HP Press Release 10/04/04

HP today launches one of the most ambitious public archiving projects of recent times which with the public’s help, could bring to light hidden gems in Britain’s rich cultural and social history. 

The company is encouraging people to dust off their old photo albums and submit their most striking images of social and cultural value so that schools, researchers, the media and members of the public can use them as a useful resource.  To participate in the HP National Photo Album, people should follow the simple instructions on www.nationalphotoalbum.co.uk* or send their submissions by post**.

HP believes the project will not only make it easy for people to digitise, store and share their photographic inheritance but in time will be a unique resource that shows Britain through the eyes of the people that lived and breathed this and the last century. 

“This is the first digital national album to be comprised solely of photographs from personal collections and we are inviting everyone to be part of it”, said Peter Urey, marketing and category manager for HP’s Imaging and Printing Group. “The most positive outcome will be an archive that brings to life monumentally historic events and illustrates the massive socio-cultural change we’ve witnessed since photography was invented.”
 
“We know the average household contains around 1,500 non-digital photographs, making roughly 24 billion images of potential interest. Of course, most of them would be of no interest to a public archive, but we are convinced that lurking in the nation’s attics and lofts are thousands of images that have real social and cultural value.”

HP is seeking images of individuals, families, workplaces, events, outings, cities, towns and villages; anything which reveals something of the way Britain has worked, played, lived and loved over the past hundred years.  ?We?re also inviting personal perspectives of famous historical events. So if you are harbouring a picture of Elvis Presley?s only visit to the UK or the 1966 World Cup celebrations, for example, now?s your chance to share it with a wider public,? added Urey.

HP has a unique history and expertise in digital imaging.  Currently it is assisting museums and art galleries around the world, including the UK?s National Gallery, in digitising their collections to ensure that the world?s most important images are captured for posterity.  Now it is turning its attention to the treasure trove of photographs that lie gathering dust in the nation?s attics.

How to use the HP National Photo Album
The HP National Photo Album will be free to access at www.nationalphotoalbum.co.uk Anyone wanting to contribute to the archive can offer their pictures for consideration in one of two ways.
?      Option 1: Upload images directly onto the archive at www.nationalphotoalbum.co.uk by following simple step by step instructions. *
?      Option 2: Submit entries via post to HP National Photo Album, 31 St. Petersburgh Place, London W2 4LA where they will be vetted and uploaded by experts. All entries must be accompanied by a submission form which can be obtained at www.nationalphotoalbum.co.uk**

Suitable pictures will be added to the HP National Photo Album which will be a searchable online database of images that can be accessed and downloaded for free non-commercial use including schools, researchers, the media and the general public.

1.      *The HP National Photo Album Website will be live from 1st April 2004
2.      **All images must be accompanied by a suitably sized self-addressed envelope and a HP National Photo Album submission form, and sent to HP National Photo Album, 31 St. Petersburgh Place, London W2 4LA. Every effort will be made to return the images in good order but HP cannot be held liable for damaged or lost photographs.

About HP
HP is a technology solutions provider to consumers, businesses and institutions globally. The company’s offerings span IT infrastructure, personal computing and access devices, global services and imaging and printing for consumers, enterprises and small and medium businesses. For the fiscal year ending on Oct. 31, 2003, HP revenue totalled $73.1 billion. More information about HP is available at http://www.hp.com/uk