UNISYS ENHANCES CLIENT-FOCUSED APPLICATIONS FOR ENTERPRISE-WIDE GEOGRAPHIC
INFORMATION SYSTEM

ENHANCEMENTS SUPPORT CLIENT/SERVER PROCESSING ENVIRONMENT

BLUE BELL, PA, AUGUST 16, 1995 -- Unisys Corporation today announced a
number of enhancements to its SYSTEM 9 Geographic Information System
(GIS), which offers enterprise-wide access to and management of geographic
and business data. Numerous advances in the SYSTEM 9 software will help
users manage spatial data -- such as that used in land, utility and
infrastructure management -- more effectively.

The new version, SYSTEM 9 Release 5.4, also provides completely new
capabilities in three areas:

* a powerful development environment for creating distributed
applications,

* tools for easily customizing database maintenance applications and

* a PC-based product that allows users to take full advantage of the
data-sharing efficiencies possible with client/sever technology.

Software enhancements offer advantages to end users

SYSTEM 9 software reflects real-world relationships among objects such as
streets, properties and power lines. This capability helps simplify
spatial data analysis and modeling, which is performed using graphical
overlays of different objects. One of the most important capabilities of
SYSTEM 9 is its ability to reference and integrate information located
throughout an enterprise based on shared geographical characteristics. By
establishing these links, SYSTEM 9 eliminates redundant efforts and speeds
information delivery to improve customer service.

The latest release of SYSTEM 9 incorporates a number of enhancements that
further strengthen this client-focused strategy, including:

* a new graphics handler for creating customized interfaces, navigating
through screens and performing real-time event handling in a Windows
environment

* one-bit raster images that can be transparently overlayed instead of
overwriting each other

* a range of acceptable compression formats for reading and writing images

* support for the spatial data transfer standard (SDTS), enabling data to
be exchanged throughout an enterprise regardless of diverse operating
systems

* the exchange of vector data among enterprise systems through enhanced
Arc/Info and NTF data interchange modules

* faster plot generation through the use of the standard binary format
computer graphics metafile (CGM)

* simplified entry and manipulation of elevation data

Powerful ADE speeds development and improves customer service

The new release of SYSTEM 9 provides a common Application Development
Environment (ADE) that is an extension of the widely used public domain
tool command language (Tcl) and its associated toolkit (Tk), developed at
the University of California at Berkeley. Using this ADE, developers can
quickly create graphical user interfaces that comply with the Motif
industry standard and create distributed applications following the
client/server model. "SYSTEM 9 is the first spatial information management
solution to take full advantage of Tcl/Tk non-proprietary application
development capabilities," said Steven Talbot, Unisys GIS program
director.

GIS function library offers customized database maintenance

With Release 5.4, users can now access SYSTEM 9's powerful data capture and
editing functions in the ADE directly from a GIS function library. This
capability extends the power of the ADE by making it much easier for end
users and developers to tap into.

PC Viewer takes advantage of distributed processing

SYSTEM 9 Release 5.4 introduces a PC Viewer for Windows 95, which transfers
data between the PC and a SYSTEM 9 database running on a UNIX server (via
Ethernet using TCP-IP). Once a connection has been established, the user
can download spatial and attribute data into a local clipboard for
quering, displaying, analyzing and updating attributes in the GIS
database. Following the client/server model, some tasks can be executed
locally on the PC client while others will take advantage of the greater
processing power of the UNIX server.PC Viewer has also been designed
specifically to allow clients to integrate their existing hardware and
software environments -- such as other word-processing and spreadsheet
applications -- with their GIS to promote wider use of geographic
information throughout an organization.

With Release 5.4 of SYSTEM 9, Unisys continues to support major UNIX
platforms.

Unisys -- The information management companyAs an information management
company, Unisys acts as a solutions and systems integrator for business
and government, complementing those integration skills with a full range
of consulting and implementation services, information technology and
vertical industry expertise. The company's perspective extends beyond
supplying technology to delivering comprehensive information management
solutions. Further information is available through the Unisys home page
on the World Wide Web: http://www.unisys.com
 
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