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ImmerVision’s panomorph lens technology set to revolutionize panoramic viewing

ImmerVision's new generation IMV1-1/3 panomorph lens is the only panoramic imaging lens in the world with the ability to survey an entire area with 360° coverage, free of blind spots and without any viewing downtime.  The panomorph lens can be mounted on any existing standard analogue and IP video surveillance system.  Traditional panoramic solutions using fisheye and mirror lenses, typically require important infrastructure modifications as well as special cameras and support equipment.

"Demand by end-users for cost-effective panoramic imaging is growing rapidly, they want to see everything, anywhere at any time in real time or play back," says Yves Messier, ImmerVision Vice President, Video Surveillance Applications.

Value-added resellers and OEMs have an opportunity to further service their existing customer base by offering them a simple migration path towards 360° panoramic video imaging, using the ImmerVision IMV1-1/3 panomorph lens and existing CCTV hardware.  Additionally, this technology offers a differentiated solution for new customer applications.

In light of ongoing security concerns worldwide, the IMV1-1/3 lens represents a universal solution that overcomes potentially dangerous flaws in outdated technology.  "The armed forces, border-security agencies and transportation-security planners have long recognised the benefits of panoramic imaging for security and surveillance," explains Pascale Nini, President and CEO of ImmerVision.  "The IMV1-1/3 lens has astonished insiders because it doesn't require expensive hardware or extra bandwidth to function.  Its easy-to-install software eliminates image distortion and makes it compatible with virtually any digital video recorder.  People have trouble believing that our solution, because it is so sophisticated, is actually so simple and accessible," she added.

The term "panomorph", as referred to by scientists internationally, is a patented wide-angle panomorph lens that generates and controls distortion, giving a larger image that covers at least a 180° by 360° field of view.  The ability of the IMV1-1/3 lens to capture and navigate within a 360° image and without distortion is particularly significant in high-risk areas such as airports, mass transit, government and corporate offices, shopping centers or any public area.

ImmerVision's IMV1-1/3 lens can fit on any video camera with a 1/3" sensor from 480 TVL to 1.2 MP, which is standard for security video surveillance.  "When ImmerVision's R&D team created the IMV1-1/3 lens, they took a radical approach," said Nini.  "While everyone was looking to reduce distortion, we went outside the box and looked at the problem differently by increasing the distortion.  This enabled us to capture a broader image area, eliminate the distortion and improve the picture clarity with intelligent software.  People often say to me that our technology is the way of the future but in fact it's very today and, particularly with increasing security issues, there is a real need for it right now," she added.

"The IMV1-1/3 lens is simple to install and designed to work on existing standard and IP surveillance video cameras.  With the IMV1-1/3 lens, end users can see everything, everywhere at all times, with the objective of making everyone feel more secure."

ImmerVision's mission is to make its revolutionary panomorph optic design available worldwide by creating, developing and marketing panoramic imaging software and lenses.  By talking with industry leaders such as Nortel, Cisco, Microsoft, Apple, Panasonic, Sony and Bosch, ImmerVision is "enabling" the OEM industry to provide this state-of-the-art technology to their end users, as a universal solution and logical alternative to outdated surveillance modes.  

ImmerVision's revolutionary panomorph technology was also the recipient of the 2007 Frost & Sullivan Award for North American Technology Innovation of the Year.