2 June, 2003 Visionmax International Limited ("VMIL") a UK-based joint venture company, has been established to develop the international business for the VisionMax¢â range of affordable, scalable image generators. The systems have been designed to fulfill the requirement for large scale, multiple-projector display systems, regardless of whether the content to be displayed is 3D graphics, Video, TV or DVD. VisionMax¢â offers an affordable method of visualizing and interacting with applications to customers who have, up until now, been put off by the prohibitive cost of traditional graphics image generators.

All VisionMax¢â products consist of a Master computer that controls the entire system and a variable number (up to a maximum of 64) of slave computers that are used to render the images. The Master computer is used to control the software functionality and to send image processing information to the Slaves. Each Slave is responsible for rendering part of the overall image that is to be displayed while the NOVA Infinity software (see below) ensures that the multiple images are overlapped, edge-blended and displayed as a single, cohesive whole.

The systems are delivered with the NOVA Infinity multi-channel visualization software. This powerful visualization package is compatible with the model data from most popular 3D modeling, animation and simulation software packages (see next page for list) and allows users to display model data and rendered images across single or multiple planar, cylindrical or spherical display screens. The software has a range of special features including perspective correction, non-linear distortion correction, seamless edge blending (video, DVD and 3D graphics) and support for most 3D-interaction devices. Moreover, the 'plug and play' nature of the GUI means that no training is required and VisionMax¢â users can simply load their applications on to the system and immediately display them as stereo flythroughs.

The VisionMax¢â systems support all general media including real time 3D graphics, TV, Video, DVD and all common movie formats and can be delivered in a range of configurations depending on the user requirements.

Commenting on the launch, Ben Vaughan, VMIL's Managing Director, said:

"The massive advances in PC graphics processing power that we have witnessed over the last few years has opened up the market for scalable, multi-channel PC-cluster systems - like VisionMax¢â - that can now compete directly against traditional, expensive high-end Image Generators. Our entry-level system has been designed for marketing, architectural and industrial design companies and includes everything you need to convert and display 3D models as stereo flythroughs. The VM110 system includes the image generator, two 4000 Ansi projectors and a 120" screen, yet only costs $33,000 (¡Ì20,000).

"Higher up the scale, we have also installed fully immersive, multi-wall CAVE¢ç systems with active stereo and tracking systems that are being used by major corporates for projects such as automotive design. The range of applications and markets for these products is already significant and will only get larger as Commercial-off-the-Shelf graphics technology continues to improve."
Notes to Editors

VMIL was established as a joint venture in June 2003 to manage the international sales, marketing and distribution of the VisionMax¢â range of PC-cluster Visualization Systems developed and produced by Hi-Tech Media Co., Ltd of Korea.

The directors of VMIL are Ben Vaughan and Bong-Soo Youn. Mr Youn is the Founder and Chief Executive of Hi-Tech Media Co., Ltd. Mr Vaughan has been in the Visualization Industry for more than a decade. He was the head of External Affairs for Virtuality Group PLC, a co-founder and VP of Retinal Displays Inc and a Vice-President of InterSense Inc.

Compatible Software

NOVA Infinity is compatible with a wide range of model data from 3D Modeling, Animation, CAD and Simulation software packages through their VRML97 export. Packages including the following:

Modeling/Animation : 3DS Max, Amorphium, Bryce 4, Cinema 4D, Curious Labs Poser 4, Inspire, Lightscape, Lightwave 3D, Maya, Meshworks (Mac only), Painter 3D, Pixel Logic Zbrush, Poser, Ray Dream Studio 5.5, Rhino, Softimage (PC only), Strata Studio Pro 2.5, TrueSpace

CAD : Alias Studio Tools, ArchiCAD, AutoCAD, CADDS 5, CADKEY, CATIA, Designer Workbench, Form-Z , I-DEAS, Mechanical Desktop, Pro/ENGINEER, SoftCAD, Solid Edge, Solid Works, Unigraphics

VRML Tools/Utilities : Blaxxun Instant Community & other, CosmoWorld, Cybelius ShowMore, Cybelius Touchmore, Dune (PC only), HomeSpace Designer, Parallel Graphics (ISA & ISB), Paragraph Home Space Builder, PLATINUM VRCreator, Spazz3D (PC only), Template Graphics Libraries, Trapezium VRML97 Optimizer, Virtus, Vorlon (syntax checker)

Simulation : Autometrics, Multigen-Paradigm, Sense8, TGS (AmiraVR), Virtools