Dassault Systèmes Announces Adoption of 3D XML Technology into Virtools Solutions

Combined solutions give life to 3D experiences for PLM users

Paris, France, March 15, 2006 — Dassault Systèmes (DS) (Nasdaq: DASTY; Euronext Paris: #13065, DSY.PA), a world leader in 3D and Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) solutions, today announced the 3D XML format adoption in its '3D for All' flagship solutions, Virtools Dev 3.5 platform.

“With 3D XML, PLM information traverses across the product lifecycle in extended enterprises, from design and engineering, through all scenarios, right up to a life-like product experience. This development allows true end to end 3D democratization,” explains Dominique Florack, Executive Vice-President, Research and Development.

Dassault Systèmes' 3D For All strategy aims to make 3D technology available to users. This means that anybody from content creators right up to the product end user will have a set of solutions which allow them to imagine, share and experience in 3D. The adoption of 3D XML technology via a dedicated extension to Virtools’ solutions is the first step towards providing a complete solution for recreating the end user experience on virtual products, with real-time interactive scenarios.

With this technology, PLM customers dramatically extend the benefits of using 3D technologies. The breadth of possible applications is huge. These include: simulation of product usage, ergonomic testing, creating the shopping experience, training scenarios, right through to branding, advertising and web marketing applications. Users of this technology can, for example, fully create scenarios to visualise a car driving through a city. These applications can be experienced online: browser-based, up to and including large scale virtual reality environments.

3D XML is a universal, lightweight XML-based format that enables users to share live, accurate 3D content quickly and easily. 3D XML is suited for fast and efficient communication, and provides unique features, such as multi-representational 3D content, and unmatched compression for complex, accurate geometry, enabling rapid communication and shorter load times. Dassault Systèmes already uses the 3D XML format in its entire product line: CATIA, DELMIA, ENOVIA, SMARTEAM and SolidWorks.