MONTRÉAL – November 20, 2006 – Engenuity Technologies Inc. (TSX: EGY), a leading provider of solutions for the development of high-end visualization and simulation applications, today announced that University of Southern California’s Institute for Creative Technologies (ICT) is using AI.implant to help power its Integrating Architecture (IA) initiative.  This new program brings together leading research from within ICT as well as external research from Army labs, research centers, and the commercial games industry.  AI.implant provides the ICT project with dynamic pathfinding and intelligent navigation capabilities as well as the product’s track record in a number of major simulation projects and commercial video game titles.

“The Institute for Creative Technologies was established to build a partnership among the entertainment industry, the military, and academia with the goal of creating the most compelling and realistic simulations possible,” said Dr. Michael van Lent, Project Leader, Integrating Architecture Project, Institute for Creative Technologies.  “We recognize Engenuity’s commitment to simulation in the defense market, and look forward to employing the AI.implant tool in this project.” 

The mandate of ICT’s Integrating Architecture project is to build and maintain the Integrating Architecture technology base, a common virtual environment that combines the strengths of the game industry technology with military training simulations.  As diplomatic, economic, political, and social interactions are playing increasingly greater roles in establishing control in conflict zones, the ability to incorporate these non-kinetic aspects of engagement is becoming crucial for next-generation simulations.  The project will use AI.implant’s pathfinding and intelligent navigation in combination with ICT’s Artificial Intelligence research to help enable the development of thousands of intelligent characters that exhibit complex modes of behavior required for this advanced type of simulation.  

“Having our AI.implant simulation technology used in this project is a great honor,” states Dr. Paul Kruszewski, chief technology officer, Engenuity Technologies. “ICT is a leader in developing leading-edge simulation technology, and they have achieved this by bringing only the best the industry has to offer into their projects.  AI.implant, with its visual authoring, and powerful crowd simulation tools, is a good choice for a project of this significance.”


About the Institute for Creative Technologies
Established in September 1999, the ICT is an Army-funded institute that combines cutting edge academic researchers from the University of Southern California with key Hollywood creative talent. This dynamic venture endeavors to create virtual and immersive environments that best prepare soldiers to make critical decisions in today’s world based on needs defined by the US Army.

In 2005, the ICT became a part of the Centers for Creative Technology (CCT), which aims to design emotionally engaging, immersive learning environments for both the Army and other organizations in need of critical decision making tools and disaster response simulations.  What makes the CCT a unique organization is its commitment to fundamental basic research, which drives the creation of its applications.

The ICT and its projects are developed with funding by the U.S. Army, and the above release does not necessarily reflect the position or the policy of the Government, and no official endorsement should be inferred.

Please visit www.ict.usc.edu for further details.