STEREOGRAPHICS CRYSTALEYES 3-D STEREO GLASSES USED BY NASA IN TELEPRESENCE
DEMO

Local Command Of Robotic Exploration Vehicles In Remote Locations
Demonstrated At National Air and Space Museum, Washington, D.C.

San Rafael, CA -- November 23, 1993 --National Aeronautics and Space
Administration (NASA) researchers and technicians at the National Air and
Space Museum in Washington, D.C., will remotely control robots in
Antarctica, Russia and California while wearing CrystalEyes g) 3-D stereo
glasses from StereoGraphics Corporation.

CrystalEyes eyewear, a component of StereoGraphics CrystalEyes VRIM
(virtual reality) System and VideoSystem, gives participants the depth
perception they need to steer a mini-submarine through the lifelike,
three-dimensional, computer-generated model of Antarctica's McMurdo
Sound.

This demonstration, held today at the National Air and Space Museum in
Washington, D.C., showcases the varying degrees of sophistication in the
technologies associated with NASA's planetary robotic exploration,
collectively called telepresence. High-level officials from a variety of
agencies and commercial firms, including members of the executive staff
from the office of the Vice President, the Deputy Director of The Mission
From Planet Earth, representatives from the Planetary Society, the Office
of Science and Technology, the National Research Council and senior
management of many major corporations including McDonnell Douglas and IBM,
plan to attend.

Charles Redmond, NASA's public affairs officer, said, "This is a
technological wake-up call to anyone who maybe has just heard talk about
virtual reality, but doesn't realize that it has useful applications right
now."

StereoGraphics, the world's largest supplier of three-dimensional
electronic stereo display equipment, supplies the CrystalEyes VR System
and VideoSystem used by NASA scientists to steer a modified mini-submarine
called a Telepresence-Controlled Remotely Operated Vehicle (TROV) located
800 feet below the surface of McMurdo Sound in Antarctica.

The TROV is attached to a 1,000-foot cable which sends digital data and
video signals to the surface. The signals will be relayed to Washington,
D.C. where they will be combined into the stereo imagery.

Some participants at the demonstration will be able to see the stereo image
of the underwater world through the CrystalEyes stereo eyewear linked to
an ultrasound head-tracking device. StereoGraphics CrystalEyes eyewear
permits viewing of the flicker-free stereo video images on the monitor.
Powerful workstations produced by Silicon Graphics, Mountain View, CA
running software from Sense8 Corp., Sausalito, CA, are the basis for the
computer-generated system capabilities.

Wil Cochran, vice president of sales and marketing for StereoGraphics,
said, "Robotics are a very essential part of many industries. Adding
telepresence control from a remote site with the aid of stereo
visualization dramatically increases the possible robotic applications."

CrystalEyes VR supports all six degrees of head movement. As the viewer's
head moves from side to side, up or down, closer to or further away from
the computer monitor, the image on the display changes its perspective,
giving the convincing illusion that the image is a real object. The
CrystalEyes VR System enables the viewer to steer the TROV through a
virtual reality simulation of the Antarctic as if they were actually
there.

The CrystalEyes VideoSystem is a completely self-contained 3-D stereo video
system uses standard video cameras and works with virtually all video
equipment worldwide. The system is especially designed for remote
manipulation, such as underwater operation, and for fragile objects in
special atmospheres, hazardous material handling (i.e. nuclear), and outer
space.

The benefits of stereo viewing have been proven in every application from
mechanical CAD/CAE to virtual prototyping and architectural walk-throughs.
Using three-dimensional images reduces design and development cycles,
improves accuracy and makes complex concepts easier to understand,
manipulate and implement.

CrystalEyes products are being used to improve and dramatize video and
computer presentations, scientific visualization, medical imaging.
surgical endoscopy, molecular modeling, photogrammetry, motion simulation,
inspection systems, remote vehicle control, flight simulation and all
types of training.

StereoGraphics is dedicated to bringing the benefits of 3-D stereo viewing
out of the laboratories and into common usage. To this end, StereoGraphics
has recently introduced several new products for mainstream markets.
CrystalEyes PC converts IBM PCs and compatibles, some Apple Macintosh and
all Amiga non-stereo-ready personal computers into a state-of-the-art
graphics platform for true 3D stereo visualization. CrystalEyes CAD system
allows any AutoCAD drawing file to be viewed in three dimensions, giving
users a clearer understanding of models.
StereoGraphics Corp., founded in 1980 and the world's leading manufacturer
of stereo viewing systems, invented and developed the market for modern
stereo imaging hardware. Due to its capability, reasonable price and
state-of-the-art technology backed by 15 patents, CrystalEyes systems are
accepted as the industry standard for stereo viewing. StereoGraphics is
located at 2171 East Francisco Boulevard, San Rafael, California 94901,
phone 415/459-4500, fax 415/459-3020.

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