Memex Technology Limited
Encyclopedia
Memex Technology Limited is a Scottish software company delivering mission-critical
information systems
and services for the Law Enforcement
and Security
markets. It is headquartered in Peel Park
in East Kilbride
, Scotland
. In July 2010 it was acquired by SAS Institute Inc. with the aim of expanding SAS' presence in the law enforcement market.
used by UK and US Police Forces. Approximately 25% of the United Kingdoms Police Forces make use of Memex's software, and a number of United States federal agencies use Memex in counter-terrorism
.
The company has a global presence, operating through a network of commercial partners. The United States is the country where Memex has the strongest presence outside of in the UK, and the company has a dedicated office in Vienna, Virginia
.
, a machine that could act as an extension to the human memory, into which vast amounts of varied information could be deposited and later retrieved.
In 1972, as technology progressed, two academins in Edinburgh
set out to realise Dr. Bush's vision. Dr. Fred Heath, then Dean of Computing at Herriot Watt University, and Professor Graham Woyka designed the state diagrams and circuitry necessary to implement Bush's Memex concept.
During this process, Woyka and Heath founded the Research and Development firm Memex Group Limited.
In 1984, Memex released the first of its hardware database solutions - the Memex Intelligence Engine, which remained at the core of the company's software products for many years. In its early years, Memex experienced steady growth, primarily selling into Military
markets.
The software version of the Memex Intelligence Engine was developed in 1988 and three markets emerged for the software: Law Enforcement
, Defence
Intelligence and Commercial Fraud
.
Mission Critical
Mission critical refers to any factor of a system whose failure will result in the failure of business operations. That is, it is critical to the organization's 'mission'....
information systems
Information technology
Information technology is the acquisition, processing, storage and dissemination of vocal, pictorial, textual and numerical information by a microelectronics-based combination of computing and telecommunications...
and services for the Law Enforcement
Law enforcement agency
In North American English, a law enforcement agency is a government agency responsible for the enforcement of the laws.Outside North America, such organizations are called police services. In North America, some of these services are called police while others have other names In North American...
and Security
Security
Security is the degree of protection against danger, damage, loss, and crime. Security as a form of protection are structures and processes that provide or improve security as a condition. The Institute for Security and Open Methodologies in the OSSTMM 3 defines security as "a form of protection...
markets. It is headquartered in Peel Park
Peel Park, East Kilbride
Peel Park is an area of the East Kilbride in South Lanarkshire, Scotland. It is a business park, and home to the following companies:-Resident Companies:* British Energy* LBJ* Memex Technology Limited* Micron Technology...
in East Kilbride
East Kilbride
East Kilbride is a large suburban town in the South Lanarkshire council area, in the West Central Lowlands of Scotland. Designated as Scotland's first new town in 1947, it forms part of the Greater Glasgow conurbation...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. In July 2010 it was acquired by SAS Institute Inc. with the aim of expanding SAS' presence in the law enforcement market.
Areas of business
Memex has developed a number of software databases and analysis applicationsApplication software
Application software, also known as an application or an "app", is computer software designed to help the user to perform specific tasks. Examples include enterprise software, accounting software, office suites, graphics software and media players. Many application programs deal principally with...
used by UK and US Police Forces. Approximately 25% of the United Kingdoms Police Forces make use of Memex's software, and a number of United States federal agencies use Memex in counter-terrorism
Counter-terrorism
Counter-terrorism is the practices, tactics, techniques, and strategies that governments, militaries, police departments and corporations adopt to prevent or in response to terrorist threats and/or acts, both real and imputed.The tactic of terrorism is available to insurgents and governments...
.
The company has a global presence, operating through a network of commercial partners. The United States is the country where Memex has the strongest presence outside of in the UK, and the company has a dedicated office in Vienna, Virginia
Vienna, Virginia
Vienna is a town in Fairfax County, Virginia, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, it had a population of 15,687. Significantly more people live in zip codes with the Vienna postal addresses bordered approximately by Interstate 66 on the south, Interstate 495 on the east, Route 7 to...
.
History
The company is named after the concept of MemexMemex
The memex is the name given by Vannevar Bush to the hypothetical proto-hypertext system he described in his 1945 The Atlantic Monthly article As We May Think...
, a machine that could act as an extension to the human memory, into which vast amounts of varied information could be deposited and later retrieved.
In 1972, as technology progressed, two academins in Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
set out to realise Dr. Bush's vision. Dr. Fred Heath, then Dean of Computing at Herriot Watt University, and Professor Graham Woyka designed the state diagrams and circuitry necessary to implement Bush's Memex concept.
During this process, Woyka and Heath founded the Research and Development firm Memex Group Limited.
In 1984, Memex released the first of its hardware database solutions - the Memex Intelligence Engine, which remained at the core of the company's software products for many years. In its early years, Memex experienced steady growth, primarily selling into Military
Military
A military is an organization authorized by its greater society to use lethal force, usually including use of weapons, in defending its country by combating actual or perceived threats. The military may have additional functions of use to its greater society, such as advancing a political agenda e.g...
markets.
The software version of the Memex Intelligence Engine was developed in 1988 and three markets emerged for the software: Law Enforcement
Law enforcement agency
In North American English, a law enforcement agency is a government agency responsible for the enforcement of the laws.Outside North America, such organizations are called police services. In North America, some of these services are called police while others have other names In North American...
, Defence
Defense (military)
Defense has several uses in the sphere of military application.Personal defense implies measures taken by individual soldiers in protecting themselves whether by use of protective materials such as armor, or field construction of trenches or a bunker, or by using weapons that prevent the enemy...
Intelligence and Commercial Fraud
Fraud
In criminal law, a fraud is an intentional deception made for personal gain or to damage another individual; the related adjective is fraudulent. The specific legal definition varies by legal jurisdiction. Fraud is a crime, and also a civil law violation...
.