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Fakespace Unveils Fully Immersive Display System At Canada's First Virtual Environment Technologies Centre Immersive WorkRoom™ Visualization System Provides Exceptional Sense Of Presence For Interactive Work With Large-Scale 3D Models And Virtual Reality Applications Mountain View, CA – June 15, 1999 – Fakespace, Inc. today unveiled the Immersive WorkRoom,™ an innovative spatially immersive display system that enables group collaboration within high-resolution computer-generated virtual environments that appear to really exist in space. The first installation of the Immersive WorkRoom system, a 10-ft. cubical structure that displays 3D projected images on its walls and floor, is a key part of the new Virtual Environment Technologies Centre (VETC) in London, Ontario. As part of the National Research Council of Canada’s Integrated Manufacturing Technologies Institute (IMTI), the VETC, which opened this month, is Canada’s first major virtual reality facility. It was built in order to provide industry with a competitive edge in international markets through the use of state-of-the-art visualization technology. The Centre’s advanced visualization and computer simulation resources will benefit its member companies involved in discrete product manufacturing, and other manufacturing-related activities such as plant design and layout, as well as those involved in urban development, large construction projects and medical research. Fakespace was contracted to design and build a variety of projected display systems for the VETC, including the Immersive WorkRoom and a 24-ft. wide Immersive WorkWall™ solid screen flat wall display system, which will be used for interactive visualization of computer models and data sets. "The mission of the Virtual Environment Technologies Centre is to help Canadian engineering, manufacturing and development organizations, in both the public and private sectors, lower costs, reduce project schedules and improve product design," said Dr. Gian Vascotto, Director of System Simulation and Control Research at IMTI. "Immersive display technologies give work groups the ability to interact with models without building physical prototypes, and to very intuitively understand and use huge sets of computer data. The Fakespace displays are extremely well designed systems that will help us achieve our goals in meeting the long term needs of industrial users." The Immersive WorkRoom is available in a variety of sizes and custom configurations to meet the needs of specific applications. It features a number of innovative design elements that reflect the company’s attention to the needs of designers, researchers and engineers working within immersive environments. The design of the Immersive WorkRoom is based on a sturdy wooden superstructure that eliminates magnetic interference and conceals cabling. The structure and screen mounting systems are crafted to display nearly invisible corner seams, and the individual screens are removable for easy maintenance. Unlike other spatially immersive displays, the Immersive WorkRoom’s architectural design can accommodate an arched entrance and doors that close and lock for security. "We’ve worked closely with visualization-users in a variety of industries to determine the most important features of a spatially immersive environment," said Jim Angelillo, president of Fakespace, Inc. "In addition to meeting demanding technical requirements, we found that users also look for practical and functional features, such as ergonomic details and conveniences. The Immersive WorkRoom includes a transitional vestibule, in-room storage areas that can be used for stereo glasses and other peripherals, input devices that automatically retract into place when not in use, and floor access panels. These details enhance the Immersive WorkRoom’s value in industrial and corporate environments." The Immersive WorkRoom system employs four Electrohome Limited (TSE: ELL.X, ELL.Y) Marquee Ultra CRT projectors. Three of the projectors are floor mounted for optimal display viewing angles and easy long-term maintenance. The projection system displays two slightly different images (one for each eye) that create a 3D effect when viewed through stereoscopic shutter glasses. For optimal performance, the Immersive WorkRoom runs on a SGI™ Onyx2™ InfiniteReality® visualization supercomputer. At the VET Centre, one Onyx simultaneously drives all of the visualization systems, which include the Immersive WorkRoom, the Immersive WorkWall, and two eight-ft. Stereo WorkReview™ display systems. Mounted in three racks, this SGI visualization supercomputer is configured with 12 processors, six gigabytes of RAM and four pipes, each of which has four raster managers. To support real-time, stereoscopic visualization and interactivity, the Immersive WorkRoom uses VLIB™, the Fakespace virtual library software that interfaces with commonly used visualization software, such as computer-aided design (CAD) and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) applications. VLIB also provides drivers for stereo viewing, head tracking, navigation, and hands-on interactivity. Current members of the VETC include SGI Canada; Electrohome Limited.; General Motors of Canada Limited, Diesel Division (DDGM); and the University of Western Ontario. Fakespace, Inc., headquartered in Mountain View, Calif., is a leading provider of interactive visualization solutions for automotive, manufacturing, military and aerospace, geophysical exploration, and scientific visualization applications. The company has regional sales offices in Michigan and California. In addition to the Immersive WorkRoom, the Fakespace family of visualization WorkSpace™ products includes the Immersive WorkWall; the VersaBench™, Immersive WorkBench™ and Mini WorkBench™ virtual model displays; and a series of immersive binocular displays, including the BOOM® and BOOM HF™, and the PUSH 640 and PUSH 1280 Desktop Displays. Fakespace also offers the PINCH™ Glove hand gesture interface system, and a variety of other devices for hands-on manipulation of computer-generated models, as well as other hardware and software for integrating applications into 3D visualization systems, and consulting services for applications development. More information is available on the World Wide Web at www.fakespacesystems.com. ### 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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