For Immediate Release 28 July 2000   For further information: Sheila Hoffmeyer +1.312.644.6610 x3220 +1.312.245.1083 fax   MEDIA ALERT: SIGGRAPH 2000 Brings 25,986 to the Crescent City for the 27th Annual Conference on Computer Graphics and Interactive Techniques   (New Orleans) -- SIGGRAPH 2000 drew 25,986 professionals to its week long conference and exhibition in New Orleans, 23-28 July 2000. This is the 27th year leading artists, educators, researchers, animators, and companies have gathered for their annual exploration to share their latest discoveries in computer graphics and interactive techniques. Professionals from 74 countries packed standing-room only sessions to hear noted inventor and author Ray Kurzweil's keynote and to learn insights into such topics as physiquing a digital human for "The Hollow Man."   The SIGGRAPH 2000 exhibition took center stage for the 316 companies launching new products and showing off their latest applications and services to attendees in 142,625 net square feet of space.   Kurzweil Captivates SIGGRAPH 2000 Attendees   Kurzweil, author of "The Age of Spiritual Machines," shared his predictions for the human-machine merger and why we will spend most of our time in virtual reality in the 21st century to 2,600 attending the Keynote/Award Session on Wednesday morning. Kurzweil stated that in the near future we will enter a shared virtual visual and auditory environment where we are always plugged in and connected. Web sites will become fully immersive experiences, and the virtual reality worlds he envisions will enable real-time experiences such as education, work - not just play. In Kurzweil's wireless world of the next decade he sees seamless, invisible computing with images projected directly onto the retina with fully immersive VR glasses or contact lens. "We will totally get rid of the wires," he promised.   SIGGRAPH 2000 Computer Animation Festival Awards   The Computer Animation Festival jury chose two excellent works from more than 650 submitted entries based on their extraordinary achievements in computer animation. "Onimusha: Opening Movie of PS2" by Links DigiWorks Inc. received Best of Show. This animation was produced for the PlayStation 2 game "Onimusha" to be released by CAPCOM and represents significant advancements in the areas of motion capture and photorealistic rendering.   "Stationen," a student work produced by German animator Christian Sawade-Meyer, received the Jury Honors. This work exhibits exceptional storytelling, high-quality animation and rendering, and a quality unseen in the animation software menu - compassion.   SIGGRAPH 2001 Returns to Los Angeles   SIGGRAPH 2001, the 28th International Conference on Computer Graphics and Interactive Techniques, will be held in Los Angeles at the Los Angeles Convention Center, 12 - 17 August.   The SIGGRAPH 2001 Call for Participation   For conference information, contact:   SIGGRAPH 2001 Conference Management Smith, Bucklin & Associates, Inc. 401 North Michigan Avenue Chicago, Illinois 60611 USA +1.312.321.6830 +1.312.321.6876 fax   To purchase exhibition space, contact:   SIGGRAPH 2001 Exhibition Management Hall-Erickson, Inc. 98 East Naperville Road Westmont, Illinois 60559 USA +1.630.434.7779 +1.630.434.1216 fax   # # #