Paragraph International Announces the Availability of its Recognition Technology; Apple Continues Licensing Technology on Non-Exclusive Basis
CAMPBELL, Calif. — July 5, 1995 — ParaGraph International announced today that its handwriting recognition technology is commercially available to a wide range of potential licensees including other handheld computer manufacturers and other developer platforms. Apple Computer's (Nasdaq: AAPL) exclusive license to the technology becomes a non-exclusive license on June 30,1995. CalliGrapher, ParaGraph's recognition technology, is currently implemented in the Newton operating system.
ParaGraph's patented CalliGrapher technology recognizes natural, handwritten text. CalliGrapher recognizes a variety of handwriting styles including cursive, print, and mixed cursive/print handwriting. CalliGrapher supports writer independent and writer dependent recognition (CalliGrapher learns a user's handwriting in writer dependent mode). CalliGrapher currently supports recognition in English, German, French and supports other languages with an international version containing a combined character set.
"ParaGraph is continuing to develop and expand its recognition technologies for increased accuracy and adaptability to individual writing styles," said Stepan Pachikov, president of ParaGraph International. "We look forward to the opportunity to bring our technology to more and more users of personal computing systems."
"Apple plans to continue using ParaGraph's technology on a non-exclusive basis," said Bill Epling, director of licensing for Apple Computer's Newton Systems Group. "Apple welcomes the adoption of ParaGraph's recognition technology, and intends to support its implementation as an industry standard."
ParaGraph continues to be the world leader in the development of recognition and ink compression technology. In addition to CalliGrapher, ParaGraph's patented ParaScript technology recognizes natural handwritten text from "off-line" images (those captured by scanner or fax). On the basis of this technology, ParaGraph has automated the recognition of handwritten text for a variety of computerized applications, including check processing, postal address recognition, fax recognition, and forms processing. HodoGraph, ParaGraph's patented ink compression technology, provides ink compression at ratios up to 20:1 with high fidelity reconstruction. Also licensed for use in the Newton operating system, HodoGraph greatly increases ink storage capacity in personal communicators, and drastically reduces data transmission times.
ParaGraph International's mission is to identify innovative software technologies throughout Russia, incubate them in Moscow, and then market these technologies worldwide. In 1988 a group of entrepreneurial scientists in Moscow started a business as a bridge between Russian technology and western high technology development markets. This enterprise led to the founding of a US company, ParaGraph International, in 1991. The company's technology is available through licensing agreements and/or strategic partnership arrangements. Interested parties can receive more information by sending electronic mail to [email protected].
NOTE: ParaGraph International and the ParaGraph International logo are registered trademarks of ParaGraph International. CalliGrapher, ParaScript and HodoGraph are registered trademarks of ParaGraph International. Newton is a registered trademark of Apple Computer, Inc.
CONTACT:
Dean Bailey, 408-364-7706, or Ilya A. Poluektov, 408-364-7718, both of ParaGraph International