From: blake@u.washington.edu (Blake Hannaford)
Subject: TECH: Microsoft acquires force feedback company
Date: 16 Apr 1996 21:10:57 GMT
Organization: University of Washington



From: blake@u.washington.edu (Blake Hannaford)

The following appeared in the Seattle Times 4/15/96:

==================================================
Microsoft Acquires Maker of Joysticks for Games

REDMOND - Microsoft Corp. has acquired Exos Inc. of 
Boston, developer of force-feedback technology for
game-control devices.

  Force feedback technology enables users to feel game-
effects such as race-car crashes and turbulent flight
simulations.

  Exos designs and markets input devices, including the 
MicroSoft Sidewinder 3D Pro Joystick.

==================================================

Congratulations to Exos and Pres. Beth Marcus!  This
is a real milestone for haptics and force feedback 
technology.  Perhaps even more than the terrific 
success of the Phantom (from Sensable Devices Inc.)
this year this signals the start of the business 
race in haptics.

The game market is really only one event of the haptics
olympics.  The High End market for advanced CAD and the 
"medium end" market for research and "hapticization" are
also poised to take off this year.

Blake Hannaford
University of Washington