BBN wins video contract

BBN Technologies has been awarded a $900,000 contract to improve systems that can understand text in foreign language videos.

Under the contract, the Cambridge technology solutions firm said it will integrate several speech and language technologies into a single interface that allows intelligence analysts to extract meaning from video files that contain text.

Video often contains useful videotext, BBN noted; for example, graffiti sprayed on a wall might offer clues about local political sentiment, or text on signs might help identify the location where the video was made.

BBN said the contract is from the Video Analysis and Content Extraction program sponsored by the Disruptive Technology Organization.
(By Chris Reidy, Globe staff)