Tsinghua-HP Multimedia Research Center

The Tsinghua University (SIST) - HP Multimedia Research Center was launched on May 31, 2007. It is collaborating with Tsinghua University in Beijing, China, to develop multimedia technologies, including automated photo sorting, facial expression recognition and video and music analysis and management.

The collaboration brings together two of the world's leading research institutions in multimedia management. HP Labs helped create the company's three basic print technologies - inkjet, LaserJet and liquid electrophotography - and contributed to its entry into digital photography. HP is the acknowledged market leader in home and office printing.

Tsinghua University has leading intellectual property in multimedia research, including analysis, process, search and management.

The joint lab research would rely mainly on image recognition - instead of traditional text identification - for visual applications. The music research would be based on sound.

The initial research areas include:

• Automatic genre classification of digital photos
• Improved face identification
• Vision-Based Audience Analysis
• Video digital warehouse
• Video search and recommendation for Internet-based video communities
• Music analysis and retrieval

About HP

HP focuses on simplifying technology experiences for all of its customers - from individual consumers to the largest businesses. With a portfolio that spans printing, personal computing, software, services and IT infrastructure, HP is among the world's largest IT companies, with revenue totaling $97.1 billion for the four fiscal quarters ended April 30, 2007. More information about HP (NYSE: HPQ) is available at http://www.hp.com.