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PRESS RELEASE - Tuesday 21st November 2006
GCAP Announcement
New Toolkit Enables GoCAD Import & Export through Independent Library
Announcement of new GCAP Independent Import and Export of GOCAD Geological and Volumetric Data Objects, Expands Workflow Opportunities for Application Developers
GCAP toolkit enables access to GOCAD data objects through an independent software layer, complimentary to the GOCAD software suite.
The GCAP (GoCAD Access Class Project Library - Software Development Kit) enables applications to access, process, generate and export GOCAD data models, using an independent software suite. Announced today by Visual Technology Services and supporting both Windows® and Linux, GCAP enables a new input/output pathway to access GOCAD compatible data files, using scalable out-of-core memory techniques. The first licensees of GCAP are expected to use the toolkit for building file access bridges to existing 3D interpretation workflows.
Packaged as an easy to use C++ Class Library accompanied by a 50 page technical user guide and over 200+ page hyperlinked API reference system, GCAP is intended for use by application developers, ISVs, researchers and programmers wishing to access GOCAD data files from within their applications. The toolkit uniquely combines features including:
Recognising the need to translate, visualise or process huge geologic models with inexpensive hardware and as it is impractical to furnish a large number of high-end workstations with equally expensive application software to the whole exploration and modelling team, GCAP allows new workflow solutions to be developed at a much lower cost point. For instance geologic models of several gigabytes can be processed on modest laptops.
Currently Geological/Geophysical software vendors face unsolved problems of data management and visualisation of large multi-file and multi-entity geologic models. The aims of GCAP are to offer a C++ class defining principle data structures from GOCAD compatible models, with methods to read and write these structures using efficient memory methods.
About Visual Technology Services
Visual Technology Services Ltd. is a product and service company specializing in interactive graphics, novel display techniques and data visualization with clients in material science, geology, geophysics and related sciences. GCAP compliments the recently announced PDF3D - 3D technical publishing technology for 3D PDF documents. GCAP and PDF3D are trademarks of Visual Technology Services Ltd., GOCAD is a trademark of Earth Decision and Paradigm Geotechnology. Other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
http://www.pdf3d.co.uk
PDF3D technology enables publishing 3D visualization, designs, models and data, harnessing the free Adobe® PDF Reader. Now for the first time a development tool covers the complete path from 3D data to generation and publishing 3D PDF interactive content.
With the addition of the PDF3D SDK (Software Development Kit) Library, applications with 3D data can be extended to publish, share and distribute interactive models through email or the web. With Adobe's ubiquitous support for 3D viewing PDF files, a ready-made platform is available on most desktops ready to receive 3D content. ISVs and application developers can now add "Save As 3D PDF" menus using the PDF3D SDK, avoiding other intermediary file formats or external conversion programs. When models are embedded in a PDF file, recipients can rotate, zoom and pan 3D models while reading the document.
The PDF3D C++ geometric software component library is designed for any developer with 3D data to publish. Specific solution examples using the library are provided for Manufacturing, Energy, Aerospace and Engineering sectors, including connectors for any VTK (Visualization Tool Kit) based applications. Software vendors supplying 3D modelling and analysis tools will benefit from PDF3D, allowing their end-users to accelerate 3D visualization and collaboration with the trusted PDF format, including attribute and background information in the same document file.
"I am very pleased that PDF3D is available" says Frank Arnott, Managing Director of Oxford Visual Geosciences Ltd. "Our GeoExpress application needs 3D publishing capability because we have experienced geologists and geophysicists navigating through combined 3D geological and geophysical structures and needing to present reports on their findings. We soon hope to use the PDF3D facilities on mineral and petroleum exploration field projects where I'm sure we will see much improved communication and productivity by reporting to our clients in 3D PDF format."
According to a recent report by Thilo Koslowski and Marc Halpern, Manufacturing Analysts, Gartner, Inc. (1) "Current collaboration solutions produce only limited results because they do not share sufficient 3-D content across a broad range of design applications ... Broader use of more 3-D content will ultimately increase the demand for easy-to-use 3D model creation tools" In the report "Ubiquitous Commercial Use of 3-D Product Content Imminent" (2) they observe "Accelerated use of 3-D content by different classes of users will have a dramatic impact on information and business processes."
Integration of the PDF3D SDK by ISV's keeps pace with sophisticated user demand, by letting users generate 3D content without forcing them to buy 3rd party file converters or enabling publication for the first time where no converters exist. ISV's can quickly leverage PDF innovation, taking full advantage of the latest from Adobe® and Intel® Corporate Technology Group, backed by industry standards.
Pricing and Availability
PDF3D SDK is available immediately for Windows® with an estimated license price of $780. PDF3D SDK may be purchased online at the www.pdf3d.co.uk store, with OEM and volume pricing available on request.
About PDF3D
PDF3D is a division of Visual Technology Services Ltd., a product and service company specializing in interactive graphics, novel display techniques and data visualization with clients in mechanical engineering analysis, nanotechnology, microelectronics, material science, geology and geophysics.
(1) Thilo Koslowski, Marc Halpern "Adobe Improves Product Design Collaboration" Gartner, Inc. Report 28 April 2006
(2) Marc Halpern, Thilo Koslowski "Ubiquitous Commercial Use of 3-D Product Content
Imminent" Gartner, Inc. Report 2 February 2006
http://www.pdf3d.co.uk

PRESS RELEASE - Friday 22nd July 2005 SpaceXform Announcement
SpaceXform , by Visual Technology Services, allows visualisation users true 3D motion interaction for improved data discovery.
True 3D interaction is now enabled for data visualisation, allowing users to fly "inside" complex 3D structures using 3D gestures. Visual Technology Services today announces the SpaceXform plug-in module for AVS/ExpressTM (from Advanced Visual Systems Inc.), allowing researchers greatly improved navigation capabilities through complex fields of data using direct 3D manipulation rather than awkward, counterintuitive traditional 2D mouse movements. Visual Technology Services has developed the plug-in for both academic and commercial users of the popular AVS/Express data visualisation system. The plug-in allows users to connect 3D motion controllers from 3Dconnexion (a Logitech company), such as SpacePilot, SpaceBall®, SpaceMouse®, SpaceTravelerTM, and the CadMan®.
"I am very pleased that a 3D motion controller plug-in is finally available" says Frank Arnott, Managing Director of IGM Ltd., UK. "Our GeoExpress application has needed full 3D control capability because we have experienced geologists and geophysicists navigating through combined 3D geological and geophysical structures with a 2D mouse and loosing orientation control. We have already started using it on African mineral and petroleum field projects where we can see a marked improvement in productivity. The ability to still use the 2D mouse in GIS mode while using the 3D motion controller for orientation control is an excellent benefit."
The SpaceXform is now available to a user base of over 1000 users of AVS/Express in Japan, Europe and the USA. "We have noticed that users of visualisation systems are frustrated by using two-dimensional mouse operations to control 3D viewer windows", notes Ian Curington, CEO of Visual Technology Services. "Using a conventional mouse, each change from rotation to zoom mode requires extra mouse clicks and awkward mouse movements. These extra movements interfere with researcher's concentration on their important data. To my knowledge this is the first 3D motion controller module for all AVS/Express users."
SpaceXform is a true 3D motion controller module that allows faster, smoother interaction with AVS data sets in a natural and realistic way using the industry standard 3D motion controllers. Users can now manipulate their visualisation with one hand while making changes to parameters with the other hand. This enhanced ergonomic design reduces wrist stress and provides button short-cuts to functions that are used repeatedly.
The plug-in module is available immediately or optionally bundled with a 3D motion controller.
Please click here to download the SpaceXform
PDF Product Brochure.