1stWorks Makes News
Posted by Mark Nelson on 27th February 2006 | Permanent Link
The annual Data Compression Conference in Utah is a big academic exercise right? So what’s up with 1stWorks issuing a press release of all things, announcing their QI encoder?
Well, the answer is of course that 1stWorks is not an academic outfit, they are a commercial concern, and they want to sell this thing. So while they may publish a paper or two, what they really want to do is drum up business.
Here’s what they have to say about the QI algorithm in the press release:
The 1stWorks Encoder encapsulates data compression technology based on the new Quantized Indexing algorithm developed by its Chief Scientist, Ratko Tomic. This new algorithm solves the four-decades-old problem of arithmetic precision in Enumerative Coding which has limited its use in general purpose compression, despite its theoretical optimality, to the specialized field of encoding CDs and DVDs.
“Simply put, the 1stWorks Encoder always compresses data to a smaller size than the very best research-level Entropy Coders, while simultaneously delivering a significant speed and power consumption advantage,” said 1stWorks President Nigel Spicer. “We believe that this new algorithm genuinely represents an inflection point in general purpose data compression performance. Ten years from now, we expect applications incorporating the 1stWorks Encoder to be everywhere, from cell phones to set top boxes.”
So does this commercial approach cheapen their announcement, or is it just business as usual? You tell me, the comment link is below.
February 27th, 2006 at 11:18 am
As far as “this commercial approach” is concerned, I am ok with it (but only if the algorithm is acually as useful as they claim).
Press release says that they are developing a video codec based on this, then why are they not able to present some working code which can demonstrate the *complete* compression process. The algorithm nicely does what it does, I think the question which remains is how ‘useful’ it can be practically (flame me if I am wrong here).
btw, I am planning to be at DCC this year. Will let you all know how it goes there. (How many of you will I be meeting there?)
January 10th, 2007 at 11:50 am
I haven’t explored this in detail yet, but just to let you all know that 1stWorks’ QI patent has been granted.
You can also check other c10n stories on QI.