Cognitech, Inc. was founded in 1988 with current headquarters located in Pasadena, California. Cognitech, Inc. is a foremost developer of real-time image and video processing and analysis software tools, 3D video photogrammetry software, lossless video acquisition cards, and integrated workstation systems for professional use by thousands of professional users in forensics, law enforcement, bio-identification, vehicle identification, intelligent CCTV systems, Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, geo-intelligence (GEOINTEL) and in surveillance fields. Cognitech also designs and distributes unique proprietary integrated hardware/software systems with lossless video acquisition for applications that require no loss of imaging information. Cognitech is the only forensic technology company in the world that combines software development expertise in forensic video processing and in forensic 3D video photogrammetry.
Cognitech’s scientists and engineers have pioneered scientific techniques and software tools for accurate Geo-Spatial analysis of airborne and land based video imagery. Cognitech’s revolutionary PixL2GPSTM software, used to GPS reference each pixel in a video, has received the highest government and industry recognition and awards.
Cognitech was founded to provide cutting edge image processing and analysis technology for applications in law enforcement, forensics and in bio-medical fields. In 1993, Cognitech played a major role in the trials of the four men charged with the beating of trucker Reginald Denny in the Los Angeles rioting following the verdicts in the Rodney King case. Photographs and videotapes were enhanced and analyzed with Cognitech’s unique proprietary methods and used by the prosecution to positively identify and convict the criminals. Cognitech’s image processing algorithms and techniques have been approved for use in the court of law through a variety of important decisions by US and international courts. The California Court of Appeals has accepted Cognitech’s novel forensic video enhancement techniques into U.S. Courts in an important decision on forensic video, the 1992-1996 Criminal Law and Procedure Citation, 96 Daily Journal DAR. 8023, which is the first such decision in a US Court. In addition to providing the most advanced software and hardware products to law enforcement agencies worldwide, Cognitech operates the state of the art forensic imaging lab, advancing Cognitech’s software products by working on challenging forensic cases throughout the world.
In 1994, Cognitech, Inc. introduced a revolutionary commercial product: Video Investigator™, a comprehensive professional video processing software suite designed for law enforcement organizations and security agencies. Cognitech’s Video Investigator™ is comprised of over one hundred image and video processing plug-in tools that include novel capabilities to super-resolve the low resolution of CCTV videos (Cognitech’s FrameFusion™), restoring images degraded by noise and blur, video stabilization, mosaic, automatic software based demultiplexing (a Cognitech US Patent awarded technique first discovered by Cognitech), motion and shape analysis. The Cognitech software suite also contains unique proprietary video photogrammetry tools to measure the true size of people and objects in videos and still images and to perform various bio-metric identification tasks.
In 1999, Cognitech, Inc. released VideoActive™, the first commercially available real-time universal video processing software environment. Cognitech’s VideoActive™ is comprised of image processing and identification modules that are graphically connected and assembled by the user, which then may be turned onto operate as a 24/7 autonomous image processing and analysis system. Cognitech’s VideoActive™ real-time software, which is upgradeable, replaces expensive special purpose video processing hardware, which is used by video professionals.
In 2004, Cognitech, Inc. introduced the VideoZipper R technology for real-time lossless video encoding that more than doubles the video storage capacity for PC users whose applications demand no loss of image information, e.g. bio-medical, forensic and security applications. Cognitech’s video workstations are turn-key solutions that integrate Cognitech’s proprietary software and lossless VideoZipper R video acquisition hardware for the most challenging of video imaging applications.
Cognitech is the only forensic video software company in the world that is also a proprietary forensic video acquisition hardware designer and manufacturer. The unique hardware cards available only from Cognitech are the lossless Mobile CogniUSB2 card, the Cogni9-PCI card and the CogniOK (Overlay Killer) – the only High Definition forensic hardware capable of capturing overlay hard protected DVR video.
In 2008, Cognitech, Inc. introduced AutoMeasure™, a software system where the individuals and the vehicles captured on the evidence video/photo can be photometrically measured and identified even if the original surveillance cameras were moved or removed (this is not possible with the outdated Re-projection Method). This Cognitech® technology received recognition and is in use today by the most respected US government photogrammetry oriented organization: the National Geospatial Agency, which is using AutoMeasure™ for highly accurate geo-measurements. Accurate measurements, using AutoMeasure™ from the crime scene, can be performed by the technician at any time by using stored scene images and camera calibration parameters (even if the scene does not physically exist anymore). During the scene investigation, it is impossible to predict all of the required linear and areal measurements. AutoMeasure™ can do photogrammetry without ANY manual measurements, using only the computerized use of stereo-point correspondences between scene images. There is no need for the measuring tape and the time consuming manual measurements. AutoMeasure™ accurately computes any linear dimensions in the image/frame, human height, shoe size, length/height of the vehicle, angles between any lines and surfaces (trajectories), and also computes user selected spot areas, camera location/angles and much more.
Cognitech’s unique technology has been profiled by the Wall Street Journal as a lead technology article, and Business Week Magazine in the “Technologies to Watch” section. Cognitech has received coverage by national networks such as FOX, CNN, ABC, NBC, Discovery, etc. Cognitech has also participated in several Discovery Learning Channel and Unsolved Mysteries specials. Cognitech has been featured in the Discovery Channel Special on the forensic analysis of the JFK assassination, titled “Unsolved History. JFK: Beyond the Magic Bullet,” which solves the “Grassy Knoll Mystery” through the use of Cognitech’s videogrammetry technology. Cognitech has also been featured in the documentary “UFO’s over Phoenix.”