---------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Florida SunFlash Sun Microsystems Transfers Visualization Software Product Line To Advanced Visual Systems SunFLASH Vol 43 #17 July 1992 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- AVS To Deliver Imaging Products Based On SunVision Technology Waltham, Mass.-- July 28, 1992 -- Advanced Visual Systems Inc. (AVS Inc.) today announced that it has signed an exclusive agreement with Sun Microsystems Computer Corporation (SMCC) to market and develop SunVision(TM), SMCC's graphics, imaging and visualization software. Under the agreement, Advanced Visual Systems assumes all ongoing development of SunVision's underlying technology and gains exclusive rights to market SunVision and other products based on SunVision technology. Advanced Visual Systems' immediate plans include offering SunVision 1.2 to Sun users and migrating two popular components of SunVision -- the imaging library, IPlib, and SunVoxel, the volume visualization tool, to the latest version of the Sun operating environment, Solaris, as well as to SMCC's new XIL(TM) imaging and video software foundation library. In addition, Advanced Visual Systems will integrate the SunVision imaging and volume visualization functions into its own Application Visualization System, AVS(TM), the de facto standard among visualization environments. AVS provides a powerful visual application development environment featuring a broad range of visualization tools and services that can be used to manage, analyze and display complex data and images. These SunVision functions will be offered as AVS modules and as portable libraries for use in applications for Sun workstations and other major UNIX(R) workstations supported by AVS, providing future compatibility for SMCC visualization users and giving a broad range of workstation and supercomputer users access to the full AVS visualization and visual application development capabilities. "AVS is established as the visualization development environment of choice among imaging users in fields such as medical imaging, remote sensing and seismic analysis, and is emerging as a powerful tool for application developers in these and other areas," said George Brandt, AVS's president & CEO. "The addition of Sun's image processing technology expands the capabilities of AVS and reaffirms that we offer the clear answer to the needs of these users." "We are very proud of our pioneering work in imaging and volume visualization, but we believe that the imaging application needs of our customers are best served by Advanced Visual Systems, an independent software vendor whose core competency is in this area," said Mary Whitton, director of interactive technologies, market development at SMCC. "Through the Open Graphics Initiative, we want to cooperate with our software partners, not compete with them. This relationship will ensure continued support and development for SunVision customers while allowing us to continue to deliver the market-leading imaging and multimedia platforms our customers expect." Advanced Visual Systems is accepting orders immediately for SunVision 1.2 for shipment within 30 days. Details of future products will be announced when available. SunVision has established one of the largest customer bases of any imaging library. SunVision has been used across the entire range of technical imaging and visualization markets including: medical imaging, remote sensing, pre-press and scientific visualization. AVS Inc's Application Visualization System has a user base of more than 2,000 since its first release in April 1989. Advanced Visual Systems Inc. is a global leader in the development and delivery of visualization software products for scientific, engineering and business professionals. The company has been at the forefront of visualization technology since 1988 when the research and development of its Application Visualization System first began at Stardent Computer Inc. Advanced Visual Systems Inc. separated from Stardent in 1991, and was formally incorporated as an independent, privately held software company in January 1992. Advanced Visual Systems' products are available worldwide and run on the major Unix workstations and technical computer systems. Both companies are founding members of the AVS Consortium, an organization of 8 computer vendors that funds the activities of the International AVS Center, based at the North Carolina Supercomputing Center. ### For further editorial information contact: Ian Reid Advanced Visual Systems Inc. (617) 890-4300 Carrie Dillon Sun Microsystems Inc. (415) 336-3564 Tony Sapienza Miller Communications (617) 536-0470 UNIX is a registered trademark of UNIX System Laboratories, Inc. AVS is a trademark of Advanced Visual Systems Inc. Sun Microsystems, Sun, the Sun logo, Solaris, SunVision and XIL are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sun Microsystems Inc. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ For information send mail to info-sunflash@sunvice.East.Sun.COM. Subscription requests should be sent to sunflash-request@sunvice.East.Sun.COM. Archives are on solar.nova.edu, paris.cs.miami.edu, uunet.uu.net, src.doc.ic.ac.uk and ftp.adelaide.edu.au All prices, availability, and other statements relating to Sun or third party products are valid in the U.S. only. Please contact your local Sales Representative for details of pricing and product availability in your region. Descriptions of, or references to products or publications within SunFlash does not imply an endorsement of that product or publication by Sun Microsystems. John McLaughlin, SunFlash editor, flash@sunvice.East.Sun.COM. (305) 776-7770.