Ukiva , the UK Indistrial Vision Association, is expanding its scope of activity to actively encourage companies involved in scientific imaging applications to become members
Ukiva was established in 1992 as a not-for profit trade organisation whose prime objective was to promote the use of imaging in industry, but over the years has expanded its remit a number of times to reflect the dynamics of the imaging world.
In line with this latest initiative, the association has updated its logo to include the strapline; 'Imaging for industry and science'.
Ukiva director Don Braggins explained: "When Ukiva was founded, the word 'industrial' was included to differentiate the aims of association from the very wide field of 'computer vision' activities.
"In recent years, we have embraced imaging in a much broader sense and expanded the association's scope to include X-ray and infrared imaging as well as high-speed imaging.
"In addition, we have introduced a 'research' membership category, which is open to any organisation involved in research or training in the area of industrial vision as we are keen to encourage universities to produce as many vision-literate graduates as possible and any way we can help promote the research activities will help towards that goal.
"Imaging has an enormous role to play in scientific applications, from traditional image analysis (which was the starting point for industrial vision) to a host of microscopy techniques from infrared to fluorescence.
"Today, many of our component suppliers serve not only industrial and surveillance markets but also the scientific and academic areas, and in some cases, medical imaging markets as well, so it seems entirely natural that the association should now extend its umbrella to include the scientific community."
