Summary
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. In July 2010 it was acquired by SAS Institute Inc. with the aim of expanding SAS' presence in the law enforcement market.[1][2]
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Law Enforcement, Security, IT |
| Founded | 1979 |
| Headquarters | , |
Key people | David Carrick (Chairman & CEO) Graham Scott Chief Financial Officer |
| Products | Intelligence analysis software |
| Revenue | £5,113,497 (Y/E 2011) |
Number of employees | 110 (2013) |
| Website | www.memex.com |
Areas of business edit
Memex has developed a number of software databases and analysis applications used by UK and US Police Forces.[3][4] 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.[5][6]
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 the UK, and the company has a dedicated office in Vienna, Virginia.[6]
History edit
The company is named after the concept of Memex, 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 academics in Edinburgh set out to realise Dr. Bush's vision. Professor Fred Heath, then Dean of Computing at Heriot-Watt University, and Dr. 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.
The company was subject to a management buy-out in 2001[4] and merged with SAS in 2010[2] and became SAS Public Security.
See also edit
- Crimint – A database system provided by Memex to the Metropolitan Police, UK[3]
References edit
- ^ SAS Press Release on Memex Acquisition Archived 2011-04-26 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ a b "Memex sold to US software company". BBC News. 24 June 2010. Retrieved 27 November 2017.
- ^ a b "Coping with the crunch: Crime does pay for firm behind intelligence-gathering software". The Scotsman. 22 June 2009. Retrieved 27 November 2017.
- ^ a b Dorsey, Kristy (17 September 2001). "Memexgears up after buy-out". Glasgow Herald. Retrieved 27 November 2017.
- ^ Nisse, Jason (15 January 2006). "Prime suspects: British boffins sort the data for America's finest". The Independent. Archived from the original on 2022-05-12. Retrieved 27 November 2017.
- ^ a b Haverstein, Heather (13 January 2006). "Los Angeles police use data analysis to fight terrorism". Computerworld. Retrieved 27 November 2017.
External links edit
- Memex Technology Limited website