Posted   by 

Amped Software

Amped Wireless is the leader in high power, long range Wi-Fi routers and Wi-Fi range extenders. Amped Wireless: Wifi Analytics JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. I like that Amped Software invests time and money in research: we have collaborations with several universities, we have master’s thesis students, interns, and employees who are focused on research activities, we publish papers, and we attend conferences and workshops. Amped Wireless reserves the right to revise or make changes to this product, its documentation, packaging, specifications, hardware, and software without notice. If any portion of the Amped Wireless Limited Warranty is found to be unenforceable, its remaining provisions shall remain in effect. About Amped Software: Amped is an award winning dynamic company specialized in developing software solutions for image and video processing for forensic and investigative applications. With strategic partners across the world, Amped strive to exceed the ever-evolving requirements and anticipate the needs of our customers.

May 10th through the 14th of 2021, Amped Software offered a live online training course for their Amped FIVE Forensic Image and Video Enhancement product. This five-day beginner to intermediate level course was designed for investigators and forensic analysts looking for a well-balanced course in the field of image and video forensics. Starting with fundamental basics and an overview of image and video theory, through challenges in forensic analysis, all the way to reconstructing, enhancing and reporting, this course has got it all. Amped FIVE is packed with so many features, it’s like having a version of Photoshop on steroids, but with so much more included. It is a very powerful single software solution for both image and video analysis and enhancement.

Course Structure

The course materials were provided well in advance of the start of the class, which gave me a little time to read through some of the material beforehand in order to get a better grasp of what was in store. The trial version of the software installed without issue and worked seamlessly on my standalone forensic machine throughout the course.

Amped software support

The live online instruction was to be set up through Zoom, and since my forensic machine is an offline standalone system, I set up the live instruction on a laptop, all of which worked perfectly throughout the course. The live online course was a plus, since it could be attended from the comfort of participants’ own homes or offices. I have attended many forensic courses in person, this being my first live online, but I felt no disadvantages at the mode of instruction.

The instructor was extremely friendly, knowledgeable and highly experienced with the inner workings of the software and course materials. He fit perfectly in the role, by providing the information in an easy to comprehend fashion, incorporating real life experiences, analogies and comical anecdotes to keep everyone’s attention. He also took the time to make sure everyone was up to speed before moving on to other topics or practical exercises.

The other students were great, they all came with varying levels of knowledge and experience with the use of Amped FIVE. The examples provided for the practical hands-on workshops worked hand in hand with the inner workings and features of the software.

Day one started off with an intro from the instructor, leading into the usual introductions around the class, and then a brief overview of the software and history of the company. Amped FIVE’s GUI is very simple and easy to navigate. It is loaded with over 100 types of filters, and includes detailed descriptions of the capabilities of each one.

The day continued on with lectures (and some real-life experiences) on fundamental basics and an overview of image and video theory. Although the content could be seen to be quite dry, it was actually very informative and presented in an easy to comprehend way. This kind of information is a necessity, especially if you will be called upon to testify in court. How do you think you would be perceived by a jury, when asked to define what an image is, and you respond “an image is a picture”? Instead, you could respond by saying “an image is a picture that has been created or copied and stored in electronic form.” It sounds much better presented that way, it explains it in a simple and technical way which gives the jury a better understanding of the case you are presenting.

As day one was coming to an end, so did the lectures, and we moved on to start learning about a group of filters called the Adjust group and getting into the practical examples. The Adjust group consisted of fourteen filters which allow the user to correct issues with contrast, brightness and color to render the image to be viewed more clearly.

The Histogram Equalization filter was used to correct the contrast in the following image. I have placed the images side by side to show the before and after using another filter called Compare Original. The Histogram Equalization filter improves the image contrast by uniformly distributing the pixel values.

The Retinex filter was used to correct an uneven illumination in the image, as you can see in the side by side comparison below. It maintains the proper lighting in the view outside the window and corrects the interior of the room so that it can be viewed more clearly.

Day two picked up where we had left off the previous day, digging into the filters. The instructor started off introducing various filters and giving step by step instructions while we followed along with the practical exercises. I enjoyed all of the practical exercises, and I continued practising after the class was over.

The Correct Perspective filter from the Edit group was another that I believe would end up being used many times during investigations. This filter removes the perspective effect on a plane of interest in the image, allowing you to place it into a position that makes it easier to view for presenting. Below is a before and after comparison of an image that has been treated using the Correct Perspective filter.

The Deblurring group of filters is also a useful set of tools. This group of six filters are essentially designed to bring frames into a more viewable focus. The optical deblurring filter corrects the blur of objects that are out of focus (big blur). The motion deblurring filter corrects the blur caused by linear motion, or something moving through the scene. Usually, the camera is stationary and there is an object moving through the scene. The nonlinear deblurring filter corrects the blur caused by nonlinear motion, typically caused by a moving camera.

Amped Software Support

Example of optical deblurring, before and after

Example of nonlinear deblurring, before and after

Day three and four consisted of more in-depth instruction on many more features of the software, such as Denoise filters which are designed to reduce image noise; stabilization filters to stabilize shaking video frames; and a 3D measure tool, which extracts real-world measurements from images, providing you have at least one real-world known measurement starting on the same plane at the subject. There was also plenty of instruction on video enhancing, playing, cropping and recording into different formats.

In the past I have run into issues with proprietary video files being submitted for review or enhancement, without the proprietary video player being provided. Many hours have been wasted attempting to look for a proper codec to play the video, or finding third party software capable of converting the video to a playable format. Amped FIVE has the ability to either play proprietary video files directly or convert it to a playable format. You could then combine specific filters from the Load group along with the Write group when it is necessary to convert a sequence to a video, or a video to a sequence, or a video from one format to another.

As for day five, the course concluded with bringing all the instruction together into one full case scenario practical, for which I will definitely not be providing any spoilers!

Conclusion

Throughout the course the instructor was able to move along at a good pace, as the students seemed to grasp the material and complete the practical exercises quickly and accurately. If there were any questions, or if anyone needed extra help going back over the practical exercises, he was more than happy to assist.

As with any software, there is a learning curve, but if you follow the instruction closely and practise the practical exercises, you will start to get a better feel for which filters to use in each instance. There two additional very helpful features built into the software within the help dropdown menu, called Tutorials and Quick Start Guide. They are both web-based html documents that provide step by step instructions for features such as using specific filters, generating reports, loading files, modifying filters, processing video, exporting video and more.

Overall, I had a very positive experience with the Amped FIVE training course and would highly recommend this course to anyone in the digital forensics field who is in need of enhancing image and video footage. Having never used Amped FIVE prior to the start of this course, I feel very confident walking away from this course with the knowledge I obtained about the software features, and being able to use it on my own in real world situations.

Amped Software develops solutions for the forensic analysis and enhancement of images and videos to assist an entire organization with all investigations, starting from the field, up to the forensic lab, and then to the courtroom. The company focuses on developing the most advanced and complete, yet simple and easy-to-use technologies for all image and video processing needs related to forensics, public safety, and national security. Driver xp 2100 mac. With an emphasis on the transparency of the methodologies used, Amped solutions empower customers with the three main principles of the scientific method: accuracy, repeatability, and reproducibility.

For more information visit https://ampedsoftware.com. Format thumb drive mac os x.

Upcoming training sessions

AMPED REPLAY

CCTV Converter and Player for Investigators

Amped Replay is an enhanced video player that allows investigators, frontline officers, first responders, security personnel and CCTV operators to conduct a quick first-level analysis of their videos, with easy conversion, quick corrections, redaction, and annotation functions, as well as a report, ideal for case building and disclosure. It includes Amped Software’s powerful DVR video conversion engine to view video without the need for other non-compatible, legacy, or proprietary player software. Its easy-to-use interface means no advanced skills are required to achieve professional results in the presentation of evidence, whether used as part of a case, forwarded to another unit or intelligence analysts, or sent to the media for identification. With Amped Replay, organizations are reassured that video is processed correctly at all levels, using validated forensic tools.

Click here to learn more about Amped Replay.

AMPED DVRCONV

Batch Convert Unplayable Videos

Amped DVRConv is the easiest way to automatically batch convert unplayable video files. Videos from proprietary CCTV/DVR systems, dashcams, body worn cameras, and any other video source can now be converted without effort. With Amped DVRConv, you just drag, drop, and you’re done. This is an ideal tool for technicians tasked with converting a great number of surveillance videos in various proprietary formats, speeding up the triage in cases such as major investigations.

Amped Software Download

Click here to learn more about Amped DVRConv.

Amped Software Download

AMPED FIVE

Forensic Image and Video Analysis

Amped FIVE is the most complete image processing software specifically designed for forensic lab experts to manage the complete image and video analysis workflow, with advanced and fully customizable processes for conversion, restoration, enhancement, measurement, presentation, and reporting, all in a single tool. Amped FIVE automatically generates a customizable and detailed scientific report that can be used to support evidence that withstands the scrutiny of the courtroom. This is the software of choice for forensic labs worldwide.

Software

Click here to learn more about Amped FIVE.

Amped Software Inc

Amped FIVE Training

This is a beginner and intermediate-level course designed for users who are seeking to use Amped FIVE for their investigations. Students will learn the fundamentals of image and video analysis and the issues faced when using digital multimedia evidence in investigations. The course is a mixture of lecture and hands-on with many practical exercises to solve real or simulated cases using Amped FIVE. Students will obtain the knowledge and skills required to properly analyze and process images and videos with a workflow compatible with forensic needs and constraints.

This course is offered as In-Person Training or Live Online Training. Click here to see the next scheduled classes.

AMPED AUTHENTICATE

Image Tampering Detection and Source Camera Identification

Amped Authenticate is a software application for forensic image authentication, tampering detection, and camera ballistics on digital images. This product is the only image authentication software on the market that offers a complete suite of powerful tools to exploit the data behind digital images, allowing for the analysis of image integrity, authenticity, metadata, source and history, and detection of tampering prior to its use as intelligence and evidence. With a single product, several tests can be performed to determine if an image has been manipulated as well as verify if a photo was taken from a specific device.

Click here to learn more about Amped Authenticate.

Amped Software Trial

Amped Authenticate Training

Amped Software Usa Inc

This is an intermediate and expert-level course designed for users who are seeking to use Amped Authenticate for their investigations. Students will learn the techniques necessary to perform authentication analysis on digital images in a forensic science setting as well as to package, deliver, and present those findings in court. The course is a mixture of lecture and hands-on. Students will obtain the knowledge and skills required to properly analyze digital images with a workflow compatible with forensic needs and constraints.

Amped Software Download

This course is offered as In-Person Training or Live Online Training. Click here to see the next scheduled classes.

Software Sources Ltd. is serving as Amped Software Reseller.