Sky-Skan and Carl Zeiss Collaborate on Innovative Digital Projection System for Small Planetaria

Nashua, NH, USA; Jena, Germany - 31st March, 2005

Sky-Skan, Inc. and Carl Zeiss and have announced that they have agreed to jointly develop and market a new and innovative digital projection system for small planetaria. The definiti® TWIN sets new standards in the planetarium market for digital full dome projection and offers a more economical solution, while delivering unmatched quality and performance compared to other products in the same class.

Being the first digital projector specifically built for dome projection, the definiti® TWIN consists of two wide-angle projection systems from Carl Zeiss, projecting images of very high quality and contrast onto dome screens up to 8m (26ft) in diameter, combined with a dual-channel Sky-Skan image generator that produces real-time astronomical and multimedia graphic data, as well as pre-rendered full dome video in high-definition. Sky-Skan software controls all functions, including any peripheral devices such as sound and lighting equipment.

This collaboration brings two of the leading companies in planetarium technology together: Carl Zeiss for opto-mechanical projection systems and Sky-Skan as the leading provider of digital image generation solutions. The comprehensive experience of the companies, in both the development and manufacture of core optical components for digital projectors and the proven competence in the area of graphic and control software, are combined into one extremely powerful package.

The definiti® TWIN projector's high-performance lenses, developed by Carl Zeiss, were specifically designed to avoid the weaknesses of other digital projection systems for smaller domes. Unsharp images, uneven brightness, and countless other visible artifacts in the projected image (like color shifting and distortion) are non-existent in definiti® TWIN powered systems. Carl Zeiss know-how can also be found in the image source elements of the projectors which are based on DLP-technology from Texas Instruments, where countless optical details lead to a stunning projected image on the dome.

The definiti® TWIN includes the latest version of DigitalSky, Sky-Skan's acclaimed software and control package for astronomy and graphical multimedia projection. This includes not only simulation of the night sky, but also capabilities and databases allowing travel in through a 3D field of stars, and the solar system. The software also enables one to combine multimedia elements like photos, videos, sound, and more in 2D or 3D. Full dome pre-rendered hi-definition video sequences can also be projected or even combined with real-time elements. With definiti® TWIN, the user has a digital planetarium and multimedia center in one package with the freedom of live presentation or the automatic playback of pre-rendered shows, or even a combination of both.

Sky-Skan is responsible for the worldwide distribution and support of definiti® TWIN in the planetarium market. Currently, two versions of the projection system are offered. One variation is a complete package including inflatable dome for use in mobile applications and the second is for fixed installations which includes an expanded configuration.

The experts had the chance to preview the first definiti® TWIN prototype in operation at the International Planetarium Society Conference in Valencia, Spain in 2004. The reaction was overwhelming. The first production models will be shipping to customers in March 2005.

Image: The digital projector for planetaria definitiŽ TWIN is a joint development of Carl Zeiss Jena and Sky-Skan, Inc., USA. The system is not only able to simulate the night sky, but also allows travelling through any virtual world, projects videos, and plays music in high quality digital formats.

For further information:

Steven Savage, President Sky-Skan, Inc., 51 Lake Street, Nashua, NH, USA e: office@skyskan.com p: +1 603 880 8500
Volkmar Schorcht, Carl Zeiss Planetarien, Carl-Zeiss-Promenade 10, 07740 Jena, Germany e: schorcht@zeiss.de p: +49-3641-64-2283

About Sky-Skan

For over 35 years, Sky-Skan has been the world's leading provider of media technologies and facility design for domed theaters. Sky-Skan's products and services include their trademark SPICE Automation Show Control System, SkyVision fulldome video projection and DigitalSky digital planetarium systems, as well as complete turn-key facility design and construction management services.

There are over four dozen permanent DigitalSky and SkyVision installations completed to date and over 250 SPICE Theater Automation systems installed in planetaria, large format film theaters, domed media theaters, museums and science centers around the world.

Sky-Skan maintains sales, production facilities and technical support on 3 continents with its offices in Nashua, NH USA; Munich, Germany; and Melbourne, Australia. More information on Sky-Skan, DigitalSky, SPICE Automation and other technologies can be found at www.skyskan.com.

About Carl Zeiss

Carl Zeiss is a leading international group of companies operating worldwide in the optical and opto-electronic industry. Carl Zeiss AG is headquartered in Oberkochen, Germany.

The Carl Zeiss Group is structured as six business groups that operate with sole responsibility. They are generally ranked first or second in the three strategic markets of biosciences and medical technology, system solutions for industry and optical consumer goods. They offer products and services for biomedical research and medical technology, system solutions for the semiconductor, automotive and mechanical engineering industries, as well as high quality consumer goods such as eyeglass lenses, camera lenses and binoculars.

The Carl Zeiss Group is directly represented in more than 30 countries and operates production facilities in Europe, America and Asia. In fiscal year 2003/04 the global workforce of approximately 13,700 employees generated revenue of about EUR 2,1 billion. Further information is available at www.zeiss.com.