CognoVision

CognoVision Solutions Inc.

Company type	Private
Industry	Technology, Audience measurement, Retail intelligence
Founded	2006 (2006)
Founder	Haroon F. Mirza, Dr. Shahzad Malik, Faizal Javer
Defunct	2010 (2010)
Fate	Acquired by Intel Corporation
Headquarters	Toronto , Canada
Key people	Haroon F. Mirza (CEO), Dr. Shahzad Malik (CTO), Faizal Javer (President & COO)
Products	Anonymous Video Analytics (AVA) software
Parent	Intel Corporation (from 2010)

CognoVision Solutions Inc. operated out of Toronto as a provider specializing in real-time audience measurement and retail intelligence technologies. The firm created Anonymous Video Analytics (AVA) software that utilized compact video cameras combined with real-time Computer vision algorithms to identify faces and individuals, enabling measurement of Digital signage viewership or estimation of foot traffic in retail environments.

On November 15, 2010, Intel Corporation, the leading global semiconductor manufacturer, declared its acquisition of CognoVision, a transaction finalized in September 2010. Subsequently, on August 8, 2011, Intel announced that CognoVision’s AVA technology would be integrated into their Intel AIM Suite service.

History

Established in 2006, CognoVision was privately funded by Haroon F. Mirza (CEO), Dr. Shahzad Malik (CTO), and Faizal Javer (President & COO). The founders initially met as students at Carleton University in Ottawa in 2000. Following their studies, each moved to Toronto: Malik earned his Ph.D. at University of Toronto, Javer was growing a mattress manufacturing enterprise within Ontario, and Mirza was employed at Cadbury Adams.

Intel completed the acquisition of CognoVision in 2010. By January 2018, the company’s website domain had been acquired by marketingsolz.com and redirected to a platform focused on technology and business news.

Privacy

The technology developed by CognoVision prioritizes privacy by avoiding the recording of images or video footage. Instead, it employs pattern detection algorithms that recognize general facial features rather than distinct individual identifiers. When the AVA software detects facial pixel patterns, it classifies viewing time, estimated gender, and approximate age group.

Nevertheless, privacy advocates have expressed concerns regarding CognoVision’s technology amid growing scrutiny of biometric recognition systems. A 2010 report from the World Privacy Forum emphasized that although CognoVision’s AIM technology does not retain images, consumers should be made aware of and consent to such monitoring practices.

Timeline

• May 2006 - Foundation of CognoVision
• Apr 2007 - Achieved semi-finalist status in the TiEQuest 2007 Business Venture Competition
• June 2007 - Secured 2nd place in the MaRS Upstart Contest
• Feb 2008 - Introduced solutions at Digital Signage Expo 2008
• Oct 2008 - nCAP powered by CognoVision awarded 2008 DIGI Award for Best Product with Audience Measurement
• Mar 2009 - Received rAVe DS 2009 Champ Award for Most Innovative DS Software Product for AIM System
• Nov 2009 - Earned 2009 DIGI Award for Best New Audience Measurement Package
• Nov 2009 - Listed among CIX Top 20 Innovative Companies of 2009
• Dec 2009 - Recognized by Canadian Innovation Exchange as Canada’s Digital Media and Innovation Leader for 2009
• Mar 2010 - Won rAVe DS 2010 Champ Award for Best DS Software Add-on Application
• Apr 2010 - Included in Branham300 Top 20 ICT Up & Coming Companies
• Sep 2010 - Acquisition by Intel Corporation
• Jan 2018 - CognoVision domain purchased by marketingsolz.com

External links

• Intel Digital Signage homepage