Accredited Standards Committee X3, Information Technology
International STANDARDS Committee Wins an Emmy!
Washington, D.C.-When the world's leading experts in digital technologies began work on a revolutionary way to store and transmit pictures and movies, probably the last thing on their minds was winning an Emmy.
But win one they did. The results of their work will so transform the motion picture industry that last night the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences awarded these individuals the 1995 Engineering Award for Outstanding Achievement in Technological Development. Dr. Hiroshi Yasuda, Chairman of ISO/IEC JTC 1 SC29, accepted the Emmy on behalf of the thousands of technical experts who developed the standards known as JPEG, MPEG-1, and MPEG-2. These standards are algorithms (mathematical processes) that enable still pictures, linear motion pictures and graphics for the World Wide Web to be expressed in digital form (ones and zeroes-the language of computers) and compressed enough to be stored on compact discs and on hard drives, or transmitted across telephone lines.
With the convergence of image technology and information technology, the technical work of JPEG and MPEG was moved into the formal standards arena with the establishment of SC29 and its U.S. counterpart, X3L3. From the beginning, hundreds of U.S. experts collaborated on the development of significant U.S. contributions to these critical standards, and the U.S. holds many key international leadership positions.
"We congratulate Dr. Yasuda and express our appreciation to the U.S. experts currently contributing to these standards and the next generation (MPEG-4 and JPEG-2000)," said James Converse, Chairman of X3, X3L3's parent committee, and Director of Corporate Standards for Eastman Kodak.
"This prestigious award reflects the important contribution of the voluntary standards process and it highlights the talents of the hundreds of U.S. engineers who recognized the strategic value of this work early in the game," continued Converse, "and I single out for special recognition Charlie Touchton, whose vision and energy focused U.S. efforts in this area." [Charlie Touchton retired from IBM in 1993.]
X3L3 welcomes additional members. Contact Michael Nier or Fritz Whittington for more information.
Press Release issued October 2, 1996.
X3 Secretariat, Information Technology Industry Council (ITI)
1250 Eye St. NW, Suite 200, Washington, DC 20005
Telephone 202-737-8888; Fax 202-638-4922;
Email: x3sec@itic.nw.dc.us