Dassault Systèmes Welcomes Leading Haptics Developer Immersion Corporation as CAA V5 Software Partner

Immersion’s VirtualHand Software Enables Users to “Feel” CATIA V5 3D Digital Models

Paris, France, and San Jose, Calif. (USA) – February 10, 2003 - Dassault Systèmes (Nasdaq: DASTY; Euronext Paris: #13065, DSY.PA) and Immersion Corporation (Nasdaq: IMMR), today announced the signing of an agreement under which Immersion will develop a new hand-interaction software suite based on the CAA V5 (Component Application Architecture) development platform. The suite, VirtualHand® for V5, will enable CATIA® and ENOVIA™ DMU V5 users to manipulate and feel a 3D digital mockup (DMU) in a natural way using their hands.

For the first time ever, V5 users will experience realistic force feedback with their entire hand while touching or grasping a 3D digital part. This innovative way of physically interacting with a digital mockup allows designers to more intuitively and cost-effectively evaluate the ergonomics of an automobile, an aircraft and other complex industrial machinery. In addition, VirtualHand for V5 enables users to simulate assembly and disassembly operations to facilitate quick, efficient engineering and process decisions. Since VirtualHand for V5 permits more realistic evaluation of digital mockups, the number of necessary physical mockups can be reduced, saving manufacturers considerable development time and expense.

The VirtualHand for V5 suite will initially comprise two products:

• VirtualHand for Design enables designers throughout the enterprise to manipulate 3D models wearing an Immersion CyberGlove® instrumented glove. Users wearing a CyberTouch™ glove additionally feel tactile feedback.
• VirtualHand for DMU, together with Immersion’s CyberForce® system, enhances the V5 immersive environment by providing advanced capabilities such as whole-hand and arm force feedback for project reviews.

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“Immersion’s leadership in haptic feedback combined with the openness of the CAA V5 platform will bring state-of-the-art haptic technology to CATIA/ENOVIA DMU V5 users, enhancing designer efficiency and improving product quality,” said Victor Viegas, Immersion’s President and CEO. “A V5 user can be immersed in a digital mockup of their automobile design, feel the layout of the controls, run their fingers across the dashboard and literally ‘hang their physical hand’ on a graphical steering wheel.”

“The combination of advanced capabilities of CATIA/ENOVIA DMU V5 solutions and the innovative haptic feedback provided by Immersion’s CAA V5 Based products will revolutionize the way our customers interact with their digital mockups,” said Severin Lanfranchi, Director R&D CATIA Simulation, Dassault Systèmes. “These intuitive interactions will bring high productivity gains to customers, as they will be able to manipulate and experience their products during the design stage before building an expensive physical mockup.”

Dassault Systèmes is the premier global PLM solutions provider. PLM enables customers to optimize their business Processes for Engineering, Manufacturing, Maintenance & Support, using Collaborative Workspaces to share a common product, process and resource model (PPR). With PPR, companies can capture, share and reuse Knowledge all along the product life cycle. The open CAA V5 (Component Application Architecture) allows extension and integration of this solution within multiple enterprise environments.