ParaGraph International Unveils Low-Cost Software For Easily Creating 3D
Internet Worlds and Interactive 3D Text for Web Sites
VRML 2.0 Authoring Software Includes New Beta Versions of Internet3D Space
Builder and Internet3D Font Magic; Virtual Home Space Builder 2.2 Now
Available
New York, NY – October 18, 1996 — ParaGraph International, Inc.(R)
(Campbell, CA) today announced availability of additional software in the
world’s first family of VRML 2.0 software for creating a full range of
Cyberspace worlds on the Internet. Beta2 of Internet3D Space Builder, the
software for creating sophisticated VR worlds and the Final Beta of
Internet3D Font Magic are available now for Microsoft(R) Windows(TM) 95.
VHSB 2.2, an upgrade to Virtual Home Space Builder(TM) (VHSB), the easiest
software for creating 3D multimedia worlds, is also available now.
Together, the software packages fully support the new Virtual Reality
Modeling Language (VRML 2.0) Internet standard — enabling the advent of 3D
Internet worlds, as opposed to 2D Home Pages, on the Internet. All products
may be obtained from ParaGraph’s Web Site at http://www.paragraph.com or
http://vrml.paragraph.com
Like its predecessor, HTML (Hypertext Markup Language), VRML 2.0 is an
industry standard that has been endorsed by the World Wide Web Consortium
for creating standardized web-based content. Unlike HTML, which enables a
text-based ‘page’ metaphor, VRML enables the creation of multimedia online
worlds with full 3D graphics and an interactive environment that changes
and dynamically reacts to a web surfer.
VRML 2.0 received final ratification in August of 1996 at the SIGGRAPH 96
trade show in New Orleans and includes a range of multimedia functionality
(sound, video, animation, etc.) as well as interactive behaviors. The VRML
2.0 standard was co-authored by Mitra, ParaGraph’s Chief Network Technology
Officer, giving ParaGraph a unique inside perspective of both the format
and its technical capabilities.
Spaces built using VRML 2.0 can be viewed with any standard VRML 2.0 plugin
or ActiveX(TM) control in browsers such as Netscape Navigator(TM),
Microsoft Internet Explorer(TM) and Apple Computer’s Cyberdog(TM). VRML
2.0 is compatible with every major OS and computer platform, including
Windows, Mac(TM) OS and UNIX(R). VRML 2.0 browser components currently
available include Silicon Graphics’ Cosmo(TM) Player, Sony’s Cyberpassage,
and Netscape’s Live3D(TM) with many more scheduled to appear in the next
few months.
Both Internet3D Space Builder and Internet3D Font Magic were announced and
demonstrated at ParaGraph’s VRML Power Friday event in New York City. At
Power Friday, leading companies such as Apple, IBM, Microsoft, Netscape
and Silicon Graphics announced their product marketing directions for VRML
content and technology in tandem with the event’s organizers, ParaGraph
International and Black Sun Interactive (San Francisco, CA).
Product Information:
ParaGraph’s Internet3D Space Builder is the first PC-oriented VRML 2.0
authoring tool for creating highly sophisticated 3D Internet worlds.
Internet3D Space Builder combines powerful 3D creation, advanced texturing
and publishing functions with an intuitive interface that enables Web site
developers to quickly publish VRML 2.0 worlds of unlimited complexity.
Internet3D Space Builder’s capabilities include advanced shape modeling
(including Boolean operations), easy object manipulation and import of VRML
2.0 and .3DS files in addition to ParaGraph’s .MUS and D96 files.
Sophisticated texture mapping combined with ParaGraph’s digital ink
technology for drawing and editing give users unrivaled flexibility in
decorating their worlds. Digital ink allows the integration of
pen/tablet-created artwork for an unmatched artistic ‘look’ on VRML 2.0 Web
sites and full multimedia support includes URL links, sound and movies.
Internet3D Font Magic is the first VRML 2.0 authoring tool for creating 3D
interactive text, logos and billboards for Web sites and virtual spaces.
Internet3D Font Magic is elegant in its simplicity, especially compared to
previous solutions that created 3D type in proprietary formats. Simply
type in your text, select any installed TrueType(TM) font, your favorite
color, and interactively adjust the height, depth and light source — the
program then outputs your lighted, animated 3D text in the industry
standard VRML 2.0 format. Once created, this text can be viewed online by
any VRML-enabled browser and incorporated into an existing HTML page or
VRML world scene.
Virtual Home Space Builder is the market leading VRML authoring tool
designed for easy 3D Internet authoring on consumer level personal
computers. VHSB enables anyone to create and publish a 3D VRML Internet
space with rich graphics, multimedia, and simple behaviors in less than an
hour. VHSB 2.2, available for $49.95, supports the final draft of the VRML
2.0 specification and now supports animations, albums, basic behaviors,
MIDI sound, and sound clips.
Quote:
“Both Space Builder and Font Magic represent significant enhancements to
ParaGraph’s Internet3D line of easy-to-use VRML authoring tools,” said Dr.
Leonid Kitainik, Vice President of ParaGraph International’s Consumer
Division. “ParaGraph aggressively staked out the market for intuitive and
powerful 3D content creation tools earlier this year with the release of
Virtual Home Space Builder, and we will continue to lead this market
through technological superiority and consumer-friendly pricing.”
ParaGraph International
Founded in 1989, ParaGraph International, Inc. holds a leadership position
in a number of critical Internet technologies that demand excellence in
algorithmic design, including 3D and VR applications, ink software and
compression technologies. The company’s corporate mission is to be a
leading provider of Internet VR products by combining VR and ink
technologies that enable end-users to build Internet spaces, visit each
other, and communicate using text, voice and digital ink.
For more information on ParaGraph International and its products, contact
the company at 1688 Dell Avenue, Campbell, CA 95008. Web site:
http://www.paragraph.com
All products and names mentioned are trademarks or registered trademarks of
their respective companies. ParaGraph is the registered trademark of
ParaGraph International.
ParaGraph Contact:
John Poluektov
TEL: 408-364-7740
E-MAIL: john@paragraph.com
or
Horizon PR
Jonathan Hirshon
TEL: 408 982 2555
jh@horizonpr.com
http://www.horizonpr.com