VISUALIZATION

MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA -- SGI (NYSE: SGI), a leading provider of high-performance computing and visualization solutions for technical and creative users, today announced new enhanced versions of the rendering application programming interfaces (APIs) based on OpenGL®, including OpenGL ShaderTM , OpenGL VolumizerTM and OpenGL OptimizerTM. OpenGL Shader 2.2 OpenGL Shader, an interactive appearance-modeling tool, combines advanced compiler technology with the hardware acceleration of OpenGL rendering functions. OpenGL Shader delivers the power of programmable shaders, commonly found in offline rendering, to the real-time graphics arena which allows developers to take advantage of a wide range of existing special effects and gives them the ability to create an unlimited array of new effects. OpenGL ShaderTM 2.2 not only gives a common interface to support all previous visual effects (including RealityMappingTM , ClearCoatTM , ClearCoatTM 360, bump mapping, multiple textures, environment maps and volume shading), but also gives the capability to interactively update effect parameters in real time. For example, by using OpenGL Shader, automotive designers who use styling review software can accurately depict an automobile under different lighting conditions and surroundings or pilots who use flight simulators can experience more realistic cloud cover, fog and low-level visual queues. "OpenGL Shader represents a revolution in high-quality, real-time appearance-modeling capabilities," said Paul McNamara, vice president of products and platforms, SGI. "It enables tremendous realism for demanding applications by providing highly realistic programmable shading and effects that were achievable only by other expensive, offline processes such as raytracing." OpenGL Volumizer 2.0 OpenGL Volumizer, reportedly the only commercially available high-level volume API, is the next-generation volume rendering toolkit for use with scalable SGITM Onyx® family systems and InfiniteReality® family graphics. OpenGL VolumizerTM 2.0 has been explicitly designed to increase interactivity when users work with extremely large data sets of up to 100 GB and leverage 3D texture-mapping hardware that boosts application performance by 10 to 100 times over CPU-based methods. OpenGL Volumizer 2.0 new features and functions include: A high-level descriptive interface to volume-rendering capabilities Seamless integration with scene graph APIs Immediate mode rendering to reduce overhead and increase performance Volumetric shapes, arbitrary volumetric geometry and slice planes Thread Safe for parallel applications and multipipe environments Volumetric lighting and shaders for managing volumetric appearance Sample code of a transform editor Sample code of a full-volume viewing application for use with multipipe SGI Onyx family systems OpenGL Optimizer 1.3.1 OpenGL Optimizer has, according to SGI, revolutionized the way manufacturing companies conceive, design and build products. By allowing developers to build applications that deliver the benefits of digital prototyping combined with large database interaction, it enables end users to reduce the number of physical prototypes they build, lower costs and speed time to market. OpenGL OptimizerTM 1.3.1 incorporates advanced techniques to optimize, advance, simplify and improve visualization performance of complex 3D models, allowing users to interact with databases 100 times larger than previously possible. New features and functions in the OpenGL Optimizer 1.3 release include: Up to two times faster performance on IRIX® and Windows NT® multithread Support for SGITM VProTM V6/8/10/12 graphics ProENGINEER® and CATIA® model loaders The Fresnel topology troubleshooting tool Strengthened stereo and multipipe support Nodes for multipass rendering Improved texture handling "At Opticore, we are able to develop better products in less time and at a lower cost with SGI's OpenGL Optimizer 1.3," said Erik Gustafsson, director of engineering for Opticore AB. "The new features and greater performance available from OpenGL Optimizer 1.3 enables us to create applications for our customers that allow them to visualize larger models with less effort and greater realism." For additional information visit www.sgi.com