.

For more information, contact: Serge Timacheff, Sr. Manager, Public
Relations, (415) 795-8500, ext. 1029 Betty Skov, PR Manager, (415)
795-8500, ext. 1085 Deborah Caldwell, Neale-May & Partners, (415)
328-5555




LOGITECH ANNOUNCES THREE-DIMENSIONAL MOUSE FOR MULTIPLE ENVIRONMENTS

Pointing Device Targets OEM Workstation, IBM PC, and Macintosh
Markets; Two Modes Allow Use as Three-Dimensional, Spatial Information
as well as Conventional Two-Dimensional Mouse.

LAS VEGAS, NEV. -- July 30, 1991 -- Logitech, international leader in
computer pointing and input devices, today announced a new breed of
mouse pointing device for a variety of sophisticated applications and
hardware. The Logitech 3-D Mouse is a five-button pointing device
providing input capability for applications and hardware supporting
multi-dimensional, spatial graphics, such as CAD/CAM and virtual
reality workstations. It also works as a conventional
Microsoft/Logitech-compatible three-button mouse. A limited quantity
of Logitech 3-D Mouse Developer's Kits is currently available with a
prototype mouse, and the production model of the mouse will be
available in the first quarter of 1992. At the Siggraph show in Las
Vegas this week, the Logitech 3-D Mouse prototype is being shown in
virtual reality and CAD system demonstrations at Sun Microsystems,
Silicon Graphics, and Intel booths, as well as in a Logitech suite at
the Las Vegas Hilton Hotel. 

The New Workstation Standard: Bridging the Gap Between 2-D and 3-D 
	The Logitech 3-D Mouse bridges the gap between the
two-dimensional mice common to computing today and multi-dimensional
input devices required by advanced computers and frontier software
applications such as virtual reality, presentation pan/zoom, 3-D CAD,
animation, and robotic control. Using ultrasonic speakers and
microphones to position itself, Logitech's new mouse can operate as a
standard mouse, operating on a two-dimensional plane (such as a
desktop), or it can be used in multiple dimensions by raising it (by
hand or in a head-tracker unit) off of the two-dimensional plane.
	Two distinct modes of operation are available. The first is in
standard 400-dpi mode, replacing standard 2-D , three-button mice on
most workstations, IBM PCs and compatibles, and Macintoshes. The
second is a a full three-dimensional mouse pointing device selected
manually or automatically (see explanation of three-dimensional
pointing below; technical information is also documented separately in
the press kit). Two additional thumb-operated buttons are also
available for 3-D mode. The mouse technology is further being
incorporated into virtual reality "head trackers," allowing a user to
point in multi-dimensional directions by moving his/her head. 

Logitech 3-D Mouse Features
	The Logitech 3-D Mouse consists of several components: an
"ultrasonic position reference array," which is a tripod consisting of
three ultrasonic speakers set in a triangular position; the mouse,
with five buttons and a triangular set of three microphones that face
the speaker array and receive sound from it; a power supply; a
standard RS-232-C connector; and a control unit through which the
mouse, speaker array, power supply, and computer are connected.
Connection to speech/sound recognition systems is also provided from a
built-in microphone in the mouse as an "audio out" line-level
connection. Audio out can also be used as a "push to talk" signal
whenever a "suspend" button is depressed. 
	Standard features include a "suspend" button on both the right
and left sides of the mouse (for right- and left-handed users) to
suspend, or stop, all cursor movement on-screen when pressed. This
allows the user to "stroke" the mouse on a surface or, if in 3-D mode,
to allow the user to gain a different hold or grasp of a 3-D object or
to assume a different angle of view. 
	An optional feature is the dual mouse mode, through which two
mice can be used with one position reference array.

3-D Mouse Technology
	The 2-D mode of the mouse is the default mode. In this mode,
the mouse is moved on a planar surface (such as a desktop) and is used
in the same way as a standard three-button, 400 dpi mouse. 
	The 3-D mode is more technically defined as "6-D." The mouse
operates using a three-dimensional rectangular (Cartesian) coordinate
system reading X-, Y-, and Z-axes and pitch, yaw, and roll movements
in fine (0.1-degree) increments within a 24-inch cube space. These
multiple dimensions are necessary to not only describe the mouse
position, but its orientation and movement as well.
	The control unit consists of a microprocessor, interface
circuitry, and firmware providing functionality for the mouse
"system." The control unit controls the speaker triangle, and the
mouse provides the serial communications link to the host computer.
Multiple control units can be "daisy-chained" so that up to four mice
can be tracked with a single speaker trianngle within a single
operating space. 
	The control unit's audio-out function allows the mouse to be
used as a microphone providing audio signals to audio processing
equipment through an audio-out connector.  The triangular speaker
array emits ultrasonic sound signals from each of three transmitters.
These are used to track mouse position, orientation, and movement. 

The 3-D Pointing Device Market
	Logitech currently has a number of OEM agreements in the works
or pending for the 3-D Mouse, and the company is actively seeking new
customers. Logitech research indicates that shipments of machines
capable of handling 3-D will exceed 200,000 in 1992. 
	"I believe with our expertise in pointing device technology,
excellent background in OEM product development and delivery, and
dedication to technological innovation, Logitech is well positioned to
gain a significant share of the 3-D pointing device market," says
Pierluigi Zappacosta, Logitech president and co-founder. 
	"The workstation market is in need of a mouse that can serve
two- and three-dimensional needs," adds James Barnes, Logitech project
manager. "The Logitech 3-D Mouse serves those needs, serving a variety
of platforms and applications. The 3-D market is young, but its future
is bright."

	Logitech designs, manufactures, and markets a line of pointing
and input devices for IBM and Macintosh platforms, including mice,
trackballs, hand-held scanners, and related software applications.
Headquartered in Fremont, Calif., and traded publicly in Switzerland,
the company maintains manufacturing facilities in Fremont; Hsinchu,
Taiwan; and Cork, Ireland; and sales offices in major cities in the
U.S., Europe, and the Far East. 

Microsoft is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation. Windows
is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation. 


Logitech 3-D Mouse Specifications

Modes of Operation		Two- and Three/Six-Dimensional (X, Y, & Z
				3-D mouse and 3-D head tracker modes
DPI				2-D, 400 dpi; 3-D, 100 dpi Buttons			2-D mode, three; 3-D mode,
five Sample Rate			50 updates/second Interface			RS-232-C
CPU				Built-in to unload host with downloadable 8K memory
Audio				Audio Out connection; microphone(s) in mouse Reporting
Modes		Demand, incremental, and stream Reporting Formats		2D (M+ and
MS)
				6D (Local Euler, Global Euler, and
Quaternions) Position			2D: 400 dpi
				6D: 200 dpi in active area, 10 dpi in
fringe
				Head Tracker: 10 dpi Orientation			2D:
Not applicable
				6D: 1/10 degree in active area, 1
degree in fringe area
				Head Tracker: 1 degree Tracking
Speed		Up to 30 inches-per-second Reporting Rate		Demand: up to 50
reports per second (rps)
				Incremental: up to 50 rps
				Stream: 50 rps only
				Head Tracker: up to 25 rps Tracking
Area			Mouse: 2-foot cube plus 8-inch fringe area
				Head Tracker: 7-foot cube
Compatibility			Logitech and Microsoft pointing devices in 2D mode
Control Unit Connectors	Power supply: 5-pin, female, mini-DIN
				Daisy chain: RJ-11 modular, female
				Triangle: 15-pin, DB type, female
				Mouse: 9-pin, mini-DIN, female
				Audio out: 5-pin, mini-DIN, female
				Serial port: 9-pin DB type, female 


