you, but just in case I am forwarding it
anyway.
>>I received it in Edupage, the electronic updating service from Educom.
>>Anyway, I thought this was interesting. Mary
>>
>>FINDING IMAGES IN A DATABASE
>>Software from Virage can compare images with a kind of visual template, in
>>much the same way that the human brain functions. The Virage software
>>reduces the essence of each image into a 1-kilobyte file called a feature
>>vector, based on shapes, textures, colors and placement. (Forbes 2 Dec 96
>>p240)
>>See < http://www.virage.com > for demo.
>>
>>_________________________________________
>>Mary Molinaro
>>Team Leader, Young Library
>>University of Kentucky Libraries
>>123 King South
>>Lexington, Kentucky 40506-0039
>>
>>[log in to unmask]
>
>
>*****************************************************************************
*
>
>Jennifer Brasher `` ` ` ` EMAIL: [log in to unmask]
>Art Librarian `` ` ` VOICE: +61 (07) 3875 3132
>Image Manager ` ` `FAX: +61 (07) 3875 3133
>
>SNAIL MAIL ` ` ` `
>Queensland College of Art Library ` ` ` ` *
>Griffith University ``````` *
>
>Clearview Terrace ``*` *
>Morningside Campus *
>PO Box 84 Morningside Brisbane Queensland 4170 Australia
>*****************************************************************************
*
>
>*****************************************************************************
*
paula wilhelme
[log in to unmask]
141 St. Mark's Place
Brooklyn, NY 11217
718.636.4007
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 17 Dec 1996 08:49:02 -0800
From: Paula Berinstein <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Re: FINDING IMAGES IN A DATABASE
Jennifer,
QBIC can be found at http://wwwqbic.almaden.ibm.com/. I can't remember
all the particulars, but I know it's a pattern-matching search engine.
Paula
*************************************************************************
* Paula Berinstein Author *Finding Images Online* *
* http://www.onlineinc.com/pempress/images *
* Berinstein Research *
* Woodland Hills, California *
* (818) 704-6460 [log in to unmask] *
* (818) 704-1590 fax [log in to unmask] *
*************************************************************************
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 17 Dec 1996 16:55:20 -0500
From: Bruce Sauls <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Re: NASA and ORBIT and Corbus, mysteriouser and mysteriouser
Jennifer Brasher wrote:
>
> PS. Could someone correct me if I'm wrong about the below, as I need to
> know this rather urgently. Does Bill Gates actually have exclusive digital
> rights to all these images? I have heard contrary evidence to the
> information I presently have. Reply off list if you wish! Jennifer QCA.
>
> >John,
> >
> >I have been following information on the CORBIS enterprise. When I posted
> >a summary from "Wired" recently it seemed from information in this article
> >that Corbis was creating non-exclusve deals with these image sources.
> >Therefore essentially you still have the right to view NASA's holdings
> >through other means than CORBIS....... same with National Gallery of
> >London, Ansel Adams, and all the other institutions who have joined
> >CORBIS.
> >
> >I notice Bill Gates' picture was on the front cover of the latest "Library
> >Journal". He is creating grants for computer hardware for various public
> >libraries!?
> >
> >Jennifer QCA
> >
> >
>
> >Since Sue Hartke of Corbus replied to the list, I thought I'd inform
> >you all that both Ms. Hartke, and a Ms. Anne Theisen of Corbis, have
> >both emailed that "Although we cannot provide you with details as to
> >the arrangements between the National Geographic Society, NASA and
> >Corbis, we invite you to take a look at our web site"- which I have
> >done. Interesting web site, interesting anecdotal details of the
> >massive digitizing project to scan the film at Johnson Space Center-
> >but no information whatsoever about the financial and contractual
> >nature of the enterprise.
> >
> >I, frankly, don't know what, if any, obligation Corbus, a privately
> >owned company, might have to disclose the details of a book deal.
> >Likewise for the National Geographic Society, which is, supposedly, a
> >non-profit. However, NASA is a public institution, and the Space
> >Shuttle Earth Observations Photography (SSEOP) archives are the
> >collective property of all Americans, available to anyone on Earth
> >(or, presumably, not on Earth...) copyright free for the nominal costs
> >of reproduction of the photography. I truly believe that, at the very
> >least NASA's end of the deal should be a matter of public record.
> >
> >Anyone thinking that I will be meekly satisfied with the news that the
> >privitization of the archives of American astronaut photography can
> >proceed without disclosure of any information about the deal simply does
> >not know the Grand Wazoo.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > _ _
> > (o)(o)
> >----------------------------------------oOO--(_)--OOo----
> >John Cloud
> >c/o Geography Department
> >University of California
> >Santa Barbara, California 93106
> > FAX: 805-893-7782
> > Home: 805-963-1632
> > E-mail: [log in to unmask]
> >---------------------------------------------------------
>
>
******************************************************************************
>
> Jennifer Brasher `` ` ` ` EMAIL: [log in to unmask]
> Art Librarian `` ` ` VOICE: +61 (07) 3875 3132
> Image Manager ` ` `FAX: +61 (07) 3875 3133
>
> SNAIL MAIL ` ` ` `
> Queensland College of Art Library ` ` ` ` *
> Griffith University ``````` *
>
> Clearview Terrace ``*` *
> Morningside Campus *
> PO Box 84 Morningside Brisbane Queensland 4170 Australia
>
******************************************************************************
>
>
******************************************************************************
Dear Jennifer:
The film is public domain, you can make arrangements to take a scanner
and scan it yourself. Once you have scanned the image, that particular
scan (digital file) is yours, and you can sell rights to it. One of the
top selling images from one of the leading American stock photo agencies
has been the famous NASA view of Earth from outer space, mostly sold to
European agencies for ads in Europe. Still, these same European agencies
could come scan it themselves and not pay a license or usage fee.
--
Regards,
Bruce Sauls
Graphic Detail, Inc.
5711 Six Forks Road, Suite 206
Raleigh NC 27609-3888
Please note the new email address and change in your address list.
919-847-9099 email: [log in to unmask]
Developers of Thumbs Up, a strategic enterprise-wide cross-platform
technology for organizing, cataloging, viewing, and archiving visual
information of all kinds. http://www.agrafx.com/kmiservices/
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 17 Dec 1996 16:57:58 +0500
From: "Jeffrey S. Erickson" <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: S. Maria Maggiore mosaics
Folks,
I'm looking for a commercial source for high-quality slides of the
mosaics in the nave of Santa Maria Maggiore. Does anyone have any
recommendations?
Thanks.
Jeffrey
Jeffrey S. Erickson phone: 704-892-2590
Slide Collection, Visual Arts Ctr. fax: 704-892-2691
Davidson College internet: [log in to unmask]
315 N. Main St.
P. O. Box 1720
Davidson, North Carolina 28036 USA
Disclaimer:
"The fact that I've made a slide of it doesn't mean that I think it's art."
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 17 Dec 1996 20:43:37 -0800
From: "J.E. Hill Multimedia Company" <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Re: S. Maria Maggiore mosaics
Jeffrey S. Erickson wrote:
>
> Folks,
> I'm looking for a commercial source for high-quality slides of the
> mosaics in the nave of Santa Maria Maggiore. Does anyone have any
> recommendations?
> Thanks.
> Jeffrey
>
> Jeffrey S. Erickson phone: 704-892-2590
> Slide Collection, Visual Arts Ctr. fax: 704-892-2691
> Davidson College internet:
[log in to unmask]
> 315 N. Main St.
> P. O. Box 1720
> Davidson, North Carolina 28036 USA
>
> Disclaimer:
> "The fact that I've made a slide of it doesn't mean that I think it's art."
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------------------------------
Date: Tue, 17 Dec 1996 22:04:44 -0500
From: "Barbara Treitel [log in to unmask]" <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Catalogue help needed for Cuban artist Ann Mendieta
Can anyone tell me where I should file my slide images of works by Ann
Mendieta a Cuban Artist (1948-1985)?
Body Art? Performance Art? Mixed Media? Sculpture? Painter? Where does she
get a cross reference? Installation Art? What are the possible categories
used to file contempory artists?
Awaiting your replies.
Barbara Treitel
[log in to unmask]
------------------------------
End of VRA-L Digest - 16 Dec 1996 to 17 Dec 1996
************************************************
