New UNICA service uniquely customizes 1.5 Terabytes of Motion Capture Data

Amsterdam 10 Aug 99 Motek Motion Technology announced UNICA: the first service for Web-based access to motion capture data. UNICA is the first Web-based solution for deploying professionally captured movement in mainstream creative projects at mainstream pricing. Motek claims UNICA will provide cost savings of up to 10X over conventional pricing models for data of this quality. UNICA motion capture data can be exported into a wide range of professional 3D packages, including AVID Softimage and Discree 3D Studio MAC. Amsterdam based Motek has recently opened offices in Manchester, NH USA.

UNICA draws on a proprietary 1.5 Terabyte catalog of motion capture data compiled over the last 8 years at MOTEK's Amsterdam facility for projects ranging from award-winning commercials, computer games to feature films. Through Motek's patented "blending" technology (based on bio-mechanical rules for maximum quality), UNICA provides unique motion-capture data from these templates without the need for expensive and laborious studio time.

For example, UNICA allows animators to manipulate motion capture data in positions that were never recorded in the original sequence -- offering dramatic and fundamental changes in the use of pre-recorded data sequences through UNICA's slider-bar functionality.

"Through UNICA, our goal is to bring motion-capture into the mainstream of the creative process -- we are enabling anyone with a Web connection to access the same data used in multi-million dollar movie blockbusters and to modify that data for their unique needs," said Ed Costello, CEO of Motek USA. "UNICA represents a real breakthrough in price/performance for 3D animators, enabling the most lifelike movement available for any project, regardless of budget, because the data is captured from real-life motion. Our "blender" technology also means that your data is uniquely yours and will not be duplicated."

UNICA is being demonstrated for the first time at SIGGRAPH 99 and will be available as a beta-test from MOTEK's Web site at http://www.motek.org -- the final version is expected to be available in late September 1999. Pricing will be announced at this time, but is expected to be approximately 10X less expensive than equivalent studio time to generate the same results.

Motek USA was established in 1998 to create, design and market real-time motion capture data solutions and products. The company's first commercial product, UNICA, is targeted to a broader user base leveraging the World Wide Web. The company has extensive experience in the entertainment and commercial technology markets and has developed expertise in bringing technologies developed for high-end simulation into a more commercialized environment. Motek currently operates two motion capture facilities employing the latest equipment in both Amsterdam and Manchester, NH, for use by post-production, game developers and medical professionals.

Ad Emmen