Iann Barron’s new company, virtual reality pioneer Division Ltd, profiled here last September (CI No 1,751) has won a powerful ally in the shape of IBM UK Ltd. The Chipping Sodbury, Bristol company has implemented its software on IBM’s RS/6000 Unix box to create the RS/UniVRS, designed to enable rea-time interaction between the user and three-dimensional computer-generated images – and IBM is busy distancing the technology from its fun-and-games origins, pushing the workstation for use in computer-aided design, mechanical engineering design and chemical research. It says that users of Dassault Systemes SA’s Catia design suite will be able to access their existing Catia database, and produce virtual worlds based on their data, enter these worlds, and interact with them. The partners also have an AIX-based dVS/UniVRS distributed virtual reality software system for third party developers, and a Catia virtual reality demonstrator, CAT/UniVRS. No prices were given for the products. Although Division is happy to trade on Ian Barron’s name, he is actually non-executive chairman: the founders come from Inmos Ltd and Perihelion Ltd.
