CIMdata PLM Industry Summary Online Archive
10 August 2004
Product News
SensAble Showcases Haptic Toolkits and Devices Enabling Developers to Add Touch to Mainstream Applications
At SIGGRAPH 2004, SensAble Technologies, Inc.®, is showcasing the company's haptic devices and toolkits, including the PHANTOM Omni Developer Kit, and multiple demonstrations that illustrate the benefits of haptics technology and the ease with which it can be integrated into new or existing applications. SensAble is also previewing new technology demonstrations integrating the dimension of touch within popular applications, including 3ds max®6 from Discreet, a division of Autodesk, Inc. and Rhinoceros® 3.0 from Robert McNeel & Associates.
The PHANTOM Omni Developer Kit combines the new SensAble OpenHapticsT toolkit and low-cost PHANTOM® OmniT haptic device, which makes it easier than ever to add the dimension of touch to a broad range of applications. The new OpenHaptics toolkit is patterned after the OpenGL® API, making it familiar to graphics programmers, and facilitating the reuse of OpenGL code and integration with OpenGL applications. Source code examples help speed the development process. Under promotional pricing associated with the recently-announced SensAbleT 3D TouchT Developer Challenge, the PHANTOM Omni Developer Kit is available for a limited time for just U.S. $800 MSRP.
At SIGGRAPH, SensAble is highlighting the benefits of haptics technology and the ease with which it can be integrated into new or existing applications, in four key areas:
• Games Development -Using the OpenHaptics toolkit, game developers can create high-end games that deliver a more immersive experience with new levels of interactivity. To help spur the imagination of game developers, featured demonstrations include prototypes of a Haptic Dueling Game and a QuakeT haptics demo, along with a SensAble SplodgeT demo, which lets users have fun doing basic modeling with 3D virtual clay.
• Digital Content Creation (DCC)- For digital artists and designers, haptics can increase productivity by speeding up common 3D development tasks, such as modeling, animation, and painting. The featured DCC demonstrations include a prototype 3ds max plug-in and a process workflow featuring the SensAble FreeForm® Modeling PlusT system with Alias' Maya®. This same workflow was used during the production of the feature film Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow, scheduled for release by Paramount Pictures in September 2004.
• Design -SensAble design demonstrations will feature the company's 3D Design and Development products-the FreeForm® ConceptT system and the FreeForm Modeling Plus system-along with a prototype Rhino 3.0 haptics plug-in. The FreeForm Concept system is a touch-enabled system that gives designers a way to develop realistic 3D interpretations of design drawings. SensAble will be showing a preview of the FreeForm Concept 2.0 software, which incorporates new modeling features and performance enhancements. The FreeForm Modeling Plus system is the ideal tool for the design of complex, free-form shapes and delivers manufacturable models, files for rapid prototyping, and photo-realistic renderings.
• Visualization and Simulation -In visualization and simulation, SensAble haptic toolkits and devices provide a superior way of analyzing and interacting with data, providing new insights that help reduce both risk and costs. Featured demonstrations include virtual medical training, touching a 3D hologram, assembly path planning, tele-operations, and touching 3D data for analysis using Open InventorT from Mercury Computer Systems.
Pricing and Availability
The PHANTOM Omni Developer Kit with the OpenHaptics toolkit v1.0 for Windows® is now shipping. Linux® and MacOS X® versions are planned later this year. The PHANTOM Omni Developer Kit is available for a limited-time promotional price of US $800 MSRP. Volume pricing under $1,000 per unit is also available for OEM deployment units.
For additional information on the OpenHaptics toolkit and other SensAble haptic toolkits and devices, contact info@sensable.com or +1-781-937-8315.
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