INTERCONNECTS

Christie Digital Systems, a leading provider of visual solutions for business, entertainment and industry, today announced that the Christie Immersive Solutions Group has signed an agreement with Computer Sciences Corporation, Defense Solutions Division, to provide turnkey visual projection systems for six simulator installations for the U.S. Army Maritime Integrated Training Systems program. The contract includes the installation of a total of 31 Christie DS30W wide-screen digital projection systems for three Full Mission Bridge (FMB) and three crane simulators. CSC contracted Christie to design and install projection visual systems for one FMB and one crane simulator at Mare Island, California; and one FMB and two crane simulators at Fort Eustis, Virginia. In addition, Christie will upgrade the visual system for a third FMB at Fort Eustis as part of its contract obligations to CSC. All the sites are scheduled to be operational by April 2005. The simulators will provide training for full ship bridge simulation for U.S. Army transport vessels, as well as for operation of shipboard cranes. As part of the contract, Christie will also install the Christie Imager, an edge-blending and warping image processor that enables the projection of almost any image on any screen, including cylindrical or spherical curved screens, and features seamless edge-blending as well as pixel mapping and shading. The Christie Imager is often used with sea-based simulations, military aviation, road driving and land-based simulation. In addition, ChristieNETT, Christie's proprietary device networking solution, is used to control certain functions of the visual system. "We evaluated numerous systems integrators, but only the Christie Immersive Solutions Group met all our criteria in terms of quality, technical expertise and reputation for reliable service," said Kenneth E. Gilman, manager of Maritime Training Systems, Federal Sector - Defense Group, CSC. "Christie offered a wide range of projectors and was extremely responsive to our needs." David Fluegeman, vice president of Christie's Immersive Solutions Group, noted that the CSC contract represents a milestone for the group, which provides fully integrated, best-in-class visual solutions for immersive environments in the Virtual Reality (VR) and simulation markets. "Among its diverse IT services, CSC's systems integration solutions are based on a 45-year history of technology leadership that includes building some of the world's most challenging information systems. CSC's decision to subcontract Christie's visual systems for the U.S. Army speaks to Christie's solid reputation as a provider of quality products, services and support, backed by an experienced staff with wide-ranging technical expertise." Christie's Immersive Solutions Group is a full service organization that provides engineering design, project management, installation and ongoing system support services for projection visual systems for simulation and virtual reality installations.