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From: loisk@seabreeze.corp.sgi.com (Lois Kiriu) Newsgroups: comp.sys.sgi.announce Subject: SILICON GRAPHICS' & TRIMBLE'S TECHNOLOGIES ENHANCE BROADCAST COVERAGE OF AMERICA'S CUP SAILING Followup-To: comp.sys.sgi.announce Date: 10 Apr 1995 14:48:25 -0500 Organization: Silicon Graphics, Inc. Distribution: world Reply-To: elawson@corp.sgi.com NNTP-Posting-Host: dcdmjw.fnal.gov X-Newsreader: NN version 6.5.0 #4 (NOV) SILICON GRAPHICS' & TRIMBLE'S TECHNOLOGIES ENHANCE BROADCAST COVERAGE OF AMERICA'S CUP SAILING ESPN, Television New Zealand and the Louis Vuitton Media Centers Deliver Real-Time 3D Animated Graphics to Audiences Worldwide SAN DIEGO, Calif. (April 9, 1995) -- Technology from Silicon Graphics, Inc. (NYSE: SGI) and Trimble (NASDQ: TRMB) is revolutionizing the way worldwide television audiences view the America's Cup races. A combination of Trimble's satellite-based tracking devices and powerful Silicon Graphics workstations enables broadcasters to produce real-time animated graphics that provide enhanced information about the races. These advanced graphics allow television commentators to educate, entertain, conduct "chalk talk" replays of key maneuvers, or illustrate aspects of the sailing competition as it unfolds in real-time. Data is gathered by Trimble's Global Positioning System (GPS) technology which identifies the exact location of moving objects. The Silicon Graphics technology then takes that information and renders it into realistic, animated graphical images. Using these technologies, Louis Vuitton has made it possible for ESPN and Television New Zealand to produce live two- and three-dimensional animated graphics of the races for worldwide television coverage. In addition, the Louis Vuitton Media Centers in San Diego, Paris, Tokyo, Sydney and Auckland are airing graphics coverage to provide journalists writing about the races with more detailed information. "Even non-sailors now can understand open-ocean racing because these real-time graphics clearly mark the race course and illuminate the mysteries of wind and currents and strategies," said Forest Baskett, senior vice president of research and development for Silicon Graphics. "Viewers can apply what they learn from watching the animated coverage to improve their comprehension of the live coverage of the sport." Trimble's tracking devices use GPS, a worldwide satellite-based radio navigation system developed by the U.S. Department of Defense. GPS is a constellation of 24 satellites that orbit 11,000 miles above the earth. It is the most accurate global navigation and positioning system ever produced and can determine positions to within 100 meters. Because tracking yacht racing requires even greater accuracy than standard GPS can provide, Trimble has installed a special Differential GPS (DGPS) transmitter on the highlands of Point Loma in San Diego to sharpen the system's accuracy to two to eight meters. The DGPS transmitter calculates and transmits corrected GPS signals via a Motorola radio/modem communications link to the GPS receiver on each racing yacht. After it incorporates the corrections, the transmitter then automatically broadcasts this more accurate position data for each vessel. After collection, the data is processed by broadcasters on Silicon Graphics computers running specialized software to convert the data into animated three-dimensional graphics. Silicon Graphics' Onyx=81 graphics supercomputers with Reality Engine2=81 graphics supply the power and advanced features, such as photographic texture mapping to create very life-like animations in real-time. Each broadcaster can give a different look and feel to its animated coverage because the software that converts the data is customizable. The technology builds on SailTrack=81, an Emmy award-winning, satellite-based graphics tracking system first introduced by Silicon Graphics, Trimble Navigation and ESPN, and used by ESPN for coverage of the 1992 America's Cup races. Trimble is the world leader in the emerging world commercial markets for GPS satellite-based navigation, positioning and communication data products. Trimble products are sold world-wide for diverse applications including land and hydrographic survey; GIS data acquisition; military; general, corporate and commercial aviation; marine navigation; vehicle tracking and communications; and mobile GPS. The company also manufactures and sells GPS engines for the OEM market. Founded in 1978 and located in Sunnyvale, California, Trimble has been a leader in providing GPS solutions since 1984. Silicon Graphics and the Silicon Graphics logo are registered trademarks and Onyx and RealityEngine2 are trademarks of Silicon Graphics, Inc. MIPS is a registered trademark of MIPS Technologies, Inc. SailTrack is a trademark of ESPN, Inc. All other trademarks & registered trademarks are the rights of their respective companies