Wave Issue 9738 3/17/98 Article 5-01

*** Human Interface

Microsoft and Immersion Continue Joint Efforts to
Advance Future Development Of Force Feedback
Technology
(February 3)

Microsoft Corp. and Immersion Corp. continue to
strengthen their collaboration to define next-
generation force feedback protocols for inclusion in
upcoming versions of the Microsoft DirectX API 6.0
and 7.0. The collaboration, which involves the
Microsoft DirectX Group, Immersion Corp., and the
Microsoft Hardware Group, builds on successful
efforts to establish the force feedback protocols
included in DirectX 5.0. The new DirectX protocols
will enhance game developers' ability to implement
dynamic force feedback capabilities easily into their
games and will continue to deliver consistent support
across a wide range of force feedback-enabled
products from many manufacturers. The result for game
players will be an enhanced game experience and
greater selection from a variety of new force
feedback devices, such as the SideWinder Force
Feedback Pro joystick from Microsoft and a range of
products that use Immersion's I-FORCE technology.

mircrosoft.com

www.immerse.com

SUPERSCAPE and LOGITECH launch first standard
solution for building 3D web pages
(February 27)

Superscape Inc, and Logitech, announced that the new
version of Superscape's 3D authoring software,
VRT5.50, will come bundled, as standard, with a
Logitech Space Mouse 3D Controller

The Logitech Space Mouse 3D Controller is a
professional input device for designing real-time 3D
Web pages in up to 6 degrees of freedom. The product
senses the amount of pressure or twist applied to its
'cap' in each of the six axes, enabling objects and
viewpoints to be moved forward, backward and rotated
in any direction. Users translate their sense of
touch into dynamic movement of objects within 3D
space, supporting X, Y, Z, pitch, roll and yaw
movements. Freely programmable buttons of the device
allow the user to customize motion control and
sensitivity.

VRT5.50 includes Superscape's new renderer (for
Gouraud shading, advanced transparency and lit
texturing) greatly increasing the realism of 3D
environments without the need for hardware
acceleration. Sorting is easier with selective z-
buffering, while a Drag'n'Drop Warehouse contains
over 800 Virtual Clip Art objects for fast, easy
world building. VRT5.50 supports VRML 97 import and
export, as well as the SVR format.

Superscape VRT5.50, with the Space Mouse 3D
Controller starts shipping on February 18th, 1998.
Other Superscape products that support the Space
Mouse are Viscape, Do 3D and 3D Webmaster.

Http://www.superscape.com
vwww.com