SHARES in Edinburgh-based Vision Group surged nearly 20% yesterday after confirmation that its Universal Serial Bus (USB) technology will used in new a digital camera for

personal computers to be launched shortly.

PMC Consumer Electronics said the camera would hit the market later this month, retailing at #119. Investors marked the Scottish company's shares 10p higher to 66.5p.

Vision's camera-on-a-chip products integrate image sensing and image processing on to a single silicon chip and are used by half-a-dozen manufacturers of PC cameras. But this is the first time Vision's USB technology is being used to transmit moving pictures to the computer.

The significance lies in the convenience of the USB socket, which makes it easier to connect a camera to a PC.

It is hoped the impending launch of Windows '98, which is USB enabled, will kick-start the fledgling market for desk-top videoconferencing.