World's most powerful virtual prototyping system provides direct connection and built-in support for StereoGraphics stereoscopic visualization products; stereo support also announced in DirectModel 3D rendering engine
StereoGraphics Contacts:
Product - Andy Ramm, Product Manager
Editorial - Virginia Henderson
StereoGraphics Catapult Partners
Email - aramm@crystaleye.com
Phone - (415) 459-4500, FAX (415) 459-3020
SAN RAFAEL, CALIF., August 5, 1997 - StereoGraphics, the world's leading developer of 3D viewing peripherals, today announced enhancements to its long relationship with Hewlett-Packard Company in the area of visual computing and virtual prototyping. StereoGraphics' CrystalEyes product will be directly supported by HP's newly announced HP VISUALIZE PxFl high-performance graphics system. A long-standing proponent of stereoscopic imaging, HP designed this functionality into its high-performance VISUALIZE workstations from the very beginning.
Delivering unsurpassed performance and 3D visualization capabilities, the combination of StereoGraphics' CrystalEyes and the HP VISUALIZE PxFl are ideal for high-end mechanical computer-aided design and engineering (MCAD/MCAE) engineers in automotive and aerospace, as well as in architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) markets. Moreover, with stereo support available in HP's DirectModel toolkit, all new applications running on HP workstations will be able to support CrystalEyes.
"With support for CrystalEyes in HP's hardware and software strategies, our customers are assured of the most powerful stereoscopic imaging," said Bob Seltzer, director of sales and marketing for StereoGraphics. "With this support, we also continue our long partnership with HP in delivering high-value 3D imaging systems to these very demanding users."
StereoGraphics CrystalEyes has been in use on HP workstations for nearly a decade in key design and engineering centers such as General Motors, Ford, Boeing and NASA. CrystalEyes is a lightweight, wireless eyewear system that delivers high-definition, stereoscopic 3D images in conjunction with compatible software and standard workstation displays.
The product allows professionals dealing with large multi-dimensional data sets to visualize images more naturally and make a faster and more accurate analysis. Many common software applications used in mechanical CAD, molecular modeling, GIS/mapping and medical imaging support StereoGraphics' CrystalEyes on all major UNIX platforms and Windows NT workstations.
"StereoGraphics' CrystalEyes has long added tremendous value to HP's visual computing platforms," said Doug Schiff, marketing program manager at HP's Workstations Systems Group. "Virtual prototyping has become part of the critical path in our major manufacturing customers' design cycles, and HP Visualize PxFl combined with CrystalEyes is an ideal combination for visualization of virtual prototypes."
About HP VISUALIZE PxFl
HP VISUALIZE PxFl features a revolutionary, massively parallel architecture with tens of thousands of individual 'pixel processors' and internal network speeds of 12.8 gigabytes per second. It delivers scalable performance from 4 million to more than 100 million polygons per second. Unlike current graphics hardware systems, which must sacrifice image quality and shading realism for interactivity, HP VISUALIZE PxFl applies shading power where it is most needed — to the visible, on-screen pixels — resulting in the real-time generation of animation-quality images.
Previously, designers requiring truly realistic animated images, with accurate highlights, shadows, bumps and reflections, utilized 'batch' software rendering, with each image taking several minutes or more to generate. HP VISUALIZE PxFl also supports
HP's recently introduced DirectModel toolkit for large-model rendering. Using DirectModel and HP VISUALIZE PxFl, an aerospace designer can render, manipulate and "fly through" a fuselage design searching for defects. By eliminating the need for physical prototypes, the customer could potentially save millions of dollars in time and development costs.
Price and Availability
StereoGraphics CrystalEyes carries a suggested list price of $995 including infrared emitter. For additional information on CrystalEyes, contact StereoGraphics at (800) 783-2660 or visit the company's web page at http://www.stereographics.com. For a case study profiling the use of StereoGraphics' CrystalEyes and HP workstations in mechanical CAD/CAE, contact Andy Ramm at (415) 459-4500.
Hewlett-Packard Company is a leading global provider of computing, Internet and intranet solutions, services, communications products and measurement solutions, all of which are recognized for excellence in quality and support. HP has 114,600 employees and had revenue of $38.4 billion in its 1996 fiscal year.
StereoGraphics Corp. was founded in 1980 to provide a variety of products that enable the realistic viewing of three-dimensional video and computer images. StereoGraphics products utilize stereoscopic human depth perception to deliver natural looking 3D in high-resolution for a variety of professional workstation and consumer applications. CrystalEyes, StereoGraphics' flagship product, has an installed base of over 50,000 users in scientific visualization, GIS/mapping, molecular modeling, CAD/CAM, and commercial presentation. With SimulEyes, StereoGraphics offers affordable 3D eyewear for the PC gaming and multimedia markets. StereoGraphics' address is 2171 E. Francisco Blvd., San Rafael, CA., 94901.
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StereoGraphics and CrystalEyes are registered trademarks, and SimulEyes VR is a trademark of StereoGraphics Corporation. All other product and company names are the trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.