MotionDSP

Sector: Mobile applications, photo, video

Headquarters: San Mateo, CA

Management: Sean Varah is CEO and Co-founder of MotionDSP.

Funding: Angels

Secret Sauce: MotionDSP provides software that creates “high-resolution” or enhanced video from poor resolution footage, like that captured on a camera phone, webcam, or other low-quality feed. To create its consumer product, the company licensed technology from U.C. Santa Cruz originally used in military surveillance applications. The software works by comparing multiple frames in a video sequence to find pixels not being used in a given frame, then uses them to build a higher-quality image. MotionDSP currently uses a simple, free Web-based interface to facilitate the enhancement process for individual users.

Because the software can process frames automatically, MotionDSP is looking to get deals done with content sites themselves. That way, when users upload content from their mobile phone to user-generated content sites, the images are enhanced before the video even posts to the Web. The product is being tested on several user-generated video sites, with shipping for server appliances for Internet video sites and carriers beginning in 2007. Because many of the videos uploaded to user-generated video sites comes from camera phones, the ability to improve a 20- or 30-second video in a way that’s transparent to the user is a big attraction.

MotionDSP’s technology isn’t limited to cameras. Applications also are being developed that would let viewers watch standard-definition video in high-definition resolution on an HDTV, even if the TV didn’t have a high-definition receiver. While it’s not quite at Blade Runner level, the technology is effective and could mean the difference between a Hollywood deal or obscurity to some ambitious video blogger.

Seen and Heard: TechCrunch’s Michael Arrington says, “Motion DSP is creating a simple web based interface that will significantly enhance low resolution camera phone video into surprisingly high quality stuff.” TechWeb reports: “The technology appeals to the venture capitalist community, given the huge explosion of user-generated video sites and the capability to take a 20- to 30-second video clip on a cellular phone and upload it to content sites, such as YouTube Inc. or News Corp.’s MySpace.com.”