From: Pierre duPont <dupontp@DIVISION.CO.UK>
Subject: ANNOUNCE: HP and Division demonstrate global 3-user VR
Date:         Tue, 6 Feb 1996 14:49:59 -0000


Hewlett-Packard, the leading supplier of Mechanical-CAD systems
worldwide, has teamed with Division Limited, the leading supplier of
professional immersive Virtual-Reality solutions, to demonstrate for
the first time ever, a 3-way, global, real-time collaboration in
immersive virtual reality.

The three participants -- one at HP Labs in Palo Alto, one at the VR
World show in Stuttgart, and one at the MICAD show in Paris -- will
enter into a common virtual space to perform a product design
review. The three participants will see virtual representations of
each other in the virtual environment, in addition to the
design-objects under review. They will be able to move around freely
in the virtual environment and pass tools and parts back and forth
between one another , showing how distributed development teams can
work as effectively across the globe as they could if they were
physically in the same room.

This demonstration shows how both Hewlett-Packard and Division are
using technology to innovatively solve real customer problems.  The
demonstration will rely entirely on commercially available
workstations, virtual reality products, networking, and telephony
products and services available for purchase today from Division and
Hewlett-Packard.  The public, global ISDN telephone network will be
used to join the remote users together, showing how relatively
inexpensive, easily accessible networking services will allow industry
to rapidly integrate remote talent into their design environment,
whether that talent or expertise is internal or external to their
corporate structure.

Date: 14th February, 1996

The demo will take place simultaneously in three locations, each
linked into the common virtual environment:

   - at the VR World show in Stuttgart, Germany, 7:30pm local time.
   - at the MICAD cad/cam show in Paris, France, 7:30pm local time.
   - at HP Labs's in Palo Alto, California, 10:30am local time.

Additionally, Division's Bristol, UK office will join as a 'passive'
participant for viewing only, at 6:30pm local time.

After the live demonstration, representatives from Hewlett-Packard and
Division will be available at each site to answer questions and allow
interested parties to experience the collaborative environment.

Contacts:
  Pierre duPont, Division Limited, Bristol, UK
  phone: +44 1454 615554, fax: +44 1454 615532, 
email: dupontp@division.co.uk
  Scott Elder, Hewlett-Packard European CSO Marketing, Boeblingen, Germany
 phone: +49 7031 14-2916, fax: +49 7031 14-1774, 
email: Scott_Elder@hpgrmy.desk.hp.com
  Bob Cramblitt, Cramblitt & Co, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
      phone: +1 919-481-4599, fax: +1 919-481-4639, 
email: cramco@interpath.com