DDD Group plc Awarded Key United States Patent Relating to Eye Tracking for 3D Displays; Patent Bolsters DDD's Portfolio for Display of 3D Content.

Business Editors & High-Tech Writers

SANTA MONICA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 16, 2002

DDD Group plc (LSE:DDD) ("DDD") announces that it has received notification of allowance of a U.S. patent relating to the tracking of a viewer's eyes for use in conjunction with a variety of 3D displays.

The new U.S. patent extends DDD's coverage of technologies that support the presentation of content in 3D without the need for the viewer to wear special glasses.

The Eye Tracker is able to identify the position of the viewer's head by locating and following the movement of the viewer's eyes. This positional information is fed to the 3D display system that responds to movements in the viewer's head to ensure that the viewer always remains in the optimal position for 3D viewing. Flexible enough to accommodate viewers wearing spectacles, the Eye Tracker follows the head movements without requiring the viewer to wear or attach any type of registration or tracking device that is common in alternative approaches, allowing completely unencumbered 3D viewing.

DDD's Eye Tracker was originally developed for use with the company's large screen 3D display for use in the arcade game industry. More recently, as the market for 3D 'glasses free' displays has evolved, the company has been approached by companies seeking to acquire and integrate eye tracking capabilities for their 3D display solutions.

The addition of the Eye Tracker patent, brings the total number of issued patents held by DDD and its subsidiaries to eight. In addition to the eye tracking patent, DDD has other core patents relating to conversion of 2D images to 3D and efficient delivery of 3D data along with an unaltered 2D image. DDD's 3D conversion, transmission and display technologies are marketed under the brand name TriDef(TM).

DDD's growing patent portfolio covers the core methodologies for converting 2D content to 3D and for delivering 3D information along with an unchanged 2D image that is compatible with today's digital and analogue delivery systems including DVD discs and broadcast television. DDD has established an exceptionally strong patent position and, as part of its licensing program, is offering licensing terms to content creators, 3D display developers, as well as organizations seeking to enter the emerging mass markets for professional and consumer 3D viewing.

DDD CEO Chris Yewdall said, "The notice of allowance of our Eye Tracking patent in the United States reinforces our leadership in the field of 3D solutions. During 2002, we have been working closely with one of our leading U.S. customers to develop a high performance version of our Eye Tracker. We expect the finished product to be integrated into a high performance commercial 3D display solution that will be marketed by our customer."

DDD is transforming television with glasses-free 3D TV. Its patented technologies enable 3D viewing without glasses; supply of 3D content through 2D to 3D conversion; and 3D transmission over existing networks. DDD is quoted on the London Stock Exchange's Alternative Investment Market (AIM:DDD). More information is available at www.DDD.com.