Altamira Software

Altamira Software was a software company founded in 1991 by Nicholas Negroponte, Patrick Baudisch, and Eric Saund. The company was known for its innovative work in the field of computer graphics and data visualization.

History

Altamira Software was established with the goal of developing advanced software tools for creating and manipulating digital images. The company gained recognition for its flagship product, Altamira Composer, which was one of the first software applications to offer sophisticated image editing capabilities on personal computers.

Altamira Composer

Altamira Composer was a groundbreaking product that allowed users to create and edit images with a high degree of flexibility and precision. It featured a user-friendly interface and a range of tools for manipulating images, including layering, masking, and various effects. The software was particularly popular among graphic designers and artists for its ability to handle complex image compositions.

Acquisition by Microsoft

In 1994, Microsoft acquired Altamira Software, integrating its technology and expertise into its own product lines. The acquisition allowed Microsoft to enhance its own graphics and multimedia capabilities, particularly in products like Microsoft PowerPoint and Microsoft Publisher.

Legacy

Altamira Software's contributions to the field of computer graphics have had a lasting impact. The company's innovations in image editing and data visualization have influenced the development of numerous software applications and tools used today.

See also

• Computer graphics
• Data visualization
• Image editing
• Microsoft
• Nicholas Negroponte
• Patrick Baudisch
• Eric Saund