Swedish based LIMT (Local Insertion Media Technology) has purchased Channelmatic, Inc. for USD 10,91 million using funds raised by D. Carnegie in Stockholm. LIMT, which has developed a method to insert local TV commercial spots into national television transmissions using MPEG2 technology, has already had huge success with its LVS 300 video server which it began marketing six months ago. Channelmatic is a leading US manufacturer of systems for digital automation and distribution solutions for the television industry with a world-wide sales and support organization. 

An advanced simulation game for municipal traffic is the first example of a new active learning media channel.  This is claimed to be the communication method of the future, as well as an interesting alternative to traditional information-transfer media such as brochures, video presentations, etc. The claim is made by the Swedish advertising agency Nord & Syd Europa AB, who are introducing their large-scale venture as a general model and as a system for computer simulated training and presentation. ‘This is a media channel which creates completely new dimensions and possibilities for both qualitative and economically interesting information transfer’, commented Ulf Eneqvist, Project Manager and also the person responsible for both concept and game-script. ‘The method is especially suitable for demanding target groups, and those with which it is difficult to communicate’, he continued. ‘An example is young people who are used to combination training via play, competition, or entertainment methods.

Cleaning up building sites and industrial workplaces is going to be made easier by a light but powerful vacuum cleaner which runs off an ordinary 230-V single-phase socket. The PVL 2800 from Pullman Scandinavian AB weighs only 40 kg, but still packs 2.8 kW suction power.  It’s also quiet, with a noise level of only 69 dB(A), which means it can be used without ear-defenders.

Many companies now use Internet/intranet technology to communicate with customers, suppliers, and the rest of the world. This development increases the demand for fast and simple products which reduce development time in web activities. To meet this demand, the Swedish company Infovav AB, of Linköping, has launched Roxen Challenger, a web-server that is both fast and simple to use.

An artificial ‘nose’ will soon be available for tasks including searching for bombs at airports. This ‘sniffer’, which is a biosensor incorporating antibodies, is being developed by Bofors Applied Technologies, Sweden. The sensor is claimed to be the only artificial nose in the world which can rival a dog’s keen sense of smell.

The Finnish Benefon Oy offers its newly type-approved Gamma GSM mobile phone with an exceptional three year warranty. Based on the company´s long experience of analogue mobile phone design, the company´s first GSM terminal is said to be equally reliable and equipped with the latest technology, such as short message service (SMS), CLIP-capabilities and numerous customizing features.

It has long been considered that a common European standard for Terrestrial Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB-T) would be impossible, but thanks to a new chip technology it is becoming reality. Siemens Semiconductors and Nokia Multimedia Network Terminals signed a letter of intent for their joint development of a new, integrated receiver chip to be designed for the use in terrestrial digital TV reception equipment. Terrestrial digital services will be launched in a trial starting before end of 1997. The chip supports both the 8k and the 2k Coded Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplex (COFDM) standards, enabling one type of receiver unit to be used in continental Europe, in Scandinavia and in the UK. 

A novel Gripper LED sensor for printing applications has been launched on to the UK and Irish markets. It has been designed to compete on price withtraditional mechanical counters yet offers the performance of an advanced laser design.