I3A Camera Phone Image Quality Initiative Jumpstarted

By Editor Wireless and Mobile News on December 26, 2007 1:15 PM

Nearly two dozen leading companies from all areas of the mobile imaging eco-system have joined forces to work on Phase 2 of the International Imaging Industry Association (I3A; http://www.i3a.org) Camera Phone Image Quality (CPIQ) Initiative, the group announced today.

Following the final open meeting held last month in Paris, the CPIQ Initiative enrollment is now closed, and work begins in earnest to develop repeatable, robust, test methods for evaluating the metrics associated with image quality — both subjective and objective.

“CPIQ Phase 2 is off to an aggressive start, with nearly all Phase 1 members returning and a substantial number of new companies joining in,” said Lisa Walker, I3A President. “This breadth of participation - companies of all sizes, from all segments of the imaging eco-system and all corners of the world — demonstrates how important addressing image quality issues is to the future of our entire industry, and how valuable is the level playing field that I3A provides.”

The overall goal of I3A’s CPIQ Initiative is to remove poor image quality as the top barrier to the use and enjoyment of camera phones by consumers. The Initiative also seeks to promote growth of the camera phone imaging eco-system and to encourage consumers to take, share, print and enjoy images captured by their camera phones. The group’s ultimate objective is to produce a complete set of standardized image quality testing metrics and methodologies, enabling a consumer-oriented image quality rating system.

Phase 2 of the Initiative is drilling down into the metrics associated with image quality, both subjective and objective, and will develop repeatable, robust, test methods for evaluating these metrics. Work will focus on developing and validating test methods for the metrics that have direct impact on image quality performance, along with a preliminary consumer-oriented rating system that will enable clear communication about image quality from vendors to consumers. The Initiative group will also work to promote adoption of these standard measurement techniques and specifications.

CPIQ Phase 2 participants include:

Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
DxO Labs
Eastman Kodak Company
FotoNation Inc.
Foveon, Inc.
Freescale Semiconductor Inc.
HP
Image Engineering
Micron Technology, Inc.
Motorola, Inc.
Nethra Imaging, Inc.
Nokia Corporation
OmniVision Technologies, Inc.
Palm, Inc.
Philips Lumileds Lighting Company
Sensata Technologies
Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications
Sprint
STMicroelectronics
Texas Instruments Incorporated
Verizon Wireless
Vista Point Technologies

The primary CPIQ Phase 1 deliverable is a White Paper, entitled “Fundamentals and review of considered test methods,” which contains an evaluation of existing best practices and industry standards and identifies key measures/metrics in each of several critical CPIQ areas. The camera phone photospace is described and an initial subjective evaluation method for CPIQ is discussed. The White Paper is available for download at no charge from http://www.i3a.org/pdf/cpiqwhitepaper.pdf.

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 is an accredited Standards Developing Organization, serving as secretariat for the International Organization for Standardization Technical Committee 42 (ISO/TC42) on Photography, and as administrator for the USA Technical Advisory Group for this committee. Information about I3A can be found at http://www.i3a.org or by phone at +1 914-285-4933.