Adobe picks up video software maker

Adobe Systems has acquired California-based Serious Magic, a privately held maker of video production software, according to News.Com.

"Serious Magic`s product line includes Vlog It, a Web video tool; Video Communicator, presentation clip production software; and Ultra, a keying technology," explains the article.

Adobe will continue to sell the Serious Magic software in its current form. It will be offered as an alternative to people who may have outgrown Adobe Premiere Elements, but are not yet ready to jump into Adobe After Effects, said Simon Hayhurst, director of product management for dynamic media at Adobe.

China launched a campaign yesterday to promote the use of technology to guarantee the safety of pharmaceuticals and patients, writes China`s People`s Daily.

"The number of drug-related accidents has risen in recent years and the cases involving the Qiqihar No 2 Pharmaceutical and the Xinfu drugs has attracted the attention and concern of the central government," notes Shao Mingli, head of the State Food and Drug Administration (SFDA).

The campaign, created by the Ministry of Science and Technology, the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine and the SFDA, will provide full technological support for every step of a drug`s journey from laboratory to patient.

A new "ScreenPhone", developed in the UK, will help some hearing-impaired people to participate more fully in phone calls and meetings, according to a report in BBC News.

The product converts voice calls or meetings into text, aimed at deaf people who are able to speak. "The call is connected by a Typetalk operator so that the hard of hearing person is able to use their own voice, but the other person`s responses are typed and presented as text on the ScreenPhone`s display," explains the article.

Until now, text phones have required the user to type what they want to say - something which some older people have often found difficult.