Pairgain???!!!... didn't they merge with somebody... haven't been on that thread for a Blue Moon <g> ...
Wednesday January 30, 8:03 am Eastern Time
Visualization System Powered by SGI Onyx 3400 Provides U.S. Army With Realistic, Immersive Training Environment
System Helps Troops Prepare for Combat in Hostile Foreign Territory
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., Jan. 30 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The U.S. Army is using a visualization system powered by an SGI® Onyx® 3400 high-performance graphics system to create highly realistic training simulations that will help prepare troops for effective decision-making in foreign conflict zones. The state-of-the-art system from Mechdyne Corporation and SGI (NYSE: SGI - news) is located at the Institute for Creative Technologies (ICT), Marina del Rey, Calif., a partnership between the University of Southern California and the Army. It features a wraparound curved screen with a 150-degree horizontal field of view and surround sound.
Drawing on the graphics power of an SGI Onyx 3400 visualization supercomputer with four InfiniteReality3(TM) graphics pipes, the Mechdyne system allows users to feel completely absorbed in the virtual environment. The system incorporates digital CRT projectors offering optimal fidelity and the highest resolution images currently available. InfiniteReality3 is the latest version of SGI's world-leading graphics subsystem and is the high-performance graphics pipeline for the SGI Onyx 3400, providing the power and real-time visualization capability to concurrently process imagery, video, 3D terrain and geospatial data.
``SGI's advanced graphics technology is helping the institute develop realistic simulation and virtual reality tools to benefit Army training,'' said James Korris, creative director, ICT. ``The Mechdyne system, combined with SGI's state-of-the-art computer graphics hardware, offers the optimal immersion needed to create a totally realistic training environment.''
``This system will set the standard for curved-screen, wraparound immersion and image quality,'' said Kurt Hoffmeister, vice president of engineering, Mechdyne. ``We are very pleased with the results and our team's ability to meet ICT's demanding requirements.''
The Army funded the development of ICT in 1999 in an effort to leverage the entertainment industry's creative and storytelling expertise with the computer science community's abilities in networking, artificial intelligence and virtual reality technology.
About SGI
Celebrating its 20th year, SGI, also known as Silicon Graphics, is the world's leading provider of high-performance computing, complex data management and visualization products, services and solutions that enable its technical and creative customers to gain strategic and competitive advantages in their core businesses. Whether being used to design and build safer cars and airplanes, discover new medications and oil reserves, predict the weather, entertain us with thrilling movie special effects or provide mission-critical support for government and defense, SGI systems and expertise are empowering a world of innovation and discovery. The company, located on the Web at www.sgi.com, is headquartered in Mountain View, Calif., and has offices worldwide.
About Mechdyne Corporation
As the world's premier provider of immersive visualization solutions, Mechdyne Corporation specializes in large-scale visualization systems, high-fidelity simulators, and engineering consultation for aerospace, automotive, manufacturing, military, research, and geophysical exploration organizations. Alliances with respected equipment and software suppliers allow the company to serve as a single-source provider of engineering, installation, integration, and support. Many of the world's finest businesses and research institutions employ Mechdyne's systems and services for applications such as command and control, engineering design review, virtual prototyping, manufacturing process simulation, factory layout design, and multivariate analysis. Headquartered in Marshalltown, Iowa, Mechdyne also has offices in Houston, Detroit, Indianapolis, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C.
About ICT
ICT has been challenged by the U.S. Army with the task of helping prepare U.S. troops to make critical on-the-ground decisions through the development of an Experience Learning System which utilizes advanced virtual reality and simulation technology. This immersive system will be adaptable for a wide range of military objectives and will provide an efficient and cost effective supplement to large-scale military exercises. ICT foresees the expanded use of this advanced technology as a new system for immersive learning-the next step beyond the Internet-with exciting applications to industry, entertainment and especially education.
ICT aims to design these emotionally engaging, immersive learning environments by tapping the nation's two greatest resources: technology and entertainment. Uniting disparate communities toward a common goal, the venture brings together top creative and technical talent from the Hollywood and video game communities, as well as the assets of the University of Southern California and other research institutions.
Core technology to be developed by ICT includes: artificial intelligence that allows digital characters to react to situations like real people; incorporation of compelling, realistic storylines; systems that engage the senses of sight, sound, touch and smell; the next generation of computer hardware, from head-mounted displays to force-feedback devices; and computer networks through which hundreds or thousands of troops worldwide may participate together in live simulations.
The ICT and its projects are sponsored by the U.S. Army, and the above release does not necessarily reflect the position or the policy of the Government, and no official endorsement should be inferred.
NOTE: Silicon Graphics, SGI, the SGI logo and Onyx are registered trademarks and InfiniteReality is a trademark of Silicon Graphics, Inc. All other trademarks mentioned herein are the property of their respective owners.
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CONTACT: Greg Slabodkin of SGI, +1-301-595-2618, or slabodkin@sgi.com; or SGI PR Hotline, +1-650-933-7777, or SGI PR Fax, +1-650-932-0737.
SOURCE: SGI
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