The MathWorks Releases MATLAB 6, With New Desktop and Interactive Tools That Unlock Technical Computing Power.

Business/Technology Editors

NATICK, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 6, 2000

-- Major Release Includes New Tools for Acquiring Data from

External Hardware, Analyzing and Visualizing Data, and Integrating

Java(TM) with MATLAB --

The MathWorks, Inc., the leading supplier of technical computing software for engineers and scientists, today announced the immediate availability of version 6 of MATLAB(R), its flagship product. MATLAB 6 features a new desktop frontend and a portfolio of integrated tools that provide users easy and intuitive access to MATLAB's industry-leading math, analysis, visualization, and programming power. Multiple new tools simplify common tasks, such as importing data, performing quick analyses, and creating high-quality, informative graphics. As a direct result of extensive usability research, these and other features were introduced with the goals of making MATLAB more accessible and maximizing user effectiveness. In addition, MATLAB 6 provides new optimizations to its core matrix computing and signal processing engines, and access to hardware devices and Java directly from MATLAB. MATLAB 6 is shipping as part of Release 12 of The MathWorks product family, which includes numerous new and updated products for use with MATLAB.

"With MATLAB 6, The MathWorks has taken a tremendous step forward," said Chris Griffin, technical consultant, BFGoodrich Aerospace. "Within an hour of installing MATLAB 6, I was enjoying productivity improvements with the new desktop user interface and online help. Using MATLAB has never been easier."

The new MATLAB desktop houses a set of tools that allow both new and experienced users to learn and apply the features of MATLAB easily. Desktop components include a cross-product, fully searchable HTML-based help reader, a Command History window that documents users' MATLAB sessions, a Workspace Browser for loading, viewing, and editing data, and more. Also included is GUIDE, the Graphical User Interface Design Environment, built for point-and-click development and design of GUI interfaces from MATLAB. In combination, these tools help users organize their data, programs, and graphics and provide a direct path to the features in the MATLAB environment.

Before developing MATLAB 6, The MathWorks conducted more than 100 customer visits and 400 usability tests to scope out and pinpoint users' needs and optimal feature set. The message from users was clear: they wanted tools that made it easier to harness and master the power and breadth of MATLAB. MATLAB 6 is the answer to their request. "Guided by feedback from our users, The MathWorks combined the latest advances in user interface design, usability, Java technology, numeric computing, and graphics to deliver MATLAB 6," said Lisa Kempler, Marketing Director MATLAB products. "New and experienced users will find the tools in MATLAB 6 make common tasks more straightforward and complex tasks more approachable."

According to the research conclusions, a frequent user request is to make common analysis, plotting, and visualization tasks easier to perform and repeat, without any programming. As a result, MATLAB 6 enables users to edit, annotate, and customize their MATLAB graphics, and to export them to other applications, such as Microsoft(R) Word and Microsoft(R) PowerPoint(R) presentation graphics, with new point-and-click interfaces. New Data Statistics and Basic Fitting tools allow users to superimpose statistical calculations and curve fits - both text and graphics - directly on their MATLAB plots. Adding to its extensive collection of advanced visualization features, MATLAB 6 provides new functions for viewing 2-D images, surfaces and volumes as transparent objects, and visual tools for controlling point-of-view.

MATLAB 6 also features significant optimizations to its core mathematical and signal processing routines. This new release incorporates the well-respected, cache-aware LAPACK library, which replaces LINPACK and EISPACK, resulting in significant speed increases. For simple matrix computations, such as matrix multiplication, operations on matrices of order several hundred are six to eight times faster, while more complex operations, such as eigenvalue and singular value decomposition, are approximately two times faster. In addition, the FFT functions now rely on the MIT FFTW library, resulting in significantly faster performance across the range of FFTs, particularly for large lengths.

According to Kempler, "Another key finding is that the biggest obstacle to analysis and algorithm development is getting the data in, so The MathWorks Release 12 introduces multiple new and updated tools for accessing and acquiring data." The new MATLAB Import Wizard is an interactive tool that lets users access and selectively import data stored in external files in a variety of industry-standard formats, such as JPEG, AVI, Microsoft(R) Excel, and ASCII. In addition, data from peripheral instruments and devices such as printers and modems can be brought directly into MATLAB through the computer's serial port via the new MATLAB serial port interface. For exchanging data with OBDB/JDBC compliant databases, including Oracle and Sybase, Database Toolbox 2.1 offers significant speed improvements for executing queries and now runs on an expanded set of platforms. One of the most significant new additions to The MathWorks product line is the Instrument Control Toolbox, which enables users to communicate with GPIB and VISA based instruments, such as oscilloscopes, directly from MATLAB for the first time.

For users who work with other programming environments, MATLAB 6 offers new tools for integrating external code. A new Java interface allows users to call Java directly from MATLAB, allowing them to incorporate their Java routines with their MATLAB applications. With the interface, users can call Java-based GUIs for use within their MATLAB applications, send results of mathematical computations to Java applications, and more. This capability allows MATLAB users to work with colleagues who work in Java, while using MATLAB as their primary development platform.

For users who want to convert their MATLAB applications to C and C++, the updated MATLAB Compiler Suite 2.1 converts an enlarged set of MATLAB functions and language features. In addition, Release 12 includes several new and updated MATLAB application toolboxes for data acquisition, math, and analysis. New products include Filter Design Toolbox, Financial Derivatives Toolbox, and Instrument Control Toolbox. Major updates of the Signal Processing, Control System, Statistics, Spline, Wavelet, and Neural Network toolboxes feature new visual interfaces and algorithms that make learning and applying toolbox algorithms easier.

Pricing and Availability

MATLAB 6 is currently shipping for Microsoft(R) Windows(R) 95, 98, and 2000 operating systems, and UNIX and Linux platforms. Prices for a single-seat microcomputer license start at $1,900. Quantity and educational discounts are available. Additional information is available at The MathWorks Web site at www.mathworks.com.

About The MathWorks

The MathWorks develops technical computing software for engineers and scientists in industry and education. An extensive family of products, based on MATLAB and Simulink(R), provides high-productivity tools for solving challenging mathematical, computational, controls, and DSP and communications problems. The MathWorks products serve those in education and the following industries: automotive, aerospace, telecommunications and datacommunications, government, process industries, electronics, biotechnology and pharmaceuticals, finance and economics, earth and planetary sciences, and instrumentation. Employing more than 700 people worldwide, the MathWorks was founded in 1984. Visit www.mathworks.com for more information.

MATLAB and Simulink are registered trademarks of The MathWorks, Inc.; Java is a trademark of Sun Microsystems, Inc.; and Microsoft, PowerPoint and Windows are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries.