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Fakespace Inc. Delivers New Tool For Working In Virtual Environments NASA Ames Research Center Using First Production Unit Of The Immersive WorkBench For Reconstructive Surgery Planning And Training Mountain View, Calif. and Technology 2006 - October 29, 1996 - Fakespace, Inc. announced today the formal market release of the Immersive WorkBench, a new tool for working in virtual environments. The first commercial production unit, was delivered to researchers at the NASA Ames Research Center's Biocomputation Center. It is on display this week at Technology 2006, October 29 - 31, in Anaheim, Calif. Fakespace, the leading supplier of high quality display systems for professional virtual reality applications, developed the Immersive WorkBench in response to the demand for a new type of tool for interaction with virtual models. It is a projected image display system that supports natural interaction with three-dimensional (3D) computer-generated imagery. A user wearing tracked shutter glasses can view 3D models that appear as realistic objects resting on top of the WorkBench. The operator can manipulate and move the objects with a glove or pointing device to build or change the visualization, in the same way they would work with real objects on a desk or table. This makes the system ideal for applications such as city planning, automotive design, scientific research and surgical simulation and training. The Biocomputation Center at NASA Ames Research Center purchased the Immersive WorkBench for a collaboration with the Stanford University Medical School, Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. The Virtual Environment Craniofacial Reconstructive Surgery project will increase the success of initial surgeries for victims of congenital disfigurement or blunt trauma (as from automobile accidents). The project allows surgeons to practice patient specific, complex procedures by working with detailed visualizations. As a training tool, it may reduce the extensive training cycle for plastic surgeons by as much as ten years. "Any kind of reconstructive surgery challenges the surgeon's ability to visualize and predict results, but craniofacial surgery is probably the most demanding," said Muriel Ross, Ph.D., director of the Biocomputation Center at NASA Ames Research Center. "With the Immersive WorkBench, realistic practice and rehearsal can improve the effectiveness of surgical procedures. It's an excellent tool for our project, which requires hands-on work with virtual objects." The NASA team developed software that creates realistic 3D visualizations of the face and skull from computerized tomography (CT) scans. Driven by a Silicon Graphics, Inc. Onyx RealityEngine2, the Immersive WorkBench will enable surgeons to work within these visualizations to cut out pieces of bone from the computer model and insert them elsewhere and to computationally restore the soft tissues in order to preplan procedures for actual patients. "The collaboration with NASA offers our department a great opportunity to advance surgical practice," said Dr. Stephen Schendel, head of the Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at Stanford medical center. "We are very excited about this combined research in state-of-the-art computer visualization, which will revolutionize the way we diagnose and plan surgical procedures. Ultimately, this kind of research will make our health care system more efficient and improve our training of physicians." "The reconstructive surgery project demonstrates the tremendous utility of the Immersive WorkBench," said David Eggleston, vice president of marketing and sales at Fakespace, Inc. "Fakespace recognized the need for a tool that increases access to virtual models. The WorkBench lends the simplicity of working with parts on a worktable to planning, designing and learning in virtual environments." The Immersive WorkBench is an enhanced version of the table top visualization systems developed by GMD (German National Research Center for Computer Science), Stanford University, University of Illinois, NASA Ames, and the Naval Research Lab. Components of the system include a 100-in. x 75-in. viewing table which adjusts from horizontal to nearly vertical to accommodate a broad range of work styles, a PINCH glove and CrystalEyes shutter glasses from StereoGraphics . Other 3D pointing devices and shutter glasses can also be used. System pricing begins at $25,000 and increases to $100,000 for a full turnkey system including projector. The system is compatible with any computer system capable of generating 3D visualizations with RGB video output. Fakespace, Inc. is the leading supplier of 3D immersive visualization systems used to interact with virtual environments created for applications in scientific and commercial research, product design and engineering, and location-based entertainment. The company's family of high-resolution immersive BOOM (Binocular Omni-Orientation Monitor) display devices includes: the BOOM3C, the FS2 Fakespace Simulation System, the PUSH Desktop Display, PINCH hand gesture interface systems, hardware and software for integrating applications into 3D visualization systems, and consulting services for applications development. Headquartered in Mountain View, Calif., the privately-held company has been profitable since its founding in 1988. ### About Mechdyne Corporation Mechdyne Corporation is the world’s largest company dedicated to consulting and development of immersive, networked and collaborative visualization systems. The company addresses complex projects where an in-depth understanding of user requirements leads to the development of products and customized solutions involving elements of visual, software and support systems. Mechdyne’s product divisions provide advanced display technology, audio/visual systems design, and implementation services, as well as immersive and interactive software development and support. Headquartered in Marshalltown, Iowa, Mechdyne’s customers include leading government laboratories, military research programs, energy companies and a variety of ‘edutainment,’ manufacturing, and other users of visualization technology. More information is available at www.mechdyne.com. Mechdyne Press Contact Jeff Brum Matt Schmidt |
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