| Q&A |
 Ludwig
von Reiche
Executive Vice President of mental images
06/04/04 |
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The future Terminal 5 at Heathrow
Image rendered with mental ray® by Luminova.
© Luminova Ltd. |
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| Q1 |
What
is mental images RealityServer? |
| A1 |
RealityServer
is mental images's new product for interactive manipulation,
visualization and annotation of existing and newly created
3D content within enterprise software solutions. It is based
on our patented technologies to provide a multi-user, scalable,
server based collaboration platform. With RealityServer you
can provide access to 3D content for its viewing, creation
and remote manipulation in a collaborative environment. RealityServer
applications and web services can operate indepently of client
side capabilities, hence they also support thin and mobile
clients. |
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| Q2 |
Does
RealityServer target only CAD market? |
| A2 |
No,
and certainly not in a narrow sense. RealityServer enables
users to repurpose their applications, so for instance the
original CAD software and data could be used to deploy customer-facing
configurators or post sales service and maintenance solutions.
Other application areas for RealityServer include architectural
visualization, medical imaging, remote sensing, and, last
but not least, interactive online entertainment. |
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| Q3 |
What
are the features of RealityServer concerning realtime 3D object
animation? |
| A3 |
RealityServer
1.5 will include a very light client plug-in, RealityViewer.
Using RealiyViewer, users can access and manipulate
reduced representations of the original 3D objects in realtime.
For instance, they can select components, features, colors and
trims in a car configurator. After completing their selection,
they can order a high-quality, photoreaslistic image which will
be rendered on the server using the original CAD data. |
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| Q4 |
Is
it possible to view RealityServer's objects on embedded devices
(PDA, Cellphone)? |
| A4 |
Yes,
this is already possible if the device supports a browser and
HTTP. In addition, we are planning versions of RealityPlayer
which can be deployed on selected mobile devices. |
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| Q5 |
What
does the Cult3D technology acquisition mean for the RealityServer
product range? |
| A5 |
Cult3D
will complement RealityServer's existing technology. The resulting
RealityServer version 1.5 will provide realtime interaction
on any device with 3D data of reduced complexity which are derived
from the original CAD or design data and presented by RealityViewer.
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| Q6 |
What
does this acquisition mean for today's users of Cult3D web contents? |
| A6 |
Current
users of Cult3D will be able to continue using the existing
products. However, with the availability of RealityServer 1.5
in the
fourth quarter of 2004, they will be able to migrate their applications
to a server-based platform. This will allow them to utilize
the online collaboration features of RealityServer, and optionally
its photorealistic and physically correct, server-based rendering
capability and the high level of security and IP protection
only possible in a server environment. |
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| Q7 |
Most
of realtime 3D editors have changed their license method, will
you maintain Cult3D license fees? |
| A7 |
While
details of RealityServer licensing will be announced in the
fourth quarter of 2004, it will be based on per-processor royalties
for the server and all versions of RealityViewer will be free.
Our aim is to offer customers a predictable system where they
can plan the cost of software from the outset. |
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| Q8 |
Do
you plan to offer 3D CAD collaboration functions through the
Internet? |
| A8 |
We
will provide the fundamental collaboration technology for 3D
visualization over the Internet or intranets. We have begun
discussions with a number of leading CAD and other application
software vendors and system integrators who have expressed an
interest to utilize RealityServer in the context of their products
and we expect that, over time, several CAD solutions based on
RealityServer will become available. |
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| Q9 |
Mental
images is well known for mental ray technology, do you plan
to take advantage of 3D hardware capabilities in mental ray
Render Engine (such as Maya 5.0)? |
| A9 |
Yes,
this will be a key element in the upcoming releases of mental
ray. |
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| Q10 |
nVidia
is predicting that realtime 3D render quality will equal pre-render
quality in few years. What do you think about this point of
view? |
| A10 |
I'm
sure that realtime rendering quality will improve further over
the next few years and we will announce exciting products to
take advantage of that over the next 18 months. |
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