SensAble Technologies
15 Constitution Way
Woburn, MA 01801
T: 781-939-7495
F: 781-937-8325
media@sensable.com
Woburn, MA, September 4, 2001 - SensAble Technologies announced today the sale and shipment of its 1,000th system, to Wolverine World Wide, a leading global designer and marketer of footwear. The sale was for the FreeForm Plus modeling system, which includes the PHANTOM™ force-feedback hardware interface and FreeForm Plus modeling software. The award-winning PHANTOM device represents a revolution in human computer interface technology, providing precision positioning input and high-fidelity, force-feedback output, making it possible for users to touch and manipulate virtual objects. When coupled with FreeForm software, the modeling system offers designers what no other application does: the combination of a touch-based system and modeling techniques that optimize form with function. Together these elements provide users with an unparalleled ability to streamline designs and capture design intent in a natural, direct and intuitive manner. While FreeForm modeling is a relatively new technology, introduced to the market in the summer of 1999, it is being adopted quickly by modelers, sculptors, and industrial designers as evidenced by this latest milestone.
Wolverine World Wide, Inc. is a leading global marketer of branded, casual work, outdoor sport and uniform footwear. The company's portfolio of owned and licensed brands includes such names as Hush Puppies, Caterpillar, Harley-Davidson, Merrell, and Wolverine Boots & Shoes.
Based in Michigan, Wolverine employs more than 4,000 people around the globe, and reported sales in excess of $700 million for year 2000.
Wolverine's CAD modelers and designers will be using FreeForm modeling to design soles and lasts, which are the foot-shaped forms used in designing footwear.
"We are pleased that Wolverine World Wide, a leader in innovative design, chose FreeForm modeling and became the recipient of our 1,000 th system," says Bill Aulet, President of SensAble
Technologies. "This shipment demonstrates that not only is the marketplace accepting FreeForm modeling, it is embracing this exciting new technology at an ever-accelerating pace." Aulet goes on to note that SensAble has grown in each year of its existence, resulting in recognition by Inc. Magazine as one of the 500 fastest growing companies in America. Thanks in large part to strong market acceptance of the FreeForm system, he sees no end to this growth in sight.
Steven M. Duffy, Executive Vice President and President of the Global Operations Group for Wolverine World Wide, commented on the FreeForm modeling system. "At Wolverine World Wide we pride ourselves on innovation and design quality. We expect the FreeForm modeling system to be an integral tool in our footwear design process."
About FreeForm Modeling
SensAble's FreeForm modeling system provides an analog interface to a digital tool, a revolutionary combination for product design. 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 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.
