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Technology Stocks : SNNT - Synthonics -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: John B. who wrote (55)	5/20/1998 4:25:00 PM
From: John B.	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 209

( BW)(SYNTHONICS-INC)(SNNT) Synthonics Expands Intellectual Property War Chest; Receives Third Patent for Creation of 3-D Digital Replicas Business Editors WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 20, 1998-- Developer of "Rapid Virtual Reality" Tools Lays Claim to Core Technology Behind Viewing 3-D Images on High-Definition TV Synthonics Inc., developer of the advanced three-dimensional (3-D) digital replication technology, "Rapid Virtual Reality" (RVR), has been awarded a new patent that includes processes that will be used to transmit 3-D color images across television airwaves. The award is the third Synthonics claim approved by the U.S. Patent Office in less than a year, arriving just in time for the advent of high-definition television. "With the shipment of the first HDTV receivers this year, consumers will finally have a powerful enough instrument in their homes to show clear, full-color, lifelike 3-D images," said Mike Budd, president and chief executive officer, Synthonics Technologies. "We hope to interest broadcasters in using our technologies in daily programming to create and transmit high-quality, full-depth images that duplicate three-dimensional objects and environments in viewers' homes. We can now do this very inexpensively, without experiencing the loss of definition that plagued early 3-D experiments on standard TVs." Synthonics' patented technologies can also be used to add a third dimension to distance learning and other educational applications that rely on television transmissions, according to Budd. Anyone taking a course from far off institutions can see and interact with objects that are a part of the lesson, just as if those students were in class. "Instructors in another time zone or even on another continent will now be able to effectively 'sit' down with students and 'hand' them objects to study and materials to view, all in real-time," Budd said. Synthonics, a wholly-owned software development subsidiary of Synthonics Technologies Inc. (OTC/BB:SNNT), has filed 17 U.S. and six international patent applications over the last three years covering various aspects of the subsidiary's 3-D digital replication and image transmission technologies. RVR is a proprietary method for creating affordable, accurate and realistic 3-D replicas of real objects for interactive computer graphics applications. This most recent patent approval encompasses the broadcast portion of Synthonics' application entitled, "Methods and Apparatus for Creation and Transmission of 3-Dimensional Images." The award protects the company's rights to the means by which accurate, full-depth images created by combining the output of synchronized twin color cameras can be sent over the airwaves without loss of quality. The 3-D broadcast patent award works in conjunction with Synthonics' first award, granted last summer, which outlines the core technologies behind creating highly accurate 3-D color images while minimizing eyestrain and color fading -- two known deterrents to using 3-D color images in the past. Related applications of RVR technology are being used to develop multimedia CD-ROMs for the Smithsonian Institution and its new affiliate museum at Centro Alameda in San Antonio. Synthonics has created collections of 3-D digital replicas of fragile and priceless artifacts that can be thoroughly examined by scholars and other visitors for the first time. "With RVR images, anyone can handle, control and examine full-depth replicas of the nation's most treasured mementos and historical artifacts as a part of public exhibits or at home on their own PCs," Budd said. "We expect this hands-on, accelerated approach to learning to revolutionize education in the next decade." Synthonics' RVR technologies are also at the heart of PC-based software for dental and medical diagnosis and treatment planning now being developed by another Synthonics subsidiary. About Synthonics Synthonics licenses its tools for custom 3-D content creation and also offers an in-house capability to create 3-D content for its customers. With headquarters in Westlake Village, Synthonics Technologies develops advanced 3-D virtual reality imaging technologies for use in PC and Internet applications. For information, call 818/707-6000, e-mail synthonics@synthonics.com, or visit the Web site: synthonics.com. --30--MT/la* TJM/la CONTACT: The Bohle Co. Joseph Riser, 310/785-0515, ext. 205 josephr@bohle.com (e-mail) KEYWORD: CALIFORNIA TEXAS INDUSTRY KEYWORD: COMPUTERS/ELECTRONICS COMED