ParaGraph International, Inc. announces 3D Web VR Partnership with Mitsubishi and People World

Business Wire, May 14, 1996

CAMPBELL, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 14, 1996--ParaGraph International Inc.(R) today announced a strategic partnership with Mitsubishi Corporation and People World Co., Ltd. for development of "People Space," a 3D on-line virtual society marketed in Japan.

Mitsubishi and People World will also market and distribute a Japanese edition of ParaGraph's Virtual Home Space Builder (VHSB) (TM), the first easy-to-use 3D Web authoring/publishing tool for consumers. The partnership, announced in Tokyo, Japan, will begin the transformation of People World, Japan's fastest growing and one of Japan's major on-line services, into a 3D Virtual Reality world.

People Space will consist of 3D Home Spaces(TM), where users can assume a 3D on-line identity and interact with each other. Using VHSB, users can build their own personal area in the world for others to visit. ParaGraph is providing its industry leading 3D multimedia Web authoring tools as well as its integrated 3D VR, behavior modeling and networking technologies to make the service available in the Fall of 1996.

Mitsubishi Corporation is one of Japan's largest trading companies and also one of Japan's multi-media business industry leaders.

"The success of People Space depends on unsurpassed cooperation between companies with exceptional technology," said Mr. Hajime Nomura, General Manager of Multimedia Business Dept. of Mitsubishi Corporation. "ParaGraph International has demonstrated its superior technology for building an Interactive 3D Virtual Reality service, and we are confident that together, we will deliver Cyberspace to Japan this Fall."

"Mitsubishi is a powerful and very highly respected company, both throughout the world and in Japan," said Gregory Slayton, President of ParaGraph International. "The fact that Mitsubishi chose ParaGraph as its primary partner in this important effort is a great honor for us, and validates our leadership position in Internet 3D VR."

Mitsubishi and People World will also distribute a Japanese version of ParaGraph's VHSB, the first software on the consumer market for authoring/publishing 3D multimedia Internet worlds. VHSB is acknowledged by industry experts to be the simplest means for users to build content-rich multimedia 3D Spaces for their Web sites.

VHSB's unsurpassed ability to render rich textures enables users to quickly create visually stunning scenes -- which distinguishes it from other packages that output lifeless, poorly textured objects. The software's integrated multimedia capability includes sound, text, and animations, which combine to create exciting content-rich 3D Spaces.

VHSB saves files that are fully VRML 1.0 compliant, allowing anyone with a VRML Browser, downloadable freely from many web sites including Netscape and Microsoft, to access and navigate through the 3D Home Spaces. VHSB 1.0 is now distributed by Broderbund to over 5000 retail outlets in North America and worldwide at a price of $49.95.

ParaGraph International

Founded in 1989, ParaGraph International, Inc. has long been a leading provider of complex software solutions for the high tech industry. The company's corporate mission is to be the leading provider of Internet VR authoring/publishing tools by combining technologies in 3D rendering, behavior languages, compression and image recognition.

These tools enable end-users to build and publish exciting Internet spaces -- rooms, buildings, cities, landscapes, worlds and universes -- for people to visit communicate and work with each other easily and quickly around the world.

ParaGraph International holds a leadership position in a number of critical Internet technologies that demand preeminence in algorithmic design, including 3D and VR applications, 2D pen software and compression technologies.

For more information on ParaGraph International and its products, contact the company at 1688 Dell Avenue, Campbell, CA 95008, (408) 364-7700; Fax(408) 374-5466. Web sites: http://www.paragraph.com and http://vrml.paragraph.com.

Note to Editors: All products mentioned are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies. ParaGraph is the registered trademark of ParaGraph International. Virtual Home Space Builder and Home Space are trademarks of ParaGraph International. Mitsubishi is a registered trademark of Mitsubishi Corporation. People World is a registered trademark of People World Co. Ltd.

CONTACT: ParaGraph International

John Poluektov, 408/364-7740

E-MAIL: john@paragraph.com

or

Mitsubishi

Mr. Koji Osawa, 415/496-5433

osawa@planet.micpla.com