DEVELOPER TOOLS

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. and SANTA MONICA, Calif. -- SGI today announced an alliance with DDD Group plc whereby both companies will work together to deliver 3D "glasses-free" display solutions that complement Silicon Graphics visualization systems to SGI end users and independent software vendors. The solutions will be based on DDD's TriDef(TM) Visualizer software that simplifies the integration of a range of different 3D LCD and plasma displays with existing OpenGL(R) software applications. The 3D display solutions will be aimed at end users in SGI's five main markets of manufacturing, life sciences, energy, government and defense, and media. TriDef Visualizer enables an OpenGL interactive computer graphics software application to deliver output suitable for presentation on a 3D display without the software developer having to change the application code. End users seeking to take advantage of the growing number of 3D displays can now do so quickly and easily, with a minimum of development effort. "We have closely tracked the development of 3D 'glasses-free' displays," said Greg Estes, vice president, corporate marketing. "However, the challenge has been to deliver a solution to customers and software partners that doesn't require them to write additional application code specific to each new 3D display." "Working closely with SGI, we can readily address the professional market for 3D visualization applications," said Chris Yewdall, chief executive officer for DDD. "SGI's leadership in the market for high-performance computer graphics visualization solutions across several key markets makes it an ideal party with whom we expect to develop sales and licensing opportunities in this emerging business." "With DDD's TriDef Visualizer solution, our customers gain rapid access to the full range of 3D displays that are best suited to their needs," said Estes. "As new displays are developed, DDD will continue to expand the capabilities of Visualizer, ensuring that our customers can continue to take advantage of both the highest quality glasses-free display technology as well as the power of next-generation SGI visualization systems."