From: mailrus!gatech!media.mit.edu!wkatz@uunet.UU.NET (Warren Katz)
Newsgroups: sci.virtual-worlds
Subject: TECH: Announcing VR-Link, Real-Time Networked Virtual Reality
Date: 21 Sep 92 21:09:51 GMT
Article-I.D.: u.1992Sep28.075254.13232
Organization: MIT Media Laboratory
Originator: hlab@milton.u.washington.edu



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Press Release,  September 21, 1992.
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MaK Technologies
380 Green Street, Cambridge, MA  02139
Point of Contact: Warren Katz, (617) 876-8085
wkatz@mak.com,vrlink-info@mak.com

MaK Technologies of Cambridge, Massachusetts announces the release of
their first commercial product, VR-Link (TM).

VR-Link (TM) is an application programmer's software toolkit which
enables networking of distributed simulations and Virtual Reality
systems.  The toolkit is compatible with the U.S. Department of
Defense's Distributed Interactive Simulation (DIS) Protocol, enabling
multiple participants to interact in real-time via low bandwidth
network connections.  Potential beneficiaries of this product are:

    Simulator Manufacturers: Companies seeking a competetive advantage in
    cost, schedule, and technical capability will use VR-Link (TM) instead
    of incurring the cost, risk, and schedule delay of supporting an
    in-house DIS capability.  Being a Commercial-Off-The-Shelf (COTS)
    product, VR-Link (TM) is not subject to 2167A requirements.

    Government Agencies: Existing simulators can provide future utility
    and greater return on investment by upgrading to network
    compatibility.  VR-Link (TM) was specifically designed to allow easy
    integration with existing simulators.

    Game Makers and Virtual Reality System Designers: VR-Link (TM)
    provides entertainment system developers with a powerful new paradigm
    to greatly enrich the experiences provided to users.  Multiplayer
    man-against-man scenarios will add a whole new dimension to games and
    educational products, making them much more engrossing than current
    stand-alone offerings.

John Morrison, Project Engineer for VR-Link (TM), states, ``The
toolkit was designed in a layered fashion to allow easy porting to
many different platforms.  We currently have it running on a Silicon
Graphics Iris Indigo (TM), a SUN Sparcstation SLC(TM), and we are
currently working on a version which will run under Windows NT (TM).''
Warren Katz, marketing manager for VR-Link (TM), states, ``Our current
marketing goals are to incorporate VR-Link (TM) into several large
government simulation programs such as CCTT, WISSARD, WARBREAKER,
AVCATT, etc. while simultaneously breaking into the entertainment
market.  In a few short months we expect several computer game makers
to come out with a new generation of network compatible games.''

Future versions of VR-Link (TM) will incorporate MaK's experimental
Newtonian Protocol, which will allow networked tactile and
force-feedback interactions between remote users long before such user
interface devices become available.  MaK will also soon release a DIS
based ``Stealth Vehicle'' for the Silicon Graphics product line.  The
``Stealth Vehicle'' will allow unobtrusive monitoring of the DIS
battlefield, and will also provide a ``generic vehicle'' toolkit for
simulator developers.

Further information on VR-Link (TM) can be obtained by email to
vrlink-info@mak.com, or by calling or writing to Warren Katz at the
above address.

MaK Technologies (pronounced ``mock'') was founded in 1990 to provide
cutting edge Virtual Environment research and development to the DoD
community while simultaneously transitioning these technologies into
commercial products.
-- 
MaK Technologies, Inc.
380 Green Street
Cambridge, MA 02139
(617) 876-8085


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