IARPA launches DIVA program

The Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity, within the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, announced on January 12 a new research effort to develop Deep Intermodal Video Activity— “DIVA”—to help narrow the gap between human visual perception, and a computer’s ability to automatically recognize activities.

In theory, DIVA would have the capability to quickly locate an attack or to identify dangers to public safety. DIVA aims to advance state-of-the-art artificial visual perception, and automate video monitoring. This technology could also be used to detect potential threats outside secure government facilities or high traffic public transportation areas.

“There is an increasing number of cases where officials, and the communities they represent, are tasked with viewing large stores of video footage, in an effort to locate perpetrators of attacks, or other threats to public safety,” said Terry Adams, DIVA program manager. “The resulting technology will provide the ability to detect potential threats while reducing the need for manual video monitoring. The technology does not track the identity of individuals and will be implemented to protect personal privacy.”

Through a competitive Broad Agency Announcement process, IARPA has selected six performer teams to develop new cutting edge research on DIVA. Kitware Inc. and the National Institute of Standards and Technology will be collecting research data, and performing independent testing of the new systems.

Source: IARPA