GE Tuesday Technology Brief.

Technology Editors

FAIRFIELD, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 21, 2001

   1.  PHYSICIANS PRAISE NEW DUAL GRADIENT MR SCANNER

   2.  WINGAS COMMENCES NETWORK MANAGEMENT PROJECT WITH GE SMALLWORLD

   3.  GE POWER SYSTEMS ACQUIRES BALANCE OF PRAXIS ENGINEERS

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            PHYSICIANS PRAISE NEW DUAL GRADIENT MR SCANNER

         Users give GE Signa 1.5T TwinSpeed system high marks
      for image quality, throughput, and ease of use in world's
                   first two clinical installations

   Soon after start-up in its first two clinical installations, the
GE Signa TwinSpeed MR scanner has drawn praise from users for its
image quality, speed and versatility for a wide range of diagnostic
studies.
   Stanford University Medical Center in Palo Alto, Calif, put the
world's first TwinSpeed system into service in early June. A second
system went into operation on July 13th at Edison Imaging-JFK Medical
Center in Edison, N.J. The 1.5T TwinSpeed system features
dual-gradient technology that accommodates high-performance studies
such as stroke assessment and cardiac exams, as well as routine
clinical applications in a full field of view. This system is at the
heart of GE's initiative in MRI to increase system performance while
increasing patient comfort.
   The scanner also reduces in-bore acoustic noise loudness by 40
percent through Quiet Technology, which uses vacuum design to
attenuate sound generated in the system. A 60 cm bore diameter
accommodates larger patients and may make exams more tolerable for
claustrophobic patients.
   "The TwinSpeed has shown that it can produce state-of-the-art
images for virtually all the applications we have asked it to," says
Scott W. Atlas, M.D. Professor of Radiology and Chief of
Neuroradiology at the Stanford University School of Medicine. "That is
no small feat for such a new and complex technology"
   Lawrence Tanenbaum M.D., of Edison Imaging, says throughput on the
TwinSpeed at his facility averages 30 to 35 patients per day. "We've
had the TwinSpeed scanner for only a short time, but we're handling a
full load of patients with it," he says.
   "The strength of this scanner is its ability to perform all
applications, from cardiac and advanced neurology cases to routine
applications, such as large-field-of-view, off-center studies. One of
the most impressive features is the ability to use the high-capability
zoom mode for abdomens, and knees."
   Tanenbaum and Herfkens noted the importance of noise reduction in
MR procedures. "The noise level of MRI has always been an irritant,"
says Tanenbaum. "One of the big advantages of the TwinSpeed system is
that we get an advanced application in a 60 cm bore and we get it in a
much more comfortable setting with much lower noise levels."

   About GE Medical Systems

   GE Medical Systems is an $8 billion global leader in medical
information and technology. Its offerings include networking and
productivity tools, healthcare information systems, patient monitoring
systems, conventional and digital X-ray, computed tomography (CT),
magnetic resonance (MR), ultrasound and bone mineral densitometry,
positron emission tomography (PET), and nuclear medicine. For more
than 100 years, health care providers worldwide have relied on GE
Medical Systems for high quality medical technology, services and
productivity solutions. For more information, visit the GE Medical
Systems Web site at gemedicalsystems.com.

Contact: Marshall Poindexter 262/513-4016
[e-mail]


    WINGAS COMMENCES NETWORK MANAGEMENT PROJECT WITH GE SMALLWORLD

   GE Smallworld, a leading provider of strategic network solutions
to the utility industry, today announced that WINGAS GmbH in Kassel,
Germany has selected GE Smallworld Spatial Technology to store
geographic information system (GIS) data and to support queries for
identifying geographically dispersed network assets.
   WINGAS selected the GE Smallworld Spatial Technology platform
based on the system's performance and flexibility and GE Smallworld's
experience with similar network applications in Western Europe.
   "We are pleased to be working with WINGAS. They are an innovative
natural gas transmission company with links to some of the largest gas
reserves in the world," Terry Phebey, manager of operations for the
Utilities and Public Systems Division in Europe, Middle East and
Africa, GE Smallworld.
   The implementation project began in March 2001. Phase one includes
the purchase of licenses for the gas transmission application, already
in use in 13 other central European projects, as well as a cadastral
solution for interfacing to official German landbase data stored in
vector format. The goal of the initial phase is to migrate existing
data from the incumbent system and integrate it into the business
processes for trench planning, operations, right-of-way
administration, documentation, alarming, and flight inspection
management.
   After the data is migrated, users will be able to access the
information via the Web using the new GE Smallworld Internet
Application Server. In later phases, the system will be expanded to
include applications to support gas network operations (process
control techniques), network engineering, trading, and cable
management. The GE Smallworld system will also be integrated with
WINGAS' SAP system so that spatially related data will be available in
SAP.

   About GE Smallworld

   GE Smallworld creates, markets and delivers network software
products to the Communications and Utility & Public Systems markets
globally. GE Smallworld's products model real world assets and
services, enabling companies to understand where their facilities and
customers are located and how they are connected, then seamlessly
integrating this information across the enterprise. The company also
provides services for rapid implementation and integration of GE
Smallworld's object-oriented technology and vertical industry
solutions, which can increase customers' revenues, improve customer
service, and better utilize assets. GE Smallworld (www.gepower.com)
was acquired by GE in October, 2000 and is a GE Power Systems
business.

Contact: Nancy Stephenson, 303/779-6980
[e-mail]


         GE POWER SYSTEMS ACQUIRES BALANCE OF PRAXIS ENGINEERS

   GE Power Systems announced today that it will fully acquire Praxis
Engineers Inc., a market leader in coal-fired plant optimization
software solutions.
   GE Power Systems purchased 40 percent of Praxis in 1997 and will
now have full ownership of the company. Praxis is located in Milpitas,
California. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
   With the acquisition of Praxis Engineers Inc., GE Power Systems
continues to invest in technology that meets the growing needs of the
power generation customer base. Praxis has a comprehensive suite of
products including Coalogic(TM), the only leading technology that
enables power plant operators to dynamically select coal burn quality
to change operating and power-economic conditions. Coal-fired power
plant utility customers utilize Praxis' software to increase plant
efficiency and decrease fuel-related downtime.
   "The acquisition of Praxis will expand GE's capability for
coal-fired plant technology software solutions," said John Rice,
president and CEO of GE Power Systems. "Praxis' software products
complement existing GE product offerings providing a more complete
plant optimization solution for coal-fired power plant utility
customers."
   "Praxis Engineers further strengthens the Plant Optimization
Solutions strategy of optimizing plant operational output and
emissions for the Power Generation industry," said Henry Stueber,
general manager of Plant Optimization Solutions. "Praxis' products
help to broaden our current plant optimization software portfolio."
   Praxis Engineers Inc. will become part of Plant Optimization
Solutions, a GE Power Systems business.

   About GE Power Systems

   GE Power Systems (http://www.gepower.com) is one of the world's
leading suppliers of power generation technology, energy services and
management systems with 2000 revenue of $15 billion. The business has
the largest installed base of power generation equipment in the global
energy industry. GE Power Systems provides equipment, service and
management solutions across the power generation, oil and gas,
distributed power and energy rental industries.

Contact: Jeff Ignaszak, 770/859-7650 [e-mail]

   GE, with 2000 revenues of $130 billion, is a diversified
technology, services and manufacturing company with a commitment to
achieving customer success. GE operates in more than 100 countries and
employs 313,000 people worldwide. For more information, visit the
company's Web site at http://www.ge.com