Virtalis has created StereoWorks, a range of systems that bring stereo viewing mainstream.  As well as supporting CAD software for real-time stereo design, StereoWorks also offers high resolution digital stereo movie playback at very high bandwidth.

Large scale Virtual Reality (VR) systems are well proven in achieving significant benefits for companies.  Virtalis is now able to make this technology available to a much wider audience.  The StereoWorks range consists of the latest stereo viewing hardware coupled with the Company’s own specialist software suite, StereoTools.  The basic system, which offers SXGA resolution, has two small projectors, a seven foot screen and a compact PC image generator with wireless control.  Prices start from £27,500, making the range significantly more affordable than competitor systems offering less functionality.

Andrew Connell, Virtalis technical director, explained: “There is now no need to experience CAD or simulation via an ordinary computer screen.  Our StereoWorks range supports all stereo-enabled professional PC software, such as PTC, Dassault and EDS.  For certain design models, real-time rendering can be slow, so viewing pre-rendered animations in stereo using StereoWorks engenders both communication and decision making.  Our beta testers have reported that long standing misunderstandings have been resolved and that marketing presentations have been transformed, all thanks to 3D visualisation.”

Virtalis’s internally developed software suite, StereoTools, is built upon its proprietary system, KRender.  This powers StereoWorks, enabling high resolution digital stereo movie playback on multiple, synchronised projectors on screens over 100 square metres in size.  The resolution achievable on such a screen size is tens of millions of pixels.  This is 10-20 times the quality of television.  KRender brings subtlety to models, movies and animation, as it is able to supply non-linear image mapping and soft edge blending.  The system can cope with all screen shapes and sizes by digitally adjusting the images to fit to the screen before they are sent to the projectors.  The end result is a high resolution, distortion-free seamless image projected onto angular, cylindrical or even spherical screens of any size.

Virtalis MD, David Cockburn-Price, commented: “Virtalis has capitalised on its knowledge base since our buyout earlier in the year and the launch of StereoWorks is the first step along the road to a global market-leading position.”