Visualization makes interacting with annotated networks of information easier. At NAB this year Leitch, a TV broadcast systems vendor, was demonstating a beta version of their MediaNet product. MediaNet is digital asset management for TV broadcasters who have lots of Leitch equipment. Leitch video servers, like most video servers, have closed file systems and possess little useful metadata. To see what's on a video server takes special software, and usually involves transfering the file off the server via FTP or through a I/O port. So Leitch can now look at all their video servers, add a layer of permissions (as in the Sports department can only look at the NBA footage 10 minutes after the specific game ends), and visualize what's on their network.

Leitch uses Groxis' Grokker to visualize this info. It looked very sexy and made a lot of sense to me. So I've downloaded the software ($99) and will report back on the results.

FYI: Groxis Biz Dev person at NAB said 1000+ had purchased the software so far. That's $100k. Nice work Groxis.