Business Objects Taps the Collective Intellect to Solve Real-World Issues With New Online Community

SAN JOSE, Calif. & PARIS (Business Wire EON/PRWEB ) May 16, 2007 -- Business Objects (Nasdaq:BOBJ) (Euronext Paris ISIN code: FR0004026250 - BOB), the world's leading provider of business intelligence (BI) solutions, today launched Insight (Insight.businessobjects.com) the first open, online community bringing together the collective intelligence of data analysts, technologists, business thinkers, academics, and visual artists with the information and collaborative tools they need to solve real-world issues.

Today the world becomes more intelligent

While there are a number of sites dedicated to aggregating and analyzing data, Insight is unique in providing members with tools for data visualization, data collaboration, and a platform to publish challenges to the online community. Our goal is to change the way problems get solved, to work on issues that have a global impact, and to challenge the conventions and paradigms of online communities.

When we are able to analyze and visualize this data, that is bound to suggest a myriad of solutions

The database created here will be the 'creative commons' for building models for many different opportunities.

“Today the world becomes more intelligent,” said Bernard Liautaud, founder, chairman, and chief strategy officer of Business Objects. “While there are a number of sites dedicated to aggregating and analyzing data, Insight is unique in providing members with tools for data visualization, data collaboration, and a platform to publish challenges to the online community. Our goal is to change the way problems get solved, to work on issues that have a global impact, and to challenge the conventions and paradigms of online communities.”

To watch a short video of Bernard Liautaud discussing the value of collective intelligence, please visit http://resources.businessobjects.com/video/insight/4.wmv.

Individuals, companies, and nonprofit organizations can use Insight as a place to seek help in solving problems. Any individual or organization that is willing to articulate the problem and share information and data supporting that problem can post a “Challenge” to the Insight community to find a solution.

One Million Dollar Bounty

Certain challenges posted to the online community will be reviewed and ranked by Insight members. The most interesting of these challenges will then be “sponsored,” offering Insight members cash rewards of up to $1 million over the next 12-months for innovative solutions. By declaring a virtual gold rush for the world's toughest problems, Insight offers members the chance to not only do the right thing but also potentially receive a sizable pay back for their mind grid time.

An Initial Challenge to the Insight Online Community

Business Objects and Zerofootprint, a non-profit environmental organization, are posing an initial challenge to the community to find solutions to solve one of the biggest problems facing the planet today -- reducing our environmental impact on the world. Together, the two companies are launching collaborative technologies that will help cities establish ways to reduce their environmental footprint. To watch a short video on this challenge, please visit: http://resources.businessobjects.com/video/insight/zfp.wmv.

“When we are able to analyze and visualize this data, that is bound to suggest a myriad of solutions,” notes Ron Dembo, founder of Zerofootprint, whose mission is nothing less than to change the world by helping people reduce their environmental footprint. “The database created here will be the ‘creative commons' for building models for many different opportunities.”

To learn more about this global challenge, visit http://wx.toronto.ca/inter/it/newsrel.nsf.

Open Book Project

Insight will also feature an open book project. Bernard Liautaud is writing a book on business intelligence, and will ask the Insight community for collaborative contributions. The theme of the book is centered on next-generation enterprises and how an enterprise can transform itself through the effective use of intelligence. To watch a short video of Bernard Liautaud discussing the open book concept, please visit: http://resources.businessobjects.com/video/insight/5.wmv.

For more information about the open book project, visit www.businessobjects.com/releases/openbook/.

Insight will provide other features, including blogs, news, and information related to collective intelligence. The Business Objects On Demand platform is one of the ways the data for Insight challenges is being made available for analysis. The community will also have access to Business Objects powerful data visualization tools such as Crystal Xcelsius™. Members are also encouraged to create and upload their own visualizations of data and share best practices.

Business Objects is sponsoring the launch of Insight and expects to play a major role in building and sustaining the community over the coming months and years. Membership is free and open to anyone to join.

About Business Objects

Business Objects has been a pioneer in business intelligence (BI) since the dawn of the category. Today, as the world's leading BI software company, Business Objects transforms the way the world works through intelligent information. The company helps illuminate understanding and decision-making at more than 43,000 organizations around the globe. Through a combination of innovative technology, global consulting and education services, and the industry's strongest and most diverse partner network, Business Objects enables companies of all sizes to make transformative business decisions based on intelligent, accurate, and timely information.

Business Objects has dual headquarters in San Jose, Calif., and Paris, France. The company's stock is traded on both the Nasdaq (BOBJ) and Euronext Paris (ISIN: FR0004026250 - BOB) stock exchanges. More information about Business Objects can be found at www.businessobjects.com. www.businessobjects.com.

The Business Objects logo, BusinessObjects, Crystal Reports, Crystal Decisions, Web Intelligence, Intelligent Question, and Xcelsius are trademarks or registered trademarks of Business Objects in the United States and/or other countries. All other names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.

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