Press Release
May 11, 2001
The Fast WSQ API Toolkit™ Sets New Performance Standard
PLANO, Texas — Mentalix, Inc. announces Version 2.0 of its Fast WSQ API Toolkit, the fastest WSQ compression/decompression software available. In internal tests, Mentalix’s Fast WSQ API Toolkit consistently outpaced other products, decompressing a single fingerprint image at speeds of up to 38 percent faster than the closest competitor and beating compression times for an entire fingerprint card by up to 11 percent. The API interface design makes it easy for integrators to replace current WSQ products with the Fast WSQ library. Aggressive introductory offers and competitive upgrades are available.
The Fast WSQ API Toolkit enables integrators to add FBI-certified fingerprint image compression and decompression functionality to custom law enforcement programs, civilian security applications and ID systems. The WSQ format is the most efficient compression method for fingerprint data, whether the customer needs to maximize storage space or requires an FBI-certified solution. Certified for Windows 2000®, Pentium II/III® and later systems, the software leverages the advanced Streaming Single Instruction Multiple Data (SIMD) processor extensions for maximum performance. Contact Mentalix for availability of certified WSQ solutions on other platforms.
Based on the FBI’s Wavelet Scalar Quantization (WSQ) Gray-Scale Fingerprint Image Compression Algorithm standard, the Fast WSQ API Toolkit offers an effective storage solution for fingerprint images. The compression ratio is user-selectable, but 15-20X is typically appropriate for retaining the desired quality level. Fast WSQ routines convert raw grayscale images to the WSQ format or decompress WSQ images back to raw grayscale data. FBI-certified runtime libraries, which ensure file compatibility and consistency levels for data exchange, are available for Windows systems.
Designed for speed and easy integration, the Fast WSQ API Toolkit includes a ‘C’ Application Programming Interface (API) as well as a sample program and subroutines. Developers can create interfaces for both Windows and UNIX® systems. The Fast WSQ API Toolkit also works in conjunction with Mentalix’s other fingerprint API products, which provide additional functionality such as FBI-certified fingerprint card scanning, automated fingerprint image cropping and color image scanning for non-fingerprint images such as mug shots. For details, contact Mentalix at info@mentalix.com.
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Incorporated in 1987, Mentalix was founded to develop easy-to-use products for the purposes of scanning, editing, and printing photographic images from high-performance workstations. In recent years, Mentalix has applied its software development and imaging expertise to the creation of industry-recognized, FBI-certified fingerprint acquisition solutions. Corporate-wide, Mentalix continues to provide fast, elegant solutions for scientific, technical, GIS, manufacturing, fingerprint analysis, medical, educational, and government industries. Mentalix targets custom, systems integration and off-the-shelf solutions for Windows and a variety of UNIX systems. The company maintains its headquarters north of Dallas in Plano, Texas.
Mentalix and Fast WSQ API Toolkit are trademarks or registered trademarks of Mentalix, Inc. UNIX is a registered trademark. Windows and Windows NT are trademarks or registered trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the U.S. and/or other countries. Pentium is a trademark or registered trademark of Intel Corporation or its subsidiaries in the United States and other countries. All other trademarks acknowledged.
Press contact:
Alissa F. Payne
Mentalix, Inc.
(972) 423-9377 Ext. 124
