In June 1995, NCSA's Media Technology Resources Group became a beta test site for a new software package, marketed by the Chyron Corporation, called Jaleo (pronounced Hah-lay-o). Jaleo is a digital nonlinear video editing, compositing, and special effects application designed to be used on several SGI platforms.
Jaleo allows edits, composites, and special effects to be viewed in real time in high-resolution, broadcast quality video. Jaleo has the ability to create a powerful, unified editing and graphics compositing environment on the desktop. It also enables creativity in its capabilities for easy manipulation of digital images.
Jaleo comes in a single-processor version that runs on the SGI Indigo series and a multiprocessor version that runs on an Onyx platform. The multiprocessor version can import and export real-time, uncompressed digital video images.
Jaleo is the first editing software product marketed by Chyron, a broadcast graphics equipment manufacturer, whose products are used by most TV and cable broadcasters in the United States.
NCSA staff members Mark Lumos and Tony Baylis first got a look at the software at the National Association of Broadcasters Conference in April 1995. They began talking with Jaleo Product Manager Kimberly Bone and Chyron Chicago Regional Area Sales Manager Thomas O'Neill about affiliating with NCSA. Within a week, they struck a deal. Bone and O'Neill visited NCSA in June to learn more about the center. At the end of that visit, they gave NCSA's Media Technology Resources the software to install the beta copy of Jaleo on a number of machines at NCSA and EVL (Electronic Visualization Lab).
Media's Group Leader Baylis feels that this association with Chyron "keeps in line with NCSA's focus on future digital imaging technologies. NCSA has the chance to be involved with cutting edge research on the transmission, storage, and manipulation of digital images. Besides the video editing possibilities, collaborating in digital video development will undoubtedly spawn applications of the software in NCSA's online and research environments."
Baylis says that the center has the resources and staff to help make the complete digital editing suite a reality in the near future. "The Media Technology Resources Group is an excellent place to spearhead the development because we have a talent pool of people already knowledgeable about computer video editing, electronic transfer of images, and digital video storage formats."
Chyron Corp.'s Bone says that NCSA's noncompetitive environment will provide "more objective feedback and opinions." She also states that Chyron would receive "an evaluation of the entire piece of software."
Baylis says that the Media Technology Resources Group is looking to push the limits of this collaboration and the digital revolution by embracing and spearheading its development. NCSA looks forward to future collaborations with the Chyron Corp., building upon the relationship established during beta testing of Jaleo.
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