Press Release: Future Image and I3A Announce “5 Minute World” Event at the 2005 Mobile Imaging Summit North America


September 22, 2005 — At next month’s Mobile Imaging Summit executive conference (October 11 &12, Monterey, CA) the amazing power and flexibility of today’s mobile imaging technology will be featured in an exciting never-before-seen demonstration: The “5-minute World” event, which will take place during author Rick Smolan’s luncheon keynote on October 12. The Mobile Imaging Summit is hosted by Future Image Inc., the leading independent center of expertise on the convergence of imaging, information technology, and telecommunications, and I3A (International Imaging Industry Association), the leading global association for the imaging industry. To produce this unique event Future Image and I3A have joined forces with Motorola, Hewlett-Packard and Smolan, author and creator of the best-selling photography books in history (five million copies in print), including the "Day in the Life" and "America 24/7" books.

For this demonstration, one hundred people around the world will use the latest generation of Motorola camera-phones to snap images during one 5-minute period and send them to a web site hosting the images. As the images are received, they will display immediately on a large screen in the conference room where Smolan’s keynote is held. Technology provided by HP will be used to assemble the images into a “global portrait” — a unique memento of this ground-breaking event, which all attendees and participants will receive.
“The convergence of imaging and mobility is a revolution in human communication. It is an event of historical magnitude — not just for business, but for society as a whole,” said Future Image president Alexis Gerard. “Since its inception, the Mobile Imaging Summit has been a privileged place where key executives from the companies driving that convergence meet to make decisions and conclude alliances that shape the industry. And because our attendees demand more from a conference than the drudgery of sitting through canned presentations as penance for the opportunity to network during breaks, we developed a unique interactive format. We’re delighted to up the ante this year by making them all a part of this ground-breaking event.”
“HP is pleased to lend its imaging technology to enable this truly first-of-its-kind event, which will allow hundreds of people to connect in a way that was not possible in the analog world,” said Aaron Weiss, director of business development, Digital Photography and Entertainment, HP. “Digital photography has forever changed the way people capture moments and share stories and memories with friends, family and colleagues around the globe.  This event is an excellent example of the great possibilities enabled by digital photography.”
"Humanity has a deep need to tell stories and this is why photographs are so important to people,” said Smolan. “In 2003 digital cameras outsold film cameras. In 2004 cell phone cameras outsold digital cameras. By the end of 2005 a billion ordinary people will be carrying camera-phones with them 24/7. The ability to shoot and then instantly share images is going to dramatically change the way humanity sees itself and how each of us tells our own stories."
The Mobile Imaging Summit conferences are limited attendance events that bring together senior executives of the imaging, information processing and telecommunications industries to manage the convergence trends that are reshaping their industries, address emerging revenue opportunities, determine any standardization needs, and plan future initiatives. The content, venue and amenities are carefully designed to maximize opportunities for participants to identify areas of mutual business advantage, and to make the high-level connections that enable market leadership and drive competitive advantage while fostering global industry growth. Sessions are conducted in a highly interactive format, drawing upon Future Image’s extensive research, the I3A’s global imaging network, and a stellar lineup of industry speakers to highlight key issues and promote discussion onstage and off.
Sessions will include a State of the Industry presented by Tony Henning, Managing Editor of the Future Image Mobile Imaging Report; a Visionary Roundtable moderated by Alexis Gerard, Founder and President of Future Image; and a series of lively discussions on topics including: Print: Beyond the 4x6; The Future of Bandwidth; Goodbye Camera - Will camera-phones become the primary picture taking device?; Video - Mainstream At Last, or Still a Niche?; Storage and Management: Gold Mine or Loss Leader?; The Imaging Living Room; Opportunities in Business Imaging – Grassroots or IT?; Social Imaging: Where’s the Beef?
The event will also feature a New Technology Showcase where attendees will be first to preview exciting new camera-phone based technologies, and a Financial Roundtable where leading investors and venture capitalists will discuss the opportunity landscape in mobile imaging as they see it.
Summit sponsors to date include the top imaging and wireless industry associations: photokina, MEF (Mobile Entertainment Forum www.M-E-F.org), PMA, 3G Congress, and CTIA – The Wireless AssociationTM. Corporate sponsors include Nokia, dotPhoto, Eastman Kodak, Hewlett-Packard, Microsoft, Motorola, Sprint, Silverwire, Cognima, Digimarc, DxO Labs, Imagenomic, Lumileds, Nethra Imaging, Neven Vision, uLocate, Varioptic, and Vizrea. Media sponsors include CNET/Webshots and SymbianOne.
Information on the Mobile Imaging Summit conferences is available online at www.MobileImagingSummit.com. A limited number of press passes are also available for the Keynote Luncheon on a first-come-first-served basis by clicking on the “Info Please” button on this web site and competing the form.
About Future Image 
Future Image Inc. is the leading independent center of expertise on the convergence of imaging, technology, and business, with primary emphasis on Mobile Imaging. It publishes research studies on the impact of emerging imaging-focused technologies or business trends in three categories: Infrastructure, Appliances, and Services. Recent topics include: Phone-to-phone Picture Mail interoperability, Print capabilities of Camera-Phones, and the Convergence of Still and Video Capture Devices. 
Mobile Imaging Summit attendees receive free subscriptions to Future Image’s two continuous information services: the Executive Information Service (EIS) and the Mobile Imaging Report (MIR) – Executive Edition. The EIS covers the imaging industry as a whole through the weekly Future Image Weekly Briefing — a news-oriented summary delivered by e-mail — and a hard-copy monthly (The Future Image Report) that focuses on features – research, commentary, and analysis. The MIR is offered in two versions: Enterprise and Executive Edition. The MIR Executive Edition is a weekly e-mail briefing summarizing and commenting on the week’s key developments, plus the headline and lead sentence from all the week’s stories impacting the Mobile Imaging space — devices, components, services, content, infrastructure, deals, and executive moves. For more information please visit www.FutureImage.com and www.mobileimagingreport.com or email Jbyrd@futureimge.com. Founded in 1991, the company is headquartered in San Mateo (CA).
The International Imaging Industry Association (I3A) is the leading global imaging industry association, driving growth of and setting standards for the photographic and information imaging markets. As the industry focal point, I3A offers a framework and environment where members can quickly find resources to solve critical issues and develop market solutions. Members of I3A work together to find common ground for advancing the industry and to enable better products and services for their customers. I3A has focused on promoting industry collaboration on mobile imaging since early 2001. Information about I3A can be found on the World Wide Web at www.i3a.org or by phone at 914/285-4933.

Posted: Fri - September 23, 2005 at 05:10 PM          

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