SensAble Technologies
15 Constitution Way
Woburn, MA 01801
T: 781-939-7495
F: 781-937-8325
media@sensable.com

Cambridge MA, February 17, 2000 - It¹s no longer enough to have applications that utilize 3D graphics; the next step is incorporating touch to dramatically improve interaction. Seem like an impossible programming task? Not anymore - SensAble Technologies, maker of the PHANTOM™ 3D Touch™ device, has just released Version 3 of the GHOST® toolkit, which allows programmers to integrate touch into their applications. New features and examples in GHOST V3.0 make it easier than ever to learn and use.

As more and more people turn to 3D computing, the challenge to effectively interact with 3D data becomes more obvious. Mouse, keyboard and monitor have proven effective for 2D applications like word processing, but are not suited for today's 3D applications. SensAble¹s systems allow users to "touch" data, providing more accurate interaction between computer and user. The systems leverage one's ability to touch in three dimensions by using data that is three dimensional in nature. In addition, touch is the only two-way sense, meaning that you can gather information about an object while simultaneously affecting it. The end result is the ability to create, feel and manipulate digital objects as naturally as you would in the real world.

The GHOST SDK (software development toolkit) drastically reduces the time and effort required for developers to "touch-enable" their applications. The core "physics engine" takes care of complex computations leaving developers to concentrate on physical properties like location, mass, friction and hardness. The GHOST SDK's ability to build a robust application was demonstrated last year when SensAble programmers finished development of the FreeForm™ modeling system, the company's first end-user application.

GHOST Version 3.0, released earlier this week, contains numerous new features and improvements, most of which make it easier to learn and use than previous versions. One of the most notable additions is the SensAble World Builder, which allows developers to build and immediately touch worlds comprised of geometric primitives. "GHOST GL," another new feature, provides developers with an application framework and automatic visual rendering of the GHOST scene graph, enabling them to put together sample applications in record time. GHOST V3.0 contains significantly improved examples that are simple by design, each demonstrating functionality in a building-blocks approach. Source code for the examples is provided as well. A revamped application framework, with source code, allows for building applications with MFC on Windows NT and with X Windows/Motif on Irix.

Dr. Roger Webster, Professor of Computer Sciences at Millersville University, has been using the GHOST SDK for several years. "For my students, GHOST V3.0 is easier to learn than previous versions, as new examples demonstrate how to program haptic applications in a step-by-step fashion. Its functionality can help reduce development times even for advanced haptic application projects." Other GHOST features and improvements include:

• Support for the pthreads threading model on SGI Irix 
• Mouse driver control at the application level 
•  Full support for Microsoft Visual C++ 6 
•  On-the-fly autocalibration for PHANTOM Desktop

GHOST Version 3.0, currently available for Windows NT 4.0 and SGI Irix 6.5, can be purchased direct from SensAble Technologies or through it's global reseller channel.

About SensAble Technologies
SensAble Technologies is transforming the way people use computers in the 21st century. Our groundbreaking technology allows you to fully interact with your computer via your sense of touch. Two dimensions-sight and sound-become three, sight, sound and now touch. And that gives you the freedom to work in a more natural, intuitive way. SensAble and its products have won more than a dozen awards and have been featured in publications worldwide, including The Wall Street Journal, Business Week and Fortune. FreeForm modeling, SensAble's first end-user application, was given the first ever Grand Innovation Award from Computer Graphics World. The company has over 450 customers in 30 countries, including adidas-Salomon, Hasbro, Disney, Boeing, Shell, General Electric, NTT Communications, Motorola, Mayo Clinic and leading universities worldwide. For more information, visit www.sensable.com.

SensAble, PHANTOM, FreeForm, GHOST and 3D Touch are trademarks or registered trademarks of SensAble Technologies, Inc. All other companies and products referenced herein have trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.