Fremont, Calif.; August 24, 1992 - Logitech Inc., international market
leader in handheld scanners, is introducing CatchWord Pro, a powerful
Windows-based optical character recognition (OCR) software package
optimized for text acquisition with hand-held and flatbed scanners. The
product will be available through Logitech dealers and distributors in
early September at a suggested retail price of $299. 

CatchWord Pro complements a scanner by converting digitally scanned text
into a format which can be used by word processing, database, spreadsheet,
and desktop publishing applications. Also, since CatchWord Pro is
TWAIN-compliant, it permits direct scanning by any compliant flatbed or
hand-held scanner and recognizes text scanned by other scanners and
imported as a graphics file. 

CatchWord Pro combines an easy-to-understand user interface with high-end
features in a product suitable for novices and power users alike. For
efficient access to frequently used commands, for example, CatchWord Pro
features a button bar and tool palette. Because it was designed with
hand-held scanners in mind, CatchWord Pro includes special enhancement
features such as deskewing, multiple document interface,
horizontal/vertical full-page merge (stitching), page composition, and
special OCR text editing tools. 

Industry researchers believe the OCR market will show impressive growth
over the next few years. According to Massachusetts-based BIS Strategic
Decisions, OCR software shipments will increase from just over 238,000
units in 1991 to 601,000 units in 1994. Logitech's internal customer
research supports these findings. "Our users have been demanding a
complete image-and-text solution for their hand-held scanners," says
Charlotte Torrey, Logitech director of imaging product marketing. "Over
the past few years, Logitech's ScanMan scanners have become more powerful
and accurate. Improved case designs have successfully answered early
problems in hand-held scanning, resulting in a significant increase in the
popularity of ScanMan and hand-held scanners in general - as a serious
desktop tool for capturing and processing text and graphics."

Additional CatchWord Pro features include:

* Omnifont technology 
* Eleven-language capability 
* Automatic, full-page stitching 
* Automatic and interactive modes
* Multiple Document Interface
* Export in 21 formats for use in word processing, desktop
  publishing, and spreadsheets 
* Auto-page segmentation to retain text formatting while
  discarding graphics 
* Macros for Lotus AmiPro and Microsoft Word for Windows
* Conversion of scanned images from grayscale to black and white
* Seamless recognition from within another application using the
  Windows Clipboard 
* On-line help system and on-screen status bar 
* Background recognition allows working in other applications
  during recognition

System requirements for CatchWord Pro include an IBM AT or compatible with
a 286 microprocessor or above, Microsoft Windows Version 3.0 or higher,
four MB RAM, three MB free disk space, and the Logitech ScanMan or other
hand-held or flatbed scanner. An upgrade policy plan for existing
CatchWord users is available.

Logitech manufactures and markets "Senseware" - products designed to give
"senses" such as sight, sound, and touch to the computer, making
human-to-computer communication more intuitive and natural. Retail and OEM
products of the company and its affiliates include pointing devices (such
as mice and trackballs), hand-held scanners, digital cameras, pen
digitizers, joysticks, sound boards, and related software applications for
IBM, Macintosh, and other platforms. Logitech International, the financial
holding company for the Logitech Group, is traded publicly in Switzerland
on the Zurich and Geneva exchanges. With operational headquarters in
Fremont, Calif., the group maintains manufacturing facilities in Fremont,
California; Hsinchu, Taiwan; and Cork, Ireland; and offices in major
cities in the U.S., Europe, and the Far East.

For more information on Logitech products, contact Customer Sales at (800)
231-7717

Logitech Inc, 6505 Kaiser Dr, Fremont, CA 94555
510-795-8500,  Fax: 510-792-8901

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