Advertising Standards Authority Adjudication Case Number A11-164759

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 13:13:21 +0000

Statement on the Advertising Standards Authority Adjudication Case Number A11-164759

Cambridge Research Systems Ltd. has been working with the broadcast industry to protect photosensitive individuals from provocative television material for more than ten years. Our HardingFPA system is widely used as a standard test for checking compliance with the Ofcom/ASA guidelines on flashing images. Previously, there has never been an adjudication that has disagreed with its analysis; however no automated system can guarantee compliance.

As soon as the ASA brought their adjudication to our attention we took steps to re-engineer the HardingFPA analysis algorithms. We have released an upgrade and recommend that all users of the HardingFPA adopt it as soon as possible.

Cambridge Research Systems Ltd. - 17^th January 2012

BVE North 2011

Fri, 04 Nov 2011 15:26:16 +0000

HardingFPA Integrated with Tektronix Cerify

Fri, 02 Sep 2011 14:03:00 +0100

Tektronix’ Cerify Automated Content Analysis System v7.3 has integrated the PSE analysis engine used in the industry leading Cambridge Research HardingFPA solution, helping to prevent broadcast of flashes and pops known to trigger epileptic seizures.

About Tektronix

For more than sixty years, engineers have turned to Tektronix for test, measurement and monitoring solutions to solve design challenges, improve productivity and dramatically reduce time to market. Tektronix is a leading supplier of test instrumentation for engineers focused on electronic design, manufacturing, and advanced technology development. Headquartered in Beaverton, Oregon, Tektronix serves customers worldwide and offers award-winning service and support. Stay on the leading edge at www.tektronix.com.

HardingFPA integrated with Digimetrics Aurora

Fri, 02 Sep 2011 13:12:23 +0100

Digimetrics, a leading provider of file-based QC solutions, has partnered with Whitedot Scientific Ltd, a division of Cambridge Research Systems Ltd, to integrate the renowned HardingFPA broadcast flash and pattern analyzer technology into the Aurora file-based QC system. The integrated offering provides a complete system for file-based QC and prevention of content which can cause photo-sensitive epileptic seizures, in compliance with Ofcom and NAB Japan regulations on flashing in video.

The solution will be on display at both Digimetrics (7.A01) and Amberfin (7.J15) stands for IBC. Amberfin offers Aurora with HardingFPA technology within their iCR workflow solution.

”Aurora was always designed to work well with others, and when we had the opportunity to offer our customers the certified compliance testing of HardingFPA, the demand was overwhelming. Our customers require the use of the HardingFPA technology and the certificate of compliance in their workflows, and we are quite pleased to be able to provide this solution along with the other top notch quality tests available in Aurora”

- says Eric Carson, Business Unit Manager, Digimetrics.

About DCA and Digimetrics

Digimetrics (www.digi-metrics.com), a business unit of DCA with over 20 years of experience in content analysis, is focused on the test & measurement of digital media, developing its innovative quality control products on the premise of adding trust to digital media. Aurora, their flagship no-reference file-based verifier for video, audio and metadata offers automated testing for video/audio artifacts, metadata limits and distribution constraints on nearly any format in existence today. They also offer Hydra Player, which is capable of playing audio, video and ancillary data in a frame-accurate manner from any file that Aurora can test.

Aurora and Hydra are trademarks of DCA, Inc. All other trademarks or registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Online Flash Test Launched

Fri, 25 Feb 2011 13:08:23 +0000

All of the Lights

Thu, 24 Feb 2011 07:58:18 +0000

People with photosensitive epilepsy should not watch the music video for Kanye West’s latest single, All of the Lights, as it contains extensive use of flashing imagery.

Epilepsy Action asked us to analyse the video using the HardingFPA, and the test showed that it contains material that may cause seizures in some people with photosensitive epilepsy (PSE).

Ofcom regulations mean that this video should not be broadcast on UK television. However, it is available online in a number of places. Epilepsy Action are in the process of trying to contact Kanye West’s agent, YouTube and other online sources of the video to ask that they take it down, and have also contacted MTV and other TV stations to make them aware of the issue.

PSE affects more than one in four thousand people. As well as those who are known to have the condition, many more people may have this sensitivity but have not yet had a seizure and therefore have not been diagnosed. The onset of photosensitive epilepsy in an individual typically occurs around the time of puberty; in the age group 7 to 20 years the condition is five times as common as in the general population. At this age seizures are terrifying for the individual, deeply distressing for families and friends and profoundly life changing for all concerned. As well as emotional distress, seizures also carry inherent and situational risks which often include physical harm and can and have lead to loss of life. Once triggered, three quarters of patients remain photosensitive for life.

If you have concerns or have been affected by this video, please contact the Epilepsy Helpline on freephone 0808 800 5050 or by emailing helpline@epilepsy.org.uk . People outside the UK can call on +44 113 210 8800 or find your local epilepsy organisation here http://www.epilepsy.org.uk/about/international-epilepsy-organisations

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