From: rjones@wsl.dec.com (Russ Jones)
Newsgroups: biz.dec
Subject: DECnews/Digital Showcases Multimedia for Local-Area Networks
Date: 18 Nov 92 00:48:31 GMT
Organization: Digital Equipment Corporation

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                                              Digital Equipment Corporation
                                          Maynard, Massachusetts 01754-2571
Editorial contact:

Norman Booth
Image, Voice & Video Group 
(603) 884-0360


                                            COMDEX Fall '92
                                            Booth:  B340 & B443


        DIGITAL SHOWCASES MULTIMEDIA FOR LOCAL-AREA NETWORKS

         
...Demonstrating the possibilities for combining imaging, audio and 
        video in a networked client/server PC environment...


COMDEX - LAS VEGAS, NV -- November 16, 1992 --  Digital Equipment 
Corporation today demonstrated shipping components and showcased 
advanced technology versions of its leading multimedia products, 
which integrate still images, audio, and video into a networked 
client/server PC environment.  Digital's multimedia products enable 
users to integrate multimedia capabilities with applications, and to 
distribute multimedia information from server systems to PC clients 
over local area networks (LANs).  This demonstration highlights 
Digital's current direction in developing multimedia capability for 
local area networks.
     
Digital's multimedia product strategy is built upon three 
foundations:
             
     o 	Industry Standard PC Hardware - Providing the lowest-cost 
        approach to enterprise-wide multimedia computing.

     o 	Support for Microsoft Windows - Providing the widest 
        possible choice of applications support on the industry's 
        leading desktop platform.

     o 	Networking Support -  Providing the means to deploy critical 
        multimedia information and applications quickly and easily 
        anywhere across organizations using Ethernet, FDDI or Novell 
        networks.

A Commitment to Multimedia Solutions

     Digital is known for its leadership in providing networking 
solutions to the emerging field of multimedia.  At COMDEX, Digital 
demonstrated solutions to address user's business requirements for 
the open distribution, communication, and sharing of information in 
many forms on the industry's most popular desktop and networking 
platforms.

Today, Digital demonstrated to users how they can:

     o 	Create multimedia files containing audio, video and images.

     o 	Store those files on a server.

     o 	Play back the files on a different PC over client-server 
        local area networks (LANs) such as Ethernet, FDDI and 
        Novell.
         
     This enables all users on that network to share the same 
information transparently in a networked computing environment. 

     Because multimedia data is shared on the LAN, only one copy 
needs to be stored on the server.  Information being accessed by all 
users is updated in seconds by updating the files on the server 
electronically -- over the network.  Business applications using 
multimedia data, such as training, kiosks, and on-line information 
systems, can now be deployed, updated and managed quickly and 
easily.  Components of Digital's multimedia product line 
demonstrated at COMDEX include: 
        
     o 	DECtouch hardware -- Available now, the DECtouch platform 
        makes a standard 12- 19-inch computer monitor touch-
     	sensitive, enabling users to interact with applications by 
        touching the screens, rather than pointing with a mouse 
        device or typing on the keyboard.  DECtouch hardware is a 
        low-profile device that fits beneath a display monitor and 
        plugs into a PC serial port.  It is end-user installable, 
        and can be used to upgrade any standard PC monitor.  The 
        DECtouch device can be used for any application that makes 
        use of screen inputs, including multimedia applications such 
        as educational, retail and shop floor applications.  The 
        innovative DECtouch platform is competitively priced at 
        $895. 

     o 	DECspin software -- Providing video-teleconferencing for 
        MIPS based UNIX workstations.  DECspin software is available 
        now with prices beginning at $530.

     o 	SQL/Multimedia software -- Providing Rdb/OpenVMS databases 
        with multimedia capability at low cost.  Available now, 
        SQL/Multimedia software is priced beginning at $7740.

     o 	IconAuthor software -- Providing an object oriented 
        programming tool for multimedia applications.  For pricing 
        and availability contact AimTech Corporation.

     o 	MediaPower technologies -- A set of software and hardware 
        capabilities that, when available, will enable users to 
        upgrade existing PCs, networks, and applications to take 
        advantage of multimedia solutions.

     Digital Equipment Corporation, headquartered in Maynard, 
Massachusetts, is the leading worldwide supplier of networked 
computer systems, software and services.  Digital pioneered and 
leads the industry in interactive, distributed and multivendor 
computing.  Digital and its business partners deliver the power to 
use the best integrated solutions - from desktop to data center - 
in open information environments.

                                ####

Note to Editors:  Digital, MediaPower and DECtouch, Rdb, OpenVMS, 
                  SQL Multimedia, and the DIGITAL logo are 
                  trademarks of Digital Equipment Corporation.   
     		  Windows is a trademark and Microsoft is a 
                  registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation.   
                  
     		  IconAuthor is a registered trademark of AimTech 
                  Corporation.   

     		  Novell is a registered trademark of Novell, Inc.   
                  
     		  MIPS is a trademark of MIPS Computer Systems.
         
CORP/93/856
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