April 15, 2002 - Paris, France

For Immediate Release -
Category : Software / Interactive 3D Applications

Virtools™ Technology Highlighted at NUMER 02, International Interaction Design Conference at the Pompidou Center (Paris, France)

The International Association for Interaction Design presents NUMER 02, or the future of interaction design, from April 19-21th, 2002 at the Pompidou Center in Paris, France. NUMER 02 welcomes renowned visual artists from around the world to present their innovative creations in interaction design.

As part of the Interactive Cinema conferences, Xavier Boissarie will discuss his vision of game design, which focuses on creating a range of possibilities for players in a rich gamescape, rather than a strict narrative structure that limits players' freedom and discovery.

Among the projects to be shown, Le Bal, made with Virtools, extends this paradigm by giving a level of autonomy to actors in the game. With neither actors nor players able to master the rules, the encounters between the two and the dances they create together provide a resonant and ever-changing game experience.

Among the graphic designers featured, Etienne Mineur of the interactive design studio Incandescence (www.incandescence.com) will show several Virtools applications that demonstrate innovative 3D interfaces and spatial aesthetics at work.

By collaborating on Virtools projects, Etienne Mineur has had a chance to explore the realm of interactive 3D spaces. Projects such as SwimTank (www.swimtank.com) and a prototype for an interview in 3D provide new visions of representing complex information using spatial metaphors. Other "proof-of-concept" demos such as VBL Music (http://www.virtools.com/applications/technology-vblmusic.asp) and eTinToys (http://www.virtools.com/applications/marketing-etintoys.asp) offer intuitive forms of 3D navigation that immerse users and make browsing both straightforward and fun.

Electronic Shadow will be highlighted during NUMER O2's "Beyond the Screen" program, which considers the meanings of interaction and the ever-evolving scope of interaction design that bridges virtuality and materiality.

At the crossroads of theory and practice, Yacine Aït Kaci and Naziha Mestaoui founded Electronic Shadow (www.electronicshadow.com) to concentrate on what they call "hybrid design." In this vein, they have created interdisciplinary works ranging from the Communicating Scarf previously exhibited at the Museum of Modern Art in New York to architectural and video installations made with Virtools technology such as V-Med 2.0 and Palimpseste 3D Navigator.

Entry is free of charge for all presentations. For more information about the conference and the full schedule, visit www.numer.org.

About Virtools™

Founded in 1993, Virtools S.A. is the leading provider of 3D interactive media authoring tools - Virtools' mission is to enhance clients' business performance. Using advanced real-time 3D content development tools and proven production processes, Virtools is a market leader in delivering high quality, efficient, cost-effective business solutions for e-learning, e-marketing and game markets, for the web or CD-ROM. Costs and timeframes are kept under control through a scalable set of software and server-based solutions that reduce the risks associated with developing interactive 3D applications.

More information at: http://www.virtools.com

Press contacts

Karine Guilbert
Virtools SA
93 rue Vieille du Temple
75003 Paris
Tel: +33 1 42 71 46 86
Email: guilbert@virtools.com