TELEVISED poker has just been given its best hand ever with new technology which looks set to turn it into mainstream viewing.

Sagentia (until recently Scientific Generics) at Harston has developed special ink and software which will allow invisible infra-red bar codes on the cards to be read via image processing software and then shown on TV.

"Televised card games have built a loyal following over recent years, but like snooker, which had to wait for the introduction of colour TV to really take off, televised poker has also been waiting for a breakthrough to realise its true potential as a spectator sport," Sagentia says.

"The traditional approach, involving over shoulder and/or under table cameras, is invasive and costly. Obscured views can result in delays and errors in identifying cards, making captions follow behind the commentary and compromising the 'live' feel of the show."

Perlego, which has been developed by Sagentia and their client, iKnowledge, costs a lot less and allows cards to be identified direct to the TV screen from the moment they are dealt.

The cards are printed with the special ink, which can be read only via infra red screens placed across a camera lens. They are identified immediately and then appear in screen graphics beside the name of the player, showing viewers which cards he is holding.

iKnowledge says the new technology will make the game much more entertaining for viewers, creating greater tension, and adding an extra dimension, computer forecasting.

iKnowledge is part of PA Sport, a leading provider of automated, data-driven TV graphics for a range of televised sports.

Sagentia was approached because of its reputation in magnetic tagging.

Kevan Moretti, co-founder and commercial director of iKnowledge, said: "Perlego is a dramatic step forward in delivering the fastest and most accurate game play content on-screen.

"At the same time it offers producers a significant cost advantage for poker and card play productions.

"Together, iKnowledge and Sagentia have overcome some very challenging obstacles to deliver a really world-class solution."