March 25 News Release (re: Xerox and our report from Internet World).
SoftQuad and InXight Create New
Generation of Web Publishing Software
Spinoff from Xerox PARC Licenses Key User Interface for
Use in SoftQuad Web Publishing Applications
Palo Alto, Calif. (Mar. 25, 1997) -- SoftQuad and InXight have teamed up to solve
two common problems faced by Web site publishers -- easy navigation and
management of web site content, and intuitive, useful display of linked information.
InXight, a Xerox spinoff commercializing user interface technology from the Xerox Palo
Alto Research Center, is licensing to SoftQuad one of their key user interface controls
(VizControls(TM)) that lets Webmasters navigate, manage and interact with thousands
of web pages at a time.
Under the agreement, SoftQuad has licensed this VizControl, called Hyperbolic
Tree(TM) (HT) for two of its core products -- HoTMetaL intranet Publisher and
HoTMetaL PRO. SoftQuad began testing the Hyperbolic Tree interface late last year in
early versions of its HoTMetaL intranet Publisher (H.i.P.), a knowledge publishing
application that provides a complete set of intranet publishing capabilities, including a
comprehensive site management component that features the visualization technology as
part of its link management functionality. Based on strong positive feedback, SoftQuad
has also incorporated the Hyperbolic Tree(TM) into an updated version of its
award-winning Web authoring tool, HoTMetaL PRO 3.0, and will make the feature a
key element of both products in future releases.
"We're tremendously enthusiastic about this agreement, which gives us long-term access
to InXight's user interface technology for our products," said David Gurney, Chief
Executive Officer, SoftQuad International. "This superior PARC technology will help to
strengthen SoftQuad's position as a leading provider of power tools for internet and
intranet publishing, and will better enable our users to rapidly create and manage
effective Web applications for knowledge publishing."
According to Mohan Trikha, president of InXight, "We are very proud to have a
technology leader like SoftQuad as a partner. They have shown a great deal of vision in
recognizing the growing importance of information access technology."
Developed by online publishing experts, SoftQuad's products make it easy for users to
create effective, dynamic intranet and internet sites. Now, with the addition of InXight's
Hyperbolic Tree user interface, SoftQuad users will have powerful site visualization,
navigation and management capabilities as well.
This Hyperbolic Tree(TM) is a novel user interface that lets users dynamically navigate
and focus on various parts of an information hierarchy. It supports extremely large data
sets, yet allows the user to move within them in a matter of a second or two. Smooth,
visually animated transitions help the user maintain a sense of orientation as the focus
moves.
Hyperbolic Tree is part of the InXight VizControls family, which uses 2D, 3D and
animation techniques to help users make sense of vast amounts of information. Users
can instantaneously shift from overviews that establish context and perspective to
detailed close-ups that focus on specific information. With a clear picture of the
information and how elements relate to one another, users can make better decisions.
About SoftQuad
SoftQuad is the leading provider of multi-platform, standards-based Knowledge
Publishing applications that enhance business processes. SoftQuad is recognized
worldwide for its pioneering work in structured document publishing and, through its
newly-acquired Alpha Software unit, structured databases. SoftQuad is a founding
member and active participant in the World Wide Web Consortium, the Internet
Engineering Task Force and Editorial Review Boards. Based in Toronto, Canada,
SoftQuad International employs more than 150 people with additional sales offices
across North America, and European operations based in London, with offices in Paris
and Munich.
About InXight
Based in Palo Alto, Calif., InXight Software, Inc. was established in 1996 by Xerox
Corporation (NYSE: XRX) as part of the Xerox New Enterprise business initiative.
InXight's mission is to capitalize on breakthrough technologies invented and developed
at Xerox's Palo Alto Research Center (PARC) and Rank Xerox Research Center
(RXRC) in Grenoble, France. InXight offers two families of products -- one for
information visualization and exploration, and one for linguistic analysis. Available to
software developers and content providers, InXight's products are used by a wide
range of software companies -- including Verity, InfoSeek, Oracle, America Online,
and NetCarta -- to deliver software quickly to market that makes information more
accessible. For more information contact InXight at inxight.com, phone
415-852-0290, or fax to 415-813-7499.
Forward-looking statements in this release are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of
the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Investors are cautioned that all
forward-looking statements involve risk and uncertainties, including without limitation risks of
intellectual property rights and litigation, risks in technology development and
commercialization, risks in product development and market acceptance of and demand for
the Company's products, risks of downturns in economic conditions generally, and in the
software application development tools and business intelligence tools markets specifically,
risks associated with competition and competitive pricing pressures, risks associated with
foreign sales and high customer concentration and other risks detailed in the Company's
filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
For Further Information
Investor Relations Inquiries:
Selwyn Wener, (416) 544-9000 investor@softquad.com
Press Inquiries:
Press and Media Relations, (416) 544-9000 press@softquad.com |
