Yumetech, Inc. Awarded a Phase One SBIR Grant

Seattle, WA—July 06, 2004—Yumetech, Inc. is pleased to announce that it has been awarded a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase One Grant from the United States Department of Commerce/National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST). The SBIR program was originally established in 1982 to support creative advanced research in important scientific and engineering areas and is designed to encourage the conversion of government-funded R&D into technological innovation and commercial application. The program funds the gap from a research-based idea to a prototype that many industrial and venture capital companies find difficult to support.

In conjunction with Vcom3D, Inc., Yumetech is working to develop the H-Anim+ Browser API: a generic vertex-skinning scheme for the H-Anim specification. The Phase One objective is to develop a generic scheme for applying a vertex-skinning program to an H-Anim compliant model. The technical approach for Phase One is to adapt the Xj3D Toolkit - a Java-based, open source API for creating VRML 97 and X3D applications - for the prototype H-Anim+ browser. Both companies will perform benchmark performance tests and document Phase II objectives and tasks based on results of the proof-of-concept implementation. Adopting open standards such as the X3D and H-Anim will reduce costs and ensure the longevity of applications involving human avatars.

"We are very excited to be given the opportunity to pursue this research," states Alan D. Hudson, President and CEO of Yumetech, Inc. "We see tremendous potential for this technology. We are also gratified that Vcom3D, a company with unparalleled experience with 3D avatars, has agreed to partner with us in this project."

Both Yumetech, Inc. and Vcom3D envision a wide range of commercial applications growing out of the SBIR project. Potential markets extend to all areas of the economy. Computer-based training and simulation using realistic, digital human actors are primed for rapid growth. Ergonomic design and safety testing are also potential markets for this application. The Yumetech Team has identified the general markets for this product to include military, law enforcement, emergency response units and the gaming industry.

Participants:

Yumetech, Inc. is experienced in both software and 3D graphics content development. It manages over one-half million lines of open source code and has successfully completed several projects based on this code. Yumetech is the leading contributor to the Xj3D Toolkit: an open source implementation of the X3D and VRML 97 specifications. This codebase is the sample implementation for the X3D specification for standardization purposes. Two of the company's members were major contributors to the X3D specification and currently serve on the X3D Specification Team. Yumetech is also a major contributor to the development of Java 3D software development libraries. It oversees the development of the J3D.org community web site. This site is the premier repository of open source software development libraries for Java 3D, and has been featured by Sun Microsystems at several conferences.

Vcom3D, Inc., an Orlando, Florida based company, is revolutionizing education and training, as well as accessibility for the Deaf, with patented 3D character animation technology and compelling and engaging products. Vcom3D's Vcommunicator® technology is used to create Advanced Distributed Learning simulations in which digital virtual humans serve as mentors and role-playing actors. These H-Anim models use gesture, object manipulation, facial expression, and lip-synched multi-lingual speech to teach concepts and procedures. Their award-winning Sign Smith™ products utilize engaging animated 3D characters who communicate through American Sign Language (ASL) or Signed English (SE), and deliver rich, accessible content to Deaf and Hard of Hearing users. Since 2001, the company has been developing seamless models of several nationalities, ages, and both genders. Vcom3D H-Anim models are used in products that have been sold to over 80,000 customers around the world.