UB Networks Demos Network Support for First Ever Visual Presentation of STARBRIGHT World; UB Networks, Intel Corporation, Sprint, and Worlds Inc. join STARBRIGHT Chairman Steven Spielberg to demo 3D interactive virtual playground

Business Wire, June 5, 1995

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 5, 1995--UB Networks today unveiled the ATM infrastructure behind STARBRIGHT Foundation's broadband network during a demonstration of the interactive 3D environment dubbed STARBRIGHT World. The audience toured the fully navigable STARBRIGHT World with STARBRIGHT Foundation Chairman Steven Spielberg as an on-screen icon of his own beloved character, ET. UB Networks, the exclusive supplier of networking equipment and system integration services for STARBRIGHT World's five pilot hospitals, is designing and installing a specialized infrastructure for this unique application in cooperation with three leading technology companies: Sprint, Intel Corporation, and Worlds Inc.

"UB Networks is proud to have led the development of a network technology rooted in an effort of compassion. STARBRIGHT World and the broadband network that supports it will, on one hand, help children work through chronic illnesses, and on the other will pave the way for exciting new networking capabilities and applications that will make interactive commerce a real possibility," said Roel Pieper, UB Networks President and CEO.

UB Networks is designing and building the ATM network using GeoSwitch, the affordable ATM switch for the workgroup and GeoRim/E, a high-performance ATM-ready Ethernet workgroup switch. The network will initially be installed in five hospitals in the U.S., with plans underway to expand internationally in the near future.

Lucile Salter Packard Children's Hospital, the first hospital up and running on the STARBRIGHT network, will be joined by Children's Hospital of Boston, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City, and Egleston Children's Hospital in Atlanta when the network is fully launched this fall.

"So many of the children who enter our hospital battle not just their diseases but the ancillary effects of disease -- the boredom, isolation, and loneliness that their physical limitations impose on them. This technology empowers these children to break free of their restrictions. We applaud the innovative collaboration that has made this humanitarian application a reality," said Stu Turgel, senior vice president of marketing and external affairs for Lucile Salter Packard Children's Hospital.

"UB Networks equipment already runs mission critical business and medical applications for hospitals around the world," said Tim Wild, vice president of UB Interactive. "But, STARBRIGHT World takes networking technology to the next level. This interface proves that networking can be so simple that even children can use the power of it. With enough bandwidth to support a friendly, interactive interface, technology that was only practical in a business to business environment can now benefit just about anyone."

STARBRIGHT World is a fluid interactive playspace composed of three very different environments to suit a child's different moods: Tropical World, infused with the riotous sounds and colors of the jungle; Cave World, a soothing, nurturing comfort zone; and Sky World, an ethereal place that evokes dreamy contemplative feelings.

Children access the space from specially configured and very user friendly workstations called PC Pals, which include high-speed Pentium(TM) processors and Intel's ProShare(TM) video conferencing software to support real-time voice and video communication. A PC Pal includes a color monitor, video eye, microphone, speakers and will accommodate a range of input devices, such as keyboard, joystick, mouse or more specialized disability input devices.

UB Networks, a pioneer in high-bandwidth networking solutions, is a leading global supplier of hardware, software, service and integration products for customers in healthcare, finance, government and manufacturing. The company offers a comprehensive line of enterprise-wide networking solutions and has been particularly active in developing network configurations and products for the newly emerging field of interactive networking. Headquartered in Santa Clara, Calif., UB Networks is a $360 million, wholly owned and independently operated subsidiary of Tandem Computers (NYSE:TDM). -0-

Note to Editors: UB Networks, the UB Networks logo, and InterWorld VR are trademarks of Ungermann-Bass Networks Inc. Worlds is a trademark of Worlds Inc. All other trademarks are owned by their respective companies.

CONTACT: UB Networks

Heather Schoeny, 408/562-7931

or

STARBRIGHT

Lynn Weingarten, 310/447-9090