* To: slug@Warbucks.AI.SRI.COM * Subject: Framethrower Press Release * From: cook@PEGASUS.SCRC.Symbolics.COM (Kim Cook) * Date: Tue, 27 Mar 90 22:03 EST * cc: cook@PEGASUS.SCRC.Symbolics.COM Contact: Susan Zellmann-Rohrer; Symbolics, Inc.; (617) 221-1021 Sterling Hager; Sterling Hager, Inc.; (617) 259-1400 Product Backgrounder Symbolics FrameThrower Symbolics' FrameThrower family of high-definition videographics processors and interface modules provides high- performance, real-time color graphics and video capabilities for VMEbus-based workstations and computers including the Company's 40-bit XL Series workstations. FrameThrower is the first product that supports both high resolution video and graphics, eliminating the barrier between these two worlds. It enables users to develop and deliver real-time color applications that require both high resolution graphics and video, such as medical imaging, photo reconnaissance, simulation and scientific visualization. The FrameThrower architecture supports one or more powerful videographics processors and a choice of several optional video interface modules to provide a cost-effective, customizable system that is readily expandable. The videographics processors provide standard frame buffer capabilities, including flexible addressable image memory, universal genlock across all resolutions, and support for high-speed graphic manipulation operations, such as BITBLT and boolean, vector, and scalar operations on large pixel arrays. The optional video interface modules allow users to customize their workstation to support the video peripherals in their environment. FrameThrower is designed to be completely configured in software. This improves system flexibility and eliminates the need for hardware components to support a variety of monitors. As a result, the FrameThrower is uniquely able to display images across the entire range of video resolutions, including all popular broadcast, computer and proposed HDTV formats, with a single board. FT100, the first product of the FrameThrower family, is a single videographics processor with optional analog or digital I/O interface modules packaged as a single 9U VMEbus board. The FT100 includes eleven Symbolics- designed application-specific integrated circuits, or ASICs, which accelerate special-purpose graphic operations. FrameThrower products plug into a workstation's backplane, allowing the workstation direct high-speed access to FrameThrower image memory. This memory is software configurable as either one large 8-bit array for pseudocolor applications or as a 2 million pixel, 32-bit array for full color applications and those requiring overlay planes. FrameThrower is a trademark of Symbolics, Inc. Contact: Susan Zellmann-Rohrer; Symbolics, Inc.; (617) 221-1000 Sterling Hager; Sterling Hager, Inc. ; (617) 259-1400 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE --First High-Definition Videographics Processor And Workstation Unveiled --Programmable Architecture Ensures Ongoing 'Multi-Standard' Adaptability TWO INDUSTRY-FIRST, HIGH-DEFINITION PRODUCT BREAKTHROUGHS FROM SYMBOLICS ACCELERATE THE PACE AND DIMINISH THE RISK OF HDTV DEVELOPMENT -- Emerging Product Family Seen as Potentially Vital OEM Development Tool -- New Solution Bridges Computer and High-Definition Video Technology Gap BURLINGTON, Mass., March 20 -- Symbolics, Inc., today made two major product announcements that could cut years from new product development cycles for scores of international firms banking on the future of HDTV-based technology. The Company unveiled the industry's first commercially-available, high-definition videographics processor, called FrameThrower and announced the availability of an all-in-one, high-definition videographics workstation incorporating the new FrameThrower processor. According to Symbolics, current efforts to develop and bring to market a broad range of high-definition applications are stymied by technology obstacles which the FrameThrower uniquely addresses. FrameThrower offers three primary and immediate advantages: Merges computer and high resolution video technologies enabling practical solutions for challenging applications from medical imaging to remote diagnosis; Supports current and evolving industry standards with a programmable architecture configurable in real-time; Based on the VMEbus standard providing system integrators with a building block for delivering customized HDTV applications on a variety of workstations. SYMBOLICS ANNOUNCES BREAKTHROUGH HDTV PRODUCTS HDTV Viewed As Cornerstone Technology for the 90s and Beyond According to Tom McMahon, development director of Symbolics Graphics Center, FrameThrower allows developers, for the first time, to merge computer graphics and high-definition video in real-time, eliminating the technology barriers that have previously existed between these two traditionally separate worlds. "FrameThrower is a technological gateway to a new class of high-definition applications and the first practical product that will support these applications today and tomorrow, thereby reducing new product development time and investment risk," commented McMahon. "We believe that HDTV is a cornerstone technology of the information industry for the 1990s and beyond and that FrameThrower is an essential product to advance HDTV technology development. " Market Demand Accelerating For HDTV Applications Symbolics said it expects immediate interest in the new processor and workstation products to come from developers focused on building real-time applications including medical imaging, satellite reconnaissance, and remote diagnostic applications where high-definition technology can provide enormous payback. Recently the National Aeronautical and Space Administration (NASA) used Symbolics' high-definition technology to analyze HDTV video images of the Discovery launch in real-time. This high-definition system enabled NASA engineers to get an instant replay of critical launch systems. The engineers were able to enhance and enlarge high-resolution images of the lift-off in order to analyze the condition of and spot potential problems with space shuttle tiles. Without this HDTV capability, engineers would have had to wait a day or more for the availability of conventional 35mm photographs. HDTV today can support a level of real-time analysis and decision support impossible with conventional technology. Family of Products Scheduled for Launch This Year Symbolics announced plans for a series of products targeted to the high-definition videographics market. The Company also announced the first product in the FrameThrower family, the FT100, which supports Symbolics' newest HDTV workstation. Symbolics stated that it is in active discussion with major electronics and computer manufacturers regarding development of customized FrameThrower products as an OEM supplier. The Company's FT100 will support Symbolics' XL400 High-Definition ColorStation (HDCS), which is based on the Company's popular symbolic processing workstation, the XL400. With the addition of the FT100, the XL400 HDCS brings dramatic performance improvements to existing XL400 color applications and enables the rapid development of new high-definition applications. The XL400 HDCS features a comprehensive software development environment and extensive graphics library proven in over 6,000 installations. SYMBOLICS ANNOUNCES BREAKTHROUGH HDTV PRODUCTS The FT100 processor add-in board and base-level software library is priced at $23,900 (U.S.). The XL400 High-Definition ColorStation, which includes the FT100, a high-resolution monochrome monitor and the color graphics software library is available for $58,800 (U.S.). This system supports a variety of HDTV monitors and projection systems. Introductory pricing of $18,900 for the FT100 and $53,800 for the XL400 HDCS is available through September 30, 1990. Both systems are scheduled to ship in June, 1990. Symbolics, Inc., headquartered in Burlington, Mass., is the leading provider of symbolic processing systems used for the development and delivery of sophisticated applications including advanced scheduling and planning, large-scale documentation management, and mathematical computation. The Symbolics Graphics Center (SGC) develops and supports advanced hardware and software products for graphics imaging and processing. The Center is recognized as an innovator in displacement and behavioral animation, and high-definition television (HDTV) computer graphics. Symbolics, FrameThrower and XL400 are trademarks of Symbolics, Inc. 1990