NEW DELHI, INDIA – Visesh Infotecnics Ltd,, a New Delhi-based IT software firm, and U.S.-based Cyberworks Software announced this week that the two companies have formed a strategic alliance to market a new image analysis software capable of automatically detecting “offensive imagery” on computers and wireless, according to a joint press release issued by the companies.The creatively entitled “Image Analyzer” – detects “offensive visual content” on hard-drives, in digital data transmission, or in real time downloads to servers, PCs, PDAs, mobile phones, iPods, USB jump drives, and other mass storage devices.
The advantage of Image Analyzer over other “safe surfing” technologies, says its developers, is that the software does not rely on “lists of previously known offensive images,” instead analyzing the actual images downloaded from websites or received via email or peer-to-peer swapping.
“The massive proliferation of pornography in the workplace and amongst youth is a major problem and a costly one in the Asian market,” said Sanjiv Bhavnani, CEO of Visesh Infotecnics. “It reduces productivity in the workplace, encourages sexual harassment, and exposes CEOs to serious legal liability and criminal proceedings.”
The press release does not specify how the terms “offensive” or “inappropriate” are defined within the context of the technology, or provide detail as to the analytical method employed.
In an effort to encourage rapid distribution of the technology, Cyberworks is currently engaged in talks with “a range of mobile service providers, wireless PDA makers, managed email service providers, anti-virus companies, and search engines to integrate Image Analyzer into their products.”
The technology is currently available for license on an OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) basis and “can be simply integrated within an existing application or form the basis of a new product offering for IT security vendors,” according to the press release.
Bhavnani said his company has big goals in mind for the adoption of the technology.
“We see this technology being incorporated on to every corporate server, iPOD, GSM network, and WiMax network across Asia,” Bhavnani said.
“Image Analyzer technology offers a clear value add to IT security vendors,” said Cyberworks president Vivek Burhanpurkar, adding that the “alliance with Visesh will now give us the ability to engage at the correct level and achieve the penetration of the Asian market which the company has targeted.”
