From: ascen@world.std.com (Ascension Technology) Subject: ANNOUNCE: Ascension's Flock on an ISA card for PCs (PC/BIRD) Message-Id: Summary: DC-Based Magnetic tracker on a PC card Keywords: tracker VR magnetic Ascension Organization: The World Public Access UNIX, Brookline, MA Date: Thu, 14 Dec 1995 20:08:23 GMT From: ascen@world.std.com (Ascension Technology) 3D MOTION TRACKING FOR THE PC ASCENSION ANNOUNCES PC/BIRD (TM) South Burlington, VT, -- World-class, six degrees of freedom (6DOF) motion tracking is now available for personal computers. Ascension's new PC/BIRD is a position and orientation tracker on a board that plugs into the ISA slot of any PC computer. It lets users do things never dreamed possible with personal computers. PC/BIRD is made for tracking head and body motions with high speed and low lag for real time interaction with powerful PC software programs in virtual reality, simulation, CAD, and character animation. Alternatively, users can create their own software application with the help of our free interface software. PC/BIRD's lightweight receiver may be mounted on any non-metallic object for tracking its position and orientation in free space. Tracking applications -- in graphics visualization, interactivity, architecture, medicine, biomechanics, entertainment and more -- once the realm of expensive workstation are now available for PC users. PC/BIRD employs Ascension's patented pulsed-DC magnetic technology, first introduced to the computer graphics marketplace in its highly successful BirdTM and Flock of Birds (TM) products. "PC/BIRD is an idea whose time has come," said Ascension's Jack Scully. Timed for release with the advent of powerful new personal computers, it provides robust, uncompromised tracking for all levels of users. "We are pleased to announce that this new tracker does not suffer from the performance degradation commonly seen with the migration of 3D peripherals down to the PC level," he said. PC/Bird makes up to 144 measurements per second for each receiver being tracked -- more than twice the speed of the competing Polhemus Insidetrak device. Accuracy is .08 inch for translations and 0.50 for rotations, four times better than Insidetrak. Lag is 10 milliseconds without degradation when multiple receivers are tracked. Performance is specified for receivers located within q4 feet of the transmitter. Range may be increased to 10' using an extended range transmitter. In addition to the PC card and receiver, PC/Bird consists of either the standard or extended range transmitter. Because its electronics unit resides in the PC, there is no need for a separate power supply, enclosure or associated cabling for the standard unit. Additional cards and receivers may be added to track multiple targets simultaneously. An optional 3D mouse makes the PC/BIRD a universal input device, capable of use as a traditional 2D mouse as well as a 3D image controller. The mouse option, with its three user-programmable buttons, is also being used increasingly as a hand-held pointer for navigating through virtual worlds. On power up, the transmitter sends out pulsed DC magnetic-field signals that are precisely detectable by the receiver. DC signals are employed because they pass through all non- metallic surfaces, overcoming blocking and occlusion limitations of tracking devices which must maintain a clear line-of-sight between their transmitter and receiver. DC fields are also significantly less susceptible to distortion and metallic interference than trackers using AC magnetic fields, such as Polhemus devices. Finally, DC fields permit stable, repeatable measurements without drift or slop in dynamic applications such as virtual reality and simulation. List pricing for PC/Bird is $2475 and is available directly from Ascension or its network of resellers worldwide. Ascension, headquartered in South Burlington, Vermont, is one of the premiere designers and manufacturers of multi-degrees-of-freedom tracking devices in the world today. Its Bird trackers have been available since 1990. The MotionStar model of its Flock of Birds tracker is a workhorse in the entertainment industry, providing motion capture in the exciting field of character animation. Its recently introduced SpacePad tracker is quickly becoming the industry standard for head and hand tracking in virtual reality (VR) games. Contact: Jack Scully x11 (802) 860-6440 ascension@world.std.com ### [MODERATOR'S NOTE: Commercial postings are offered on this newsgroup as a public service. Their appearance here does not indicate endorsement by the moderators or by the USENET or its administrators.]