newsfox.digest

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Tue Apr 29 22:22:48 CEST 2003

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News of the day
Message digest by newsfox from 04/29/2003
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1. Computers learn to read lips
Intel publishes open source speech recognition software
(pte030429032)

2. Taiwanese Computex postponed due to SARS?
Final decision to fall this week
(pte030429034)

3. France Telecom on positive track
Orange and Wanadoo boost turnover
(pte030429036)

4. EU declares war on copyright piracy
Industry urged to create attractive offers
(pte030429043)

5. Jenoptik posts weak results
Profit collapse due to postponed payments
(pte030429045)

6. New competition for Reuters and Co
AFP, Xinhua and CBS create global alliance
(pte030429047)

7. SARS less severe among children?
Milder symptoms and shorter infection
(pte030429051)

8. Oliver Kahn wins case against EA
Computer simulation may no longer be sold
(pte030429052)

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http://www.pressetext.com/pte.mc?pte=030429032

Computers learn to read lips
Intel publishes open source speech recognition software

Berlin (pte, Apr 29, 2003 14:46) - Semiconductor producer Intel
http://www.intel.com introduced a programme at the Developer Forum in
Berlin, which they claim can teach computers to read lips.

Designed by the Intel research department, the system is based on a face
recognition algorithm, as well as audio-visual speech recognition (ASVR).
The software package has been published as part of an open source license
for developers who want to improve the language capabilities of their
computers.

One of the biggest obstacles to computer speech recognition has been the
presence of background noise. The new system instead combines ASVR and
face recognition to follow the speakers lip movements. According to
Intel, the synchronisation of video data with language recognition
permits more precise speech recognition.

The ASVR software is part of the Intel OpenCV Computer Vision Library.
The toolbox consists of over 500 image processing functions, with which
researchers can develop image recognition applications. The aim of this
new technology, says Intel, is to promote a more natural form of
interaction between users and computers.

"Recognition among humans seldom depends on a single type of information.
We make decisions based on the combination of information from a number
of sources," said Justin Rattner, Intel Senior Fellow of the Enterprise
Platform Group and director of Intel Microprocessor Research Labs.

Rattner believes the audio-visual recognition code now taken up in Intels
OpenCV Library will promote research and development in image-supported
speech

Further information on ASVR and the free licensing agreement can be found
at www.intel.com/research/mrl/research/avscr.htm .
(end)
 
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http://www.pressetext.com/pte.mc?pte=030429034

Taiwanese Computex postponed due to SARS?
Final decision to fall this week

Taipeh (pte, Apr 29, 2003 15:16) - The Computex trade fair
http://www.computex.com.tw , which was originally scheduled to take place
in the Taiwanese capital Taipeh in June, may be postponed due to fears
over the SARS epidemic in the region.

According to the Asian IT services DigiTimes, twenty PC and motherboard
producers have signed a petition asking that the IT show be delayed due
to the risks of contracting the lung disease in Taiwan.

The resolution sent to the Taiwanese Computer Association (TCA) and the
CETRA foreign trade organisation was signed by Asustek Computer,
Elitegroup Computer Systems and Gigabyte Technology. A similar petition
signed by notebook and PC producers is to be filed tomorrow, Wednesday,
reports DigiTimes.

Computex was scheduled to take place from 2 to 6 June. Even though SARS
has not been spreading as rapidly in Taiwan as in China, many foreign
clients are reluctant to travel to the country. IT firms hope TCA and
CETRA will make a quick decision on the fair's schedule, in order to keep
the costs of postponement at a minimum.

Three companies have already cancelled their participation, and graphic
chip specialist Nvidia has said it will only participate via broadcast.

The TCA has initiated a survey of all companies to gather their views,
but the results are not yet in.
(end)
 
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http://www.pressetext.com/pte.mc?pte=030429036

France Telecom on positive track
Orange and Wanadoo boost turnover

Paris (pte, Apr 29, 2003 15:33) - The debt ridden French
telecommunications group, France Telecom, http://www.francetelecom.com
has managed to increase its turnover in the first quarter of 2003, as
reported by the company today.

Income grew by 7.3 per cent from 10.604bn euros last year to 11.376bn
euros. The greatest sources of growth were the group's mobile telecoms
subsidiary Orange and Internet provider Wanadoo.

Orange increased its turnover by 9.4 per cent to about 4.2bn euros.
Profits at Wanadoo climbed from 375 to 532m euros, with total turnover
rising to 567m euros.

France Telecom's fixed network department saw a decline, however, as
turnover fell from 4.766 to 4.453 bn euros. Operating free cashflow grew
from 1.9 to 3.1bn euros in the first quarter, and is expected to reach
15bn euros by the end of the year.

According to France Telecom, its clientele increased from 557,000 to 44.9
million in the first quarter. The group has reinforced its prognosis of a
three and five per cent turnover increase this year.
(end)
 
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http://www.pressetext.com/pte.mc?pte=030429043

EU declares war on copyright piracy
Industry urged to create attractive offers

Brussels (pte, Apr 29, 2003 16:48) - The European Commission has
urged EU member countries to become more vigilant in protecting Internet,
radio and television pay services against copyright violations.

Copyright piracy is not a "victimless crime", said the EC in a statement
issued today, Tuesday http://europa.eu.int/comm/press_room . The EC has
presented a updated report on guidelines for the protection of pay
services published in 1998, and the way they ought to be carried out.

The EC believes that cost-based services such as pay-TV and radio, as
well as paid content, will play an important role in knowledge-based
economies in the future, and that protecting these services will
therefore be as important as 20th century battles against economic crime
and product imitation.

At the same time, the commission has called on service providers to make
attractive offers available throughout Europe - not just within their own
countries.

According to the EC, piracy results in honest users paying higher fees,
competitors forced into bankruptcy and tax losses for the state, making
an effective strategy a top priority. The commission plans to examine the
laws of each member country for loopholes.
(end)
 
Submitter: pressetext.europe

Contact: Newsfox Desk,
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http://www.pressetext.com/pte.mc?pte=030429045

Jenoptik posts weak results
Profit collapse due to postponed payments

Jena (pte, Apr 29, 2003 16:50) - German technology group Jenoptik
http://www.jenoptik.de has closed the fiscal year with a severe drop in
profits.

In an ad hoc press release issued today, the German group reported
profits of 40m euros in 2002 compared to 88m euros the year before. The
operating result fell from 109.1m to 64.8m euros. Turnover shrank by 25
per cent to 1.58bn euros.

Jenoptik says it will nevertheless remain within its annual prognosis
submitted early in the year. The group attributes the weaker results to a
delay in order invoicing, which has pushed a volume of 300m euros into
the year 2003. The company says the results have also been affected by an
outstanding payment of 13.6m euros from US subsidiary M+W Zander. Another
cause for the decline may be the

On a more positive note, the group points out that its incoming orders
have increased by 13.1 per cent compared to last year.
(end)
 
Submitter: pressetext.europe

Contact: Newsfox Desk,
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Phone: + 43 – 1 – 811 40 – 319

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http://www.pressetext.com/pte.mc?pte=030429047

New competition for Reuters and Co
AFP, Xinhua and CBS create global alliance

New York/ Paris/ Hong Kong (pte, Apr 29, 2003 17:05) - AFX News agencies
http://www.afxnews.com , Xinhua Financial Networks http://www.xfnn.com
and CBS MarketWatch http://cbs.marketwatch.com - all specialising in
financial news - want to give international giants such as Reuters,
Bloomberg and Dow Jones a run for their money.

The three strong regional agencies have formed a global alliance under
the name World Business News (WBN), as reported today by the Wall Street
Journal (WSJ). The alliance will be selling its news at a lower price
than the established competition, with the three agencies remaining
independent firms.

AFX News is a subsidiary of the French agency Agence France Press and has
already been working together with Xinhua Financial Networks. CBS
Marketwatch, which belongs to Viacom's US station CBS and the British
Pearson Group, is a strong partner for the North American market.
(end)
 
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Contact: Newsfox Desk,
E-Mail: editor at newsfox.com,
Phone: + 43 – 1 – 811 40 – 319

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http://www.pressetext.com/pte.mc?pte=030429051

SARS less severe among children?
Milder symptoms and shorter infection

Hong Kong (pte, Apr 29, 2003 17:26) - The SARS virus may have a less
dramatic effect on children than on teenagers and adults.

Researchers of the University of Hong Kong http://www.cuhk.edu.hk/en have
published this cautious conclusion in the professional journal The Lancet
http://www.thelancet.com . No cases of deaths among children have yet
been reported (last count 25 April).

The researchers in a team led by Tai Fai Fok based their report on the
examination of the first children known to be infected in the early phase
of the Hong Kong epidemic.

According to the team, children usually show milder symptoms, such as a
runny nose and cough, while teenagers and adults are also afflicted with
severe breathing difficulty, muscle pain and shivers. Teenagers and
adults must therefore more often be treated with oxygen.

The study also showed that the clinical course of the disease was milder
and shorter among children.

By last account, 138 people have died of SARS in Hong Kong. According to
the World Health Organization (WHO), 1,557 people have been infected with
the disease worldwide. In Peking the number of cases has risen to 1,347.

As reported by Chinese health officials today, the number of SARS cases
in the Chinese capital increased by 152 within a day. First cases have
also been reported in New Zealand, Mongolia and South Korea.
(newsfox-special SARS)
(end)
 
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Phone: + 43 – 1 – 811 40 – 319

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http://www.pressetext.com/pte.mc?pte=030429052

Oliver Kahn wins case against EA
Computer simulation may no longer be sold

Hamburg (pte, Apr 29, 2003 17:56) - German star goalie Oliver
Kahn has won a lawsuit against computer games producer Electronic Arts
(EA) http://www.ea.com , accusing the company of illegally capitalising
on his image

A Hamburg court ruled that EA had included a figure that looked like Kahn
in its "FIFA Worldcup 2002" game without the goalkeeper's approval, as
reported today in Financial Times Deutschland (FTD).

Based on this ruling, the game may now no longer be distributed. While EA
Germany head Jens Uwe Intat has played down the importance of the ruling,
there may still be financial consequences for EA. Kahn's lawyer Matthias
Prinz reportedly said the star player was considering suing for
compensation in the millions.

Prinz has called the ruling groundbreaking, as Kahn is the first
professional football player to file a suit against his representation in
a computer game.

A total of 800 players from 40 countries are depicted in EA's FIFA
series, which is one of the company's best-selling products. According to
EA the older game is no longer being distributed and Kahn's virtual image
has been removed from the national team in the 2003 version. He will
still, however, appear as the goalie for FC Bayern Munich - a deal the EA
has brokered with the German Football League (Bundesliga).

EA has reacted calmly to the threat of compensation suit, as it intends
to pass the responsability on to the Federation of International Football
Professionals (Fifpro) http://www.fifpro.org , from which it purchased
the rights to depict the players. It appears that the association sold
rights it never owned.
(end)
 
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Phone: + 43 – 1 – 811 40 – 319



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