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

Woburn, MA, July 17, 2001 - SensAble Technologies is pleased to announce the immediate availability of FreeForm™ Version 4.0, a breakthrough in touch-based modeling. Newly introduced tools in Version 4.0 provide greater control over models, allowing users to comply with design criteria. Still, the application maintains an approachability unprecedented in the area of digital design.

Version 4.0 includes over 60 new features, enhancements and improvements:

• An enhanced sketching capability which increases flexibility while providing more control over the shape of the curve
• The addition of 3D curves, which allow creation and precise control over more sophisticated shapes
• A new offset function, designed to assist with the creation of "shell" models
• A complete new suite of modeling tools allow users to interactively modify designs into functional products
• The capability to "deform" shapes and perform global changes on either all or part of a model without losing detail

With the Version 4.0 release, the FreeForm system is now available in two distinct products. The original FreeForm system has been enhanced with sketching and shelling and continues as the premier aesthetic styling tool. A new product, FreeForm Plus, adds sophisticated shape creation and deformation techniques that offer industrial designers an extra measure of control to assure design criteria compliance.

Graham Lacy is Head of Technical Design at PDD, one of Europe's foremost product innovation consultancies. Lacy stated, "For ten years, PDD has pioneered the use of digital media within product design, yet we have always needed to combine form creation with defined constraints. With FreeForm V4, we finally have a system that pursues both efficiently."

FreeForm modeling offers designers what no other application does: the combination of a touch-based system and modeling techniques that blend form and function. Together elements provide users with an unparalleled ability to optimize designs and capture design intent in a natural, direct, intuitive manner.
Touch-based modeling is simple, leveraging the way we interact with the real world. It provides direct interaction that speeds translation of ideas directly into 3D models by removing UI bottlenecks and allows the fine continuous control only possible with touch.

The FreeForm system provides modeling techniques that help designers to optimize form with function. Designers can create highly aesthetic models not possible with surface or solid modelers, and at the same time, achieve compliance with design criteria. Because the FreeForm system takes a non-procedural approach to modeling, designers are able to capture their desired intent without fear of building themselves into corners.

According to Bill Aulet, president of SensAble Technologies, "FreeForm Version 4.0 takes a huge step forward by delivering ease of use traditionally associated with physical media like clay and blue foam, maximizing the use of one of our most creative senses for design - touch; yet delivers the precision, control, and repeatability of a digital asset. Compared to FreeForm modeling, other packages are like working with your hands tied behind your back or with your model on the other side of a glass window."

FreeForm 4.0 is available immediately through direct and reseller channels worldwide. The system runs on Windows NT® and Windows® 2000. SensAble Technologies will demonstrate FreeForm Version 4.0 at the upcoming IDSA National Conference to be held in Boston, August 15 - 18. The system can also be seen at the 3D Systems booth (#1267) at Siggraph in Los Angeles, August 14 - 16.

About FreeForm Modeling
SensAble's FreeForm modeling system provides an analog interface to a digital tool and is marketed for use in design environments. FreeForm tools use familiar physical metaphors such as sculpting, wire cutting, shaping and deforming. These work in a direct and obvious manner to deliver the flexibility and expressiveness of physical media like the clay and blue foam designers have loved for years. Controlling these tools through touch gives users an unprecedented connection to their model. The flow of design intent-no longer choked off at the user/computer interface-allows users to faithfully capture any nuances and difficult to describe subtleties in digital form. Sophisticated modeling techniques help designers to hold design criteria and optimize form with function, while direct model interaction and familiar methods help eliminate the months-long learning curve typically needed to master traditional 3-D modeling software.

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 500 customers in 30 countries, including adidas-Salomon, Boeing, Disney, Ford, General Electric, Honda, Hasbro, Motorola and leading universities worldwide. For more information, visit www.sensable.com.

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SensAble, PHANTOM and FreeForm 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.

SensAble Technologies, Inc., 15 Constitution Way, Woburn, MA 01801. Tel: 781-937-8315, Fax: 781-937-8325, Web: www.sensable.com, Email: info@sensable.com