STEREOGRAPHICS CRYSTALEYES 3 D STEREO GLASSES USED BY SCHOOLCHILDREN IN
NASA'S NATIONALLY TELEVISED TELEPRESENCE DEMO

Students At NASA's Ames Research Center Steer Antarctic Mini Submarine
Through Computer-Generated, Interactive 3 D Model Of Underwater Terrain

San Rafael, CA -- December 3, 1993 --When students from two Bay Area
California schools "drive" a mini-submarine stationed in the Antarctic's
McMurdo Sound from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
(NASA), Ames Research Center, Mountain View, CA, during a nationally
televised broadcast, they will be wearing CrystalEyes electronic stereo
(3D) eyewear from StereoGraphics Corporation.

CrystalEyes eyewear, a component of StereoGraphics' CrystalEyes
VideoSystem, will give six students from Crittenden Middle School in Mt.
View and Ronald E. McNair School in East Palo Alto, the depth perception
they need to remotely steer in real-time the NASA mini-submarine submerged
in McMurdo Sound. The CrystalEyes VideoSystem generates stereo (true 3D)
images and permits long-range transmission of the video output from two
cameras mounted on the mini-submarine.

In addition, the students will be able to steer the mini-submarine through
a simulated McMurdo undersea environment using a Silicon Graphics
computer, in conjunction with CrystalEyes VR interactive virtual reality
-- eyewear.

The exciting undersea virtual reality experience will be simultaneously
projected in realtime stereo into a NASA Ames theater utilizing
CrystalEyes Projection equipment. Members of the press will participate in
the educational experience via large-screen stereo images transmitted from
the Antarctic in vivid detail as the students steer the mini-submarine
from an adjacent laboratory.

"This is a unique opportunity for students to experience the excitement of
working with NASA scientists in the field," said Thomas Clausen, an Ames
education specialist. "In the same way NASA researchers want to send
robots to other planets, we want to 'send' students on a similar journey
from their classrooms."
The demonstration is one of three "electronic field trips" which will be
carried live on the Public Broadcasting Service at 11 a.m. PST on December
3. The demo is sponsored by NASA Ames and culminates a two-month research
expedition in "telepresence technology" conducted in the Antarctic by NASA
scientists.

In the experiment, scientists used a modified mini-submarine called a
Telepresence-Controlled Remotely Operate Vehicle (TROV) to explore 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 stereo video
signals to the surface. The stereo video signals are then relayed by
satellite back to NASA Ames in California, where they are processed by
CrystalEyes VideoSystem and displayed in full stereo on a computer
monitor. Next to full-scale physical models, color stereo images give
users the best sense of spatial relationships because they provide true
visual depth.

StereoGraphics, the world's largest supplier of three-dimensional
electronic stereo display equipment, supplies both the CrystalEyes
VideoSystem and CrystalEyes VR which enables the scientists to see stereo
images of the underwater world through the CrystalEyes stereo eyewear
linked to its proprietary CrystalEyes VideoSystem. Also, scientists can
steer the undersea vehicle through a simulated environment, particularly
valuable in planning a mission in advance. The stereo simulation is
enabled via StereoGraphics' CrystalEyes VR, integrated with a Silicon
Graphics workstation running WorldToolKit VR software from Sense8,
Sausalito, CA.

Wil Cochran, vice president of sales and marketing for StereoGraphics,
said, "There are now many practical applications for 3-D stereo viewing,
telepresence and virtual reality. This demonstration both educates the
students, and proves how very easy and useful virtual reality actually is.
Because stereo viewing technology creates a realistic sense of 'being
there,' a novice can immediately begin operating a remote vehicle with
little or no training."

CrystalEyes VR supports all six degrees of head movement. As the
scientist'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 scientists and the students
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 which 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 modem
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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