Verity, a provider of intelligent agent-based search and retrieval solutions for the enterprise and the Internet, has acquired 64k Inc., a developer of technology to improve the speed and effectiveness of relational database searches. The transaction is valued at $3.5 million. 64k will now operate under the Verity name and will become a new Database Applications Group within Verity's R&D; organization.
Verity plans to introduce by early 1998 a relational database search product, DBGuide, which will enable users to search and navigate large relational databases from a Web browser. In addition, Verity plans to integrate 64k technology directly into its Search'97 platform, allowing a unified approach to searching relational and textual data and significant increase in Search'97's structured search performance.
Concentra has launched a software initiative based on ICAD, its knowledge-based engineering development tool. Code named Project KBO, its aim is to control the architecture of knowledge. Demonstrated at the Knowledge Based Organization conference in Phoenix, the Java-based product drives knowledge thoughout the enterprise via Internet/intranet connectivity.
Eventually Project KBO is intended to create an environment for harnessing, storing and deploying human knowledge throughout every aspect of an organization's business as well as linking, unifying, distributing and consolidating the data and functionality held in all of an organization's other software systems.
Built on ICAD, Project KBO software incorporates Java to create multi-platform GUIs for universality, and uses CORBA (Common Object Request Broker Architecture) which will allow Concentra to package data in knowledge packets. Project KBO will encompass three key features: the Knowledge Server, which will develop and execute the knowledge packets; the Knowledge Repository, which will manage the knowledge packets and model inputs; and the Knowledge Backbone, which will distribute captured knowledge throughout the organization.
Project KBO's initial developments include enhanced CAD translator capabilities, VRML functionality, improved solids quality and performance, a new client/server deployment tool with Web functionality, new graphic capabilities, an easier programming environment and a higher level of support.
A new survey from Advanced Manufacturing Research reveals that the majority of manufacturers are already using the Internet to communicate with their customers and sales forces.
Featured in its latest Report on Manufacturing, AMR's survey of 125 decision-makers from global 1,000 manufacturers reveals that industry is embracing is embracing Internet-based customer service, working to maximize its value in terms of both cost and customer satisfaction. According to the survey, 71 percent of manufactuers already use the Internet to communicate with customers, and 82 percent plan to do so within the next year.
Other findings included:
For more information on AMR, call (617) 542-6600.
Lernout & Hauspie, a developer of speech recognition technologies, has acquired one of its major competitors, Kurzweil Applied Intelligence, for $53 million. Kurzweil AI will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of L&H.;
L&H; will combine its efforts with Kurzweil's to develop a large vocabulary, speaker-independent, continuous dictation engine to the Belgium-based Dictation Consortium. L&H; is negotiating with the consortium for their participation in the acquisition. Under the terms of the revised arrangement under discussion, the Dictation Consortium will pay up to $26 million to L&H; out of the additional income that is anticipated to be generated from forthcoming products in 1998 and thereafter.
http://www.lhs.com
http://www.kurzweil.com
Gensym, provider of the G2 intelligent system development tool, has opened Gensym Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd., an Asia/Pacific regional headquarters located in Singapore. Gensym customers in the Asia/Pacific region include Alcoa, Asahi Chemical, Hitachi, Hong Kong Mass Transit Railway, Seagate, Sumitomo Metals, and several automotive manufacturers and telecommunications organizations.
Verity, a provider of intelligent search and retrieval applications for the enterprise, Internet and intranets, has signed an agreement with Netscape Communications under which Netscape will embed Verity's SEARCH'97 software to Netscape SuiteSpot Server Software. Specifically, Netscape will include SEARCH'97 in Netscape Enterprise, Netscape Catalog Server, and Netscape Collabra Server Software, in addition to Netscape Publishing System.
The two companies plan to work closely together to provide Netscape customers with "upgrade ready" access to additional Verity capabilities such as clustering, categorization and summarization that work with the SEARCH'97 functionality built into the Netscape Server products.
http://www.verity.com
http://www.netscape.com
4/3/97
1:18 AM
Sense8 Corp., a supplier of virtual reality development tools, has formed a strategic partnership with Engineering Animation Inc. , a provider of 3D visualization products, to collaboratively develop 3D prototyping and automation products for the design and manufacturing industries. The relationship will range from product integration to joint product development.
EAI's product visualization solutions will be combined with Sense8's 3D/VR application development tools, allowing users to model complex behavioral characteristics into their CAD data and 3D models, and immersively interact with designs.
http://www.sense8.com
http://www.eai.com
3/21/97
3:37 PM
Freight-Trac is a neural network-based PC application that identifies, tracks and inventories industrial cargoes as they are off-loaded from their carriers. The product has become an integral part of the security programs at several UK-based world-trade seaports. Freight-Trac utilizes neural networks to analyze the characters which identify each container. The intelligent system can operate 24 hours a day (with proper lighting), under poor weather conditions, and when markings have been damaged, marred, or partially obscured during transport. Port authorities can use the tool for automated stock control, billing and security.
To ensure that individual drivers leaving ports are those authorized to transport the cargo, Freight-Trac can be teamed with Neurodynamics' surveillance and image capture products to record a digital video image of each driver for later identification if needed. Freight-Trac can also be configured in tandem with Neurodynamics' Automatic Numberplate Recognition System to automatically identify each vehicle passing through security checkpoints. Should any cargo be reported as stolen or missing, these tools provide the authorities with information for their investigations.
3/7/97
11:01 AM
Harlequin has introduced Liquid Common Lisp (formally known as Lucid Common Lisp) 5.0, a software development tool for advanced object-oriented programming that conforms to ANSI X3.226:1994 and includes a comprehensive implementation of the Common Lisp Object System (CLOS).
The company has also launched a Windows version of its LispWorks Lisp development environment. LispWorks 4.0 is a fully multi-threaded implementation of Harlequin's UNIX version, offering a porting path to customers seeking to migrate their applications from UNIX to Windows 95 or Windows NT.
3/7/97
10:55 AM
KnowledgeX, a developer of knowledge management systems, has launched its Premier Partners Program, an initiative to team with competitive intelligence (CI) consultancies to delivery solutions to clients. The KnowledgeX system reveals intelligence that helps companies stay apprised of their competition, aggregate and share intellectual assets, and discover hidden market opportunities.
Using KnowledgeX, Premier Partners will initiate opportunities focused on their respective industry and domain expertise, give its clients a head-start on identifying market trends, and provide capabilities to refine extensive data and information into relevant collections of knowledge "nuggets," which include subtle interrelationships.
Psystep and Aaron/Smith Associates are among the first companies to become KnowledgeX Premier Partners.
3/5/97
10:53 PM
Verity, a supplier of intelligent agent-based search and retrieval applications for the Internet/intranet, will provide its Search '97 technology to InReference. InReference will integrate Search '97 with its new Reference.COM online Internet forum service to help business and home users search, browse, monitor and join in on Internet-based forums, USENET newsgroups and e-mail lists.
Verity has also created a Desktop and Server Product Group in conjunction with the recently formed Applications Group (formely Cognisoft). These groups are each responsible for engineering, quality assurance, documentation and product marketing for their product lines.
http://www.verity.com
http://www.inreference.com