CognoVision
Encyclopedia
CognoVision Solutions Inc. is a Toronto
-based provider of real-time audience measurement
and retail intelligence
solutions. The company creates Anonymous Video Analytics (AVA) 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. Intel Corporation
announced August 8th, 2011 that Anonymous Video Analytics from Cognovision would be the underlying technology powering their Intel AIM Suite service.
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. 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.
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.
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
-based provider of real-time audience measurement
Audience measurement
Audience measurement measures how many people are in an audience, usually in relation to radio listenership and television viewership, but also in relation to newspaper and magazine readership and, increasingly, web traffic on websites...
and retail intelligence
Retail Intelligence
-Definition: Retail Intelligence are the set of tools and applications focused on the creation and management of knowledge through the recollection, processing, interaction and analysis of information generated in all operations perform by any retailer.RI applications can relate in real time and...
solutions. The company creates Anonymous Video Analytics (AVA) software that uses small video cameras and real-time Computer vision
Computer vision
Computer vision is a field that includes methods for acquiring, processing, analysing, and understanding images and, in general, high-dimensional data from the real world in order to produce numerical or symbolic information, e.g., in the forms of decisions...
algorithms to detect faces and people for measuring viewership of Digital signage
Digital signage
Digital signage is a form of electronic display that shows television programming, menus, information, advertising and other messages. Digital signs can be found in public and private environments, such as retail stores, hotels, restaurants and corporate buildings.Digital signage Displays are most...
or estimating traffic flow patterns in a retail store.
On November 15, 2010, it was announced that Intel Corporation
Intel Corporation
Intel Corporation is an American multinational semiconductor chip maker corporation headquartered in Santa Clara, California, United States and the world's largest semiconductor chip maker, based on revenue. It is the inventor of the x86 series of microprocessors, the processors found in most...
, the world's largest semiconductor chip maker, had acquired CognoVision - the acquisition closed in September 2010. Intel Corporation
Intel Corporation
Intel Corporation is an American multinational semiconductor chip maker corporation headquartered in Santa Clara, California, United States and the world's largest semiconductor chip maker, based on revenue. It is the inventor of the x86 series of microprocessors, the processors found in most...
announced August 8th, 2011 that Anonymous Video Analytics from Cognovision would be the underlying technology powering their Intel AIM Suite service.
History
CognoVision was founded in 2006. The company was privately financed and was acquired by Intel CorporationIntel Corporation
Intel Corporation is an American multinational semiconductor chip maker corporation headquartered in Santa Clara, California, United States and the world's largest semiconductor chip maker, based on revenue. It is the inventor of the x86 series of microprocessors, the processors found in most...
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
Carleton University
Carleton University is a comprehensive university located in the capital of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario. The enabling legislation is The Carleton University Act, 1952, S.O. 1952. Founded as a small college in 1942, Carleton now offers over 65 programs in a diverse range of disciplines. Carleton has...
in Ottawa, Canada in 2000. Each founder independently relocated to Toronto - Malik completed his Ph.D. at University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
, 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.. 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 .However, the technology is often incorrectly compared to the retina scanners in Minority Report (film)
Minority Report (film)
Minority Report is a 2002 American neo-noir science fiction film directed by Steven Spielberg and loosely based on the short story "The Minority Report" by Philip K. Dick. It is set primarily in Washington, D.C...
, which privacy groups are pushing for legislation to prevent more intrusive biometric recognition technologies from becoming mainstream.
Milestones
- May 2006 - CognoVision founded
- Apr 2007 - CognoVision ranked as semi-finalist in TiETiETiE is a global nonprofit dedicated to fostering entrepreneurship. TiE has 54 chapters in 13 countries, with a total membership exceeding 13,000. TiE is most closely affiliated with the South Asian business community, and is recognized as an important networking forum for entrepreneurs and investors...
Quest 2007 Business Venture Competition - June 2007 - CognoVision ranked 2nd in MaRSMARSMARS is a block cipher that was IBM's submission to the Advanced Encryption Standard process. MARS was selected as an AES finalist in August 1999, after the AES2 conference in March 1999, where it was voted as the fifth and last finalist algorithm....
Upstart Contest - Feb 2008 - CognoVision launched its solutions at the Digital Signage Expo 2008
- Oct 2008 - CognoVision-powered nCAP wins Artisan Complete a 2008 DIGI Award for Best Product with Audience Measurement
- Mar 2009 - CognoVision wins rAVe DS 2009 Champ Award: Most innovative DS software product: CognoVision's AIM System
- Nov 2009 - CognoVision wins 2009 DIGI Award for Best New Audience Measurement Package
- Nov 2009 - CognoVision named to the CIX Top 20 Innovative Companies of 2009
- Dec 2009 - Canadian Innovation Exchange names CognoVision as Canada’s 2009 Digital Media and Innovation Leader
- Mar 2010 - CognoVision wins rAVe DS 2010 Champ Award: Best DS Software Add-on App
- Apr 2010 - Branham300 names CognoVision to Top 20 ICT Up & Coming Companies
- Sep 2010 - CognoVision acquired by Intel CorporationIntel CorporationIntel Corporation is an American multinational semiconductor chip maker corporation headquartered in Santa Clara, California, United States and the world's largest semiconductor chip maker, based on revenue. It is the inventor of the x86 series of microprocessors, the processors found in most...