Interactive Kiosks Move to DVD; Sonic Solutions Provides Complete Kiosk
Development System for DVD-Video
(Business Wire; 08/13/98)
NOVATO, CALIF. (Aug. 13) BUSINESS WIRE -Aug. 13, 1998--Sonic Solutions
(NASDAQ:SNIC) announced today the widespread use of its DVD production systems
to prepare DVD-based kiosk applications for companies such as BMW, Lucent
Technology, Mattel, Sam's Club, The Fire Museum of Memphis and many others.
Working in concert with major interactive kiosk developers and post-production
facilities including Advanced Media Concepts, C&C Interactive, Chicago
Recording Company, Rainmaker, RISE Int'l, Videolab, Zuma Digital and others,
Sonic Solutions has created powerful DVD production tools that allow developers
to create a richer, more interactive kiosk experience using the DVD-Video
format -- multi-angle video, complex navigation scripting, instant project
proofing and fast project multiplexing.
Developing content for the kiosk market requires production tools with the
power to enable a wide range of highly interactive applications -- from in-
store looping videos to interactive sales pieces. Sonic DesktopDVD(TM), the
first system designed specifically for corporate applications, makes it
possible for developers to approach kiosk design in an intuitive and graphical
way, allowing them to create titles which can be played on a standard DVD
player, yet provide the richness and interactivity of traditional computer-
based CD-ROM.
"Kiosks should not be tied down to proprietary systems that are expensive and
hard to maintain," said Mark Ely, director of product marketing at Sonic
Solutions. "The DVD format makes it easier for kiosk developers to create
interactive content that packs more audio and video punch than older CD-ROM-
based technologies and plays on low-cost playback systems." The Fire Museum of
Memphis Turns to DVD for Exhibits That Deliver All the Heat
When the board of directors for The Fire Museum of Memphis (FMOM) began their
work of converting the oldest firehouse in town into a museum, they wanted it
to be more than just a Fireman's equipment shrine. It was their desire to not
only relate the history of the Memphis Fire Department and honor those
sacrificed in the line of duty, but to also educate citizens on fire safety.
The FMOM contracted RISE Int'l., a leading multimedia production facility based
in Fort Worth, Texas, to develop interactive kiosks that would make the
learning experience enjoyable enough that visitors would return again and
again. With an eye to the future, the museum decided to use DVD for the
majority of their video exhibits. The installation was designed to allow a
single DVD title to be used for 11 individual kiosks, each with a completely
different message. The quality of the video and the quick access made DVD a
logical choice.
Working with Sally Corporation, a company specializing in animatronic
entertainment systems, RISE combined DVD technology with character robotics to
create a novel and compelling kiosk experience for the museum's visitors. The
exhibit's first kiosk installation features an animatronic horse in
conversation with the museum's mascot, "Hydro," an animated fire hydrant, on an
adjacent monitor.
The interaction between the horse and mascot is conveyed by the video and audio
data on the DVD disc, and a DVD-based timecode track synchronizes the horse's
jaw movements with its associated audio. All of the control information, as
well as video and audio material, is provided by a single DVD player rather
than the multiple laserdisc players previously required.
With the success of the project, FMOM is considering releasing copies of the
interactive DVD to those attending the museum. "Not only is the developed
content easy to set up and play in a kiosk environment," said Larry Johnson,
president of RISE, "the same content can be played by anyone with a DVD player -
- teachers, parents and even young children. DVD now makes it possible and easy
to take the message home."
RISE used Sonic DVD Creator because it provides a complete system for DVD kiosk
production. "Kiosk exhibits have traditionally been hard to develop for," said
Bob Sivley, CEO of RISE. "They either required specialized and expensive
hardware for playback or proprietary authoring tools for development. With
Sonic DesktopDVD, we have an affordable authoring and development tool that
allows us to create even the most challenging interactive tiles for kiosks."
BMW Uses DVD to Promote Its Hottest Newcomer, the Z3
New York-based Zuma Digital has produced numerous kiosks and industrial
projects powered by DVD. To highlight BMW's "Z3" national ad campaign, Zuma
created a DVD-based three-kiosk installation for attendees of the most recent
VH1 Fashion Awards. Using leading-edge 3-D display technology and multiple
composited DVD streams, the company was able to create 3-D images without
requiring 3-D viewing glasses. The installation has also been used on a
national travelling BMW road tour.
"Sonic DVD Creator offered us the flexibility to create a high-quality,
sophisticated installation on an extremely tight deadline," said David Anthony,
CEO of Zuma Digital. "With only three weeks to re-edit the original D1
material, integrate the show control system, and complete DVD production, we
were able to provide an exceptional solution for BMW. Our use of DVD Creator
allowed them to tap into the DVD format's power to deliver interactivity and
the highest-quality video and audio without having to resort to a cost-
prohibitive digital video disc recorder system." DVD Kiosks Become Widespread
In addition to RISE Int'l and Zuma Digital, many other corporations, kiosk
developers and post-production facilities are producing DVD kiosks:
-- Advanced Media Concepts (AMC), New York: For Lucent Technology,
AMC is currently developing a multimedia videowall using DVD
technology as its video source. The videowall will be used at
Lucent's Conference Center located in Whippany, New Jersey and
features a marketing demonstration that highlights the company's
range of global services.
-- C&C Interactive, Sweden: For the Nordic Trotting Museum, a newly
opened attraction catering to equestrians and trotting
enthusiasts, C&C produced a DVD installation designed to educate
visitors about horses and the evolution of trotting and racing.
The DVD, containing over 120 minutes of video, features the
greatest trotting races in the world, as well as historical
footage of Sweden's most renowned trotting tracks.
-- Chicago Recording Company (CRC), Chicago: CRC recently completed
a DVD kiosk project for Sam's Club, one of the nation's largest
warehouse retailers. DVD-run kiosks presenting a menu of Sam's
Club products and services were installed in approximately 500
warehouse locations throughout the United States.
-- Rainmaker Digital Pictures, Vancouver: For BC Hydro, Rainmaker
produced a DVD-based display used at their power plants to inform
and educate visitors on their products and services. A second DVD
kiosk featuring the world of whales was installed at the
Vancouver Aquarium.
-- Videolab, Spain: For the Portugal World Expo '98, Videolab
produced an interactive DVD display that instructs and informs
visitors on the world's oceans and seas.
About Sonic DesktopDVD
Targeted at video professionals who create corporate video, training and
multimedia video productions, Sonic DesktopDVD is a single workstation which
provides all of the tools needed to create DVD-Video and DVD-ROM content.
DesktopDVD includes real-time MPEG-2 variable bit-rate and constant bit-rate
video encoding, Dolby Digital stereo audio encoding and editing, DVD-Video
authoring and formatting, and complete DVD-Video proofing. About Sonic
Solutions
Based in Novato, Sonic Solutions designs and manufactures tools to assist
video, audio and multimedia professionals in preparing music, video, film,
graphics and entertainment software. SonicStudio(TM) is the leading digital
audio workstation used around the world by audio professionals to prepare
recorded sound for release on Digital Audio Compact Disc, as well as to prepare
sound for film and video soundtracks and for broadcast on radio and television.
Sonic DVD Creator is the leading professional system for producing content for
the DVD format, and has been used to create hundreds of DVD titles worldwide.
Sonic has been a leader in advancing DVD technology and is a full voting member
of the DVD Forum -- the standards-setting body for the DVD format. Sonic's home
page is http://www.sonic.com.
The above paragraphs of this press release contain forward looking statements
that are based upon current expectations. Actual results could differ
materially from those projected in the forward looking statements as a result
of various risks and uncertainties including, among others, the timely
introduction and acceptance of new products, costs associated with new product
introductions, the transition of products to new hardware configurations and
platforms and other factors, including those discussed in the Company's annual
and quarterly reports on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. This
press release should be read in conjunction with the Company's most recent
annual report on Form 10-K and quarterly report on Form 10-Q on file with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, which contain a more detailed discussion of
the Company's business including risks and uncertainties that may affect future
results.
Sonic, Sonic Solutions, the Sonic logo, DesktopDVD, DVD Creator, DVD PrePlay,
DVD Producer, DVD Production Alliance, DVD Studio and Sonic Studio are
trademarks of Sonic Solutions. All other company or product names are
trademarks of their respective owners. Specifications, pricing and delivery
schedules are subject to change without notice.
-0- ap/sf*
CONTACT: Sonic Solutions Paul Lefebvre, 415/893-8000
[email protected]
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Thanks Tim!
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