January 14, 2003 - Unique Domed Display Will Help Researchers at NASA's Ames Research Center Find New Ways to Visualize 3D Data on Galaxy Clusters and Earth Simulations

BURLINGTON, Mass. - January 14, 2003 - Actuality Systems, Inc., the world leader in spatial 3D visualization technology, announced today that it has completed the sale of its Perspecta TM 3D system to the NASA Ames Research Center in California. The unique 360-degree display will be used as part of the center's work in 3D imaging of scientific data in the fields of earth science and astronomy.

"Visualization of complex data is an important step in many of our programs here at Ames," said research scientist Dr. David Kao. "We can see various opportunities to use this technology for rendering 3D volumetric data generated by our earth science models and for displaying the 3D clusters and structures of the galaxies in our astronomy lab. Since the system offers such a different view of the data, we also believe there are many other applications that will become obvious as we get familiar with the technology."

The Perspecta 3D system, which allows 360-degree visualization of objects, organisms, and data, consists of a dome-like spatial display and a programming interface for development of new applications. Perspecta takes standard 3D imaging data and illuminates a record 100 million volume pixels within its transparent Lexan® dome ? more than 100 times more data than what can be displayed on conventional computer displays. This is unlike 3D displays that require special goggles or lasers to simulate multi-dimensional imagery, or flat-screen monitors that render 3D data into flat 2D images.

"Having NASA as a customer represents a valuable step in the commercialization of Perspecta 3D," said Cameron Lewis, Chief Executive Officer of Actuality Systems. "The user experience information we get from Dr. Kao and others at Ames, will help us design increasingly valuable visualization products. These are difficult times for advancing new technologies, so it is a gratifying endorsement of the uniqueness and potential of Perspecta 3D to have the NASA Ames staff working with our technology."

Ames Ranks Among the Nation's Premier Research Facilities
Ames Research Center, located in the heart of Silicon Valley, is one of the nation?s premier research facilities. With a $700 million annual budget, it plays a critical role in all NASA missions supporting the nation?s aeronautics and space programs and serves as a leading NASA center for information technology. The 2,500 scientists and research personnel at Ames conduct leading-edge research in a variety of fields associated with the space missions, and are involved in advanced work in a number of other scientific disciplines ranging from astrobiology and ecoscience to air traffic management and flight simulation.

"NASA Ames is much more than just another product order for us at Actuality," said Gregg Favalora, company Founder and Chief Technology Officer. "This installation puts our product into the hands of some of the most talented and highly regarded scientists and technicians in the world. We're extremely excited about the possibilities this creates for discovering entirely new applications for Spatial 3D imaging."

During the past year, Actuality received a number of key patents related to its work on rendering and imaging 3D images in space for Perspecta and it has recently enhanced the 3D display by incorporating the industry's most advanced projection technology, based on Digital Light Processing? products from Texas Instruments. The state-of-the-art projector uses DLP ® technology and an optical semiconductor with as many as 1.3 million microscopic mirrors to manipulate light digitally and generate a picture with unmatched clarity, brilliance, and color.

Typical applications for the Perspecta 3D system include: drug discovery, such as visualization of protein structures; surgical planning and radiation treatment planning, for doctors visualizing angiogram data or working to understand the exact location of a tumor on an x-ray, CAT scan, or mammogram; air-traffic control, for controllers securing and monitoring aircraft locations and traffic patterns; game development, for the visualization and creation of 3D gaming; security, for specialists seeking a faster and more reliable way to visualize the contents of freight or passenger luggage.

About Actuality Systems
Actuality Systems, Inc. develops, produces, sells, and licenses the Perspecta TM 3D system, a combination of hardware and software that permits 360-degree visualization, simulation, and collaboration. The system enables users to create high-resolution spatial 3D images that can be viewed from any angle around a 360-degree transparent dome - without the use of special goggles. Founded in 1997 in Cambridge, Mass., the firm has received venture funding and now operates from offices in Burlington, north of Boston. The Perspecta 3D System is designed for use in a range of applications including medical imaging, aerospace and defense, and oil and gas exploration. More information is available at www.actuality-systems.com .

Media Contact Info:
Ellen Walravens, aMate Comm., (781) 281-1546; Ellen@amatecommunications.com