i3Dimensions Announces Commercial Availability of Award-Winning NGRAIN Product Portfolio

NGRAIN® products simplify interactive 3D, transforming how organizations share knowledge

VANCOUVER — November 26, 2002 — i3Dimensions, an emerging leader in interactive 3D visualization and simulation software tools, today achieved another significant company milestone, announcing the commercial availability of its NGRAIN product portfolio.

Since its introduction in July, the NGRAIN product family has generated significant customer interest and industry attention, earning two major awards in 3D graphics and e-learning innovation.

“NGRAIN delivers an innovative, cost effective way for organizations to provide timely product training and information to employees, customers, and suppliers,” said David Miller, Vice President of Marketing and Business Development, i3Dimensions. “With NGRAIN, organizations are able to improve the effectiveness and reduce the cost of how they share knowledge through the use of detailed and engaging interactive 3D content.”

Designed for non-technical users, the NGRAIN Solution allows existing 3D data to be re-purposed for use in a wide range of applications, including training, maintenance and service, documentation, sales and marketing, and customer support.

"I found the NGRAIN Solution to be easy to use,” said Steve Arend of HowMachinesWork.com and Arend Consulting, who participated in the NGRAIN Solution beta program. “For the first time, I am able to repurpose complex, detailed 3D models for deployment in highly interactive 3D applications on average computers."

Once converted to the NGRAIN World format, complex 3D data can be manipulated and modified in real-time on common desktop and laptop computers without requiring the expense of graphics acceleration hardware. Through this capability, the NGRAIN Solution extends the availability of previously archived 3D models to the mass market, while reducing costs.

"The NGRAIN Solution provides a next generation set of tools that enable organizations to transform the way they train and communicate knowledge about complex equipment and assemblies,” said Dane Mullenix, Program Director of Military Readiness, IIT Research Institute, AB Tech Group, and participant in the NGRAIN Solution beta program. “With the NGRAIN Solution, organizations can leverage existing 3D CAD data to deliver high impact, interactive ‘just in time' training and documentation that drives knowledge retention."

The NGRAIN Solution consists of three complementary products:

• NGRAIN® Transformer allows organizations to extend the life of otherwise archived 3D data -- such as CAD models -- by converting it to the interactive and compressed .NGW (NGRAIN World) format, thereby greatly reducing the entry cost of 3D.
• NGRAIN® Knowledge Module enables non-technical users to enhance 3D models with links, logic, and animation without programming, providing – for the first time – a truly easy-to-use 3D development tool that quickly outputs high impact interactive 3D visualizations and animations.
• NGRAIN® Mobilizer provides a cost effective way to deploy engaging, highly interactive 3D content anywhere, anytime.

The NGRAIN Solution was developed using NGRAIN® Constructor, a 3D application toolkit. Designed for use with the Microsoft® .NET framework, it enables developers with little or no 3D experience to rapidly develop powerful, interactive volume-based 3D applications and simulations. With NGRAIN Constructor, existing 3D data can be used and re-used across multiple applications, reducing the effort and cost typically associated with 3D application development. For pricing and other information about the award-winning NGRAIN product portfolio, or to receive a free demo CD, please email: sales@ngrain or call: 1.866.420.1781 x398 (North America) or 1.604.669.9973 x 398.

i3Dimensions at I/ITSEC

i3Dimensions and its customers will demonstrate the NGRAIN product portfolio at the upcoming Interservice/Industry Training, Simulation and Education Conference (I/ITSEC) December 2-5 at the Orlando Convention Center in Orlando, Florida. i3Dimensions will be located in Booth 1064.

About NGRAIN by i3Dimensions
i3Dimensions develops visualization and simulation solutions that enable the modification and manipulation of complex 3D data in real-time on common PCs and other computing platforms. i3Dimensions' NGRAIN technology and products add new capabilities to interactive 3D visualization for use by the entertainment, education, defense, and manufacturing industries. More information is available online at www.ngrain.com.