Hitachi Software in the News

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The UK Environment Agency to Equip Regional Flood Management Centers with 75 Hitachi StarBoard® Interactive Whiteboards

ORLANDO, FLORIDA, June 3, 2003 — Underscoring the mission-critical reliability and performance value of Hitachi Software's StarBoard interactive whiteboards, the company today announced that the United Kingdom's Environment Agency will install the 75 StarBoard interactive whiteboards at selected flood management centers in England and Wales over the next twelve months. According to UK systems integrator, AV Concepts Ltd., who will install the systems, the StarBoards will improve the efficiency of the Environment Agency's flood management department, enable smarter conferencing and assist in reaching the agency goal of using remote video conferencing to reduce business mileage by 50% before 2007.

Hitachi's StarBoards will be increasing the efficiency of the Environment Agency's day-to-day operations, enabling staff to record everything that happens during a flood straight on to the StarBoard — which acts as a large, interactive computer screen — bringing up maps or charts and annotating over diagrams of the area. Any event recorded on the StarBoard can be saved directly to the hard drive and printed out for future reference or e-mailed immediately to Environment Agency representatives in the field. This critical flood data can then be viewed on a laptop, including information about where problem areas are and how best to tackle them. Using Hitachi's StarBoard, flood information can also be saved to html files and e-mailed direct to members of the press, who can then communicate this information to the public as quickly as possible.

Ron Johnson, Flood Warning Engineer, explained, "As part of our flood warning and management service, the Environment Agency records all events surrounding a flood. Hitachi's StarBoards will streamline the whole process by providing a totally interactive presentation solution. Notes made directly on to the board can be saved, whilst maps of flood areas can be displayed and annotated over. Photographs taken by staff in the field can also be discussed and annotated over and then this information can be forwarded on quickly to Environment Agency staff tackling the floods."

As part of a pilot project to improve virtual communications throughout the Environment Agency, AV Concepts has also linked up Hitachi's StarBoards to a video conferencing system so that video footage and images can be incorporated into video conferences - even if third parties are using televisions. Information from the StarBoard can be transmitted directly onto their screens. Colin Bottomley, Environment Agency, explained "a virtual communications system of this magnitude will greatly reduce the need for expensive, time-consuming journeys to offices across the country".

The Environment Agency's business operations will also benefit from smarter conferencing, allowing employees in remote offices to contribute to discussions in real time and amend data directly on to the whiteboard using Hitachi's Sharewizard Conference software. For example, departmental budgets can be discussed and amended while a conference is taking place. The ability to hold remote conferences in real time on the whiteboards will also play a leading role in helping the Environment Agency to meet its target to reduce business mileage by 50% by 2007.

James Friendship, Director, AV Concepts, added, "We are delighted to have won this major tender to supply the Environment Agency with Hitachi StarBoards. We are confident that business operations, and the daily running of the department, will feel instant benefits from this top quality presentation and conference solution."

Approximately 5 million people live in flood risk areas in England and Wales. The Environment Agency has an important role in warning people about the risk of flooding, and in reducing the likelihood of flooding from rivers and the sea. Communicating flood information quickly and accurately is an important part of the Environment Agency's work.

About Hitachi Software
Founded in 1971, Hitachi Software Engineering is a major global supplier of solutions-oriented IT services, employing over 8,000 people worldwide with current sales of over $1.6 billion annually. Hitachi Software provides services using technology to enhance its customers' businesses through value-added professional services, consulting and support; and state-of-the-art multi-media presentation & conferencing systems.

For specifications and more information about the Interactive Communications Group for Hitachi Software's StarBoard products, visit www.hitachi-soft.com, or call 888-615-9600.

For inquiries in Europe, contact:
Alex Goudge, Marketing Manager
Hitachi Software Engineering Europe
19 Heather Park Drive, Wembley, London, HA0 1SS.
Telephone: 020 8902 1286, Fax: 020 8902 1282
www.hitachisoft-eu.com

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