OpenWorlds News: Silicon Graphics Chooses OpenWorlds for Performer VRML support

Business Wire, Oct 3, 1997

PHILADELPHIA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 3, 1997--

In this release:

-- SGI chooses OpenWorlds for Performer 2.2 VRML support -- DRaW announces release of OpenWorlds Beta 0.3 -- OpenWorlds Jack add-on module for NASA -- Windows port of OpenWorlds

Silicon Graphics Inc. (Mountain View, CA) has selected DRaW Computing's OpenWorlds(TM) libraries for their VRML 2.0 loader for Iris Performer 2.2.

This is one of several commercial products being developed based on the OpenWorlds platform. Full VRML 2.0 support for Performer is now commercially available from DRaW.

DRaW Computing Associates Inc. has just released the third and final beta release of their OpenWorlds(TM) product. OpenWorlds is a suite of C libraries for VRML 2.0 integration. DRaW recently demonstrated OpenWorlds at SIGGRAPH '97 at the SGI Performer booth and on CNN.

DRaW Computing is also developing a Virtual Reality system based on OpenWorlds for NASA's International Space Station project. This system will be soon released as a commercial add-on module for the leading human simulation system, Transom Jack (TM), from Transom Technologies Inc. This will bring VRML 2.0 simulation capabilities into Jack, as demonstrated in the Creative Applications Laboratory at SIGGRAPH 97.

Originally developed on the Unix platform, OpenWords will soon be available on the Windows platform. DRaW has partnered with Dill Pixels Inc. and Intellicomm Inc. to perform the port and support for the Windows platform.

Dill Pixels performs a variety of graphics-related tasks including animation, post-production, and game design. Intellicomm is in the business of developing world-class Windows and Internet software solutions.

About OpenWorlds

OpenWorlds was first introduced at the VRML '97 conference in Monterey, Calif. According to Dr. Paul Diefenbach, the president of DRaW, OpenWorlds is "an open library accessible by all, open to platforms, open to scripting languages, open to change."

This promise is the philosophy behind the design of OpenWorlds. OpenWorlds is a C and Java library and execution environment that will help bring VRML 2.0 compatibility to new or existing applications, such as a CAD/CAE system.

Essentially a VRML scene-graph execution engine, OpenWorlds traverses a scene graph executing nodes and passing events. How to implement the built-in nodes or script nodes is up to the developer, with current support for C , Java, and even LISP nodes.

The flexibility does not end with node implementation; OpenWorlds is designed to be modular, with interface classes for every area of functionality.

OpenWorlds is not the company's first venture. Incorporated in 1991, the Philadelphia-based firm performs 3-D graphics development and consulting with an emphasis on human simulation and virtual reality. Their clients include ARINC, Battelle, General Motors, Hughes Missile Systems Company, Lockheed, NASA, and Siemens.

NOTE: DRaW, DRaW Computing and OpenWorlds are trademarks of DRaW Computing Associates Inc. Jack is a registered trademark of the University of Pennsylvania. Transom Jack is a trademark of Transom Technologies Inc.

Silicon Graphics is a registered trademark of Silicon Graphics Inc. Windows is a registered trademark of the Microsoft Corporation. Intellicomm (Philadelphia) is a privately help corporation (CONTACT: Harprit Singh of Intellicomm, 215/387-3844, ext. 301, www.intellicomm.com).

CONTACT: DRaW Computing Associates Inc., Philadelphia

Tenley Bank, 215/382-0390

e-mail: tenley@drawcomp.com

web site: http://www.drawcomp.com

http://www.openworlds.com

info@openworlds.com