Digital Video Technology Helps Customers Preview Products on In-Store
Kiosks

SAN DIEGO, California, June 29, 1993 -- Analog laser disk technology has
long been used as a standard in retail kiosks which provide full motion
video. But new digital video compression technologies and faster speed
CD-ROM drives are making it possible to replace laser disks in kiosks to
provide expanded performance at greatly reduced costs.

PICS Previews, a San Francisco-based company which supplies retail chains
such as KMart and Wal-Mart with self-contained kiosks, has contracted with
Horizons Technology, Inc. (HTl) of San Diego to help the company evolve
out of laser disk kiosk systems and into CD-ROM digital technology.

The self-contained kiosks allow customers to view 30 second previews of
music and home video products to determine which ones they would like to
buy. The kiosks are currently operated by 12 inch laser disks with analog
information; they are being replaced by a five inch digital compact disk.
The content material on the disks is compressed by HTI in its Digital Data
Products Center in San Diego using the Production Level Video (PLV)
algorithm.

Costs for updating the kiosks with new releases will be dramatically
reduced by using the single five inch disk rather than the 12 inch laser
disks. Additionally, the use of the digitized CD means an individual,
customized message can be added (such as "On sale now for only $12.95")
across the top of the kiosk screen for each preview. The system allows
this change to be done remotely through a modem, so information or prices
can be changed frequently, by store, as consumer demand dictates.

HTI is also supplying a new communications interface which will allow PICS
Previews to gather usage statistics remotely through the built-in modem.
This regular and rapid updating of information means customer's business
decisions can be made with much more current information.

Each PICS Previews system contains up to 99 different clips, which are
displayed on a 25-inch monitor at the top of the kiosk. Patrons use a
"touch panel" on the lower half of the kiosk to quickly select which
products they would like to view to assist in the purchasing decision.

PICS Previews currently has more than 600 kiosks installed across the
United States.

With more than 16 years experience, Horizons Technology is a recognized
leader in video compression, visual information products and multimedia
software and systems integration. Headquartered in San Diego, California,
the $45 million company has other major offices in Boston, Massachusetts
and Alexandria, Virginia. For more information regarding HTI's compression
stations please contact (619) 277-7100.

Horizons Technology Inc, 3990 RUFFIN RD, SAN DIEGO, CA 92123-1826
(619) 292-9331;   FAX: (619) 292-7321

==========================================================
From the America Online -- New Product Information Service
==========================================================
This information was processed from data provided by the
above mentioned company. For additional details, contact 
the company at the address or telephone number indicated.
==========================================================
All submissions for this service should be addressed to:
BAKER ENTERPRISES, 20 Ferro Dr, Sewell, NJ 08080 U.S.A.
Email:  RBakerPC  (AOL),   rbakerpc@aol.com  (Internet)
==========================================================
