First Signs Of A Brewing Split ?

Software solutions provider Crest Communications has entered the advanced virtual reality services market abroad.

The company has entered into an agreement with Vartech NV, Belgium, to provide technical services and related software in virtual and augmented reality technology. The pact envisions a commitment from Vartech to provide minimum annual job volumes which would increase continuously.

This marks the acceptability of Indian virtual reality technology in the highly advanced markets in the West.

Vartech is engaged in providing virtual reality solutions to clients in the European region and has been in the process of identifying a cost-effective base overseas that could provide service support on a reliable and exclusive basis. Vartech executives recently visited India and conducted an independent assessment of Crest's facilities, including the job skills of its technical staff.

Vartech is closely involved abroad with manufacturers of virtual reality equipment and expects to utilise the Crest platform to support the software requirements of equipment manufacturers.

Virtual reality implies an artificial environment created with computer hardware and software and presented in a way which appears like real.

The commercial usage of virtual reality is growing abroad and the industry expects a huge demand for it in the mass entertainment market.

Crest sources told Business Standard that it did not foresee any additional investments other than increasing availability of its software personnel following the agreement with Vartech.

The project entails Crest to be the service provider of 3-D modelling, stereoscopic rendering and virtual reality development. It aims to create an educative

environment through interactive display boards which will target children between ages seven and 16.

While the 3D modelling will be executed in Softimage, the programming for virtual animation is to be done in World-Up and Vartech's software. Crest and Vartech will also indigenously produce "Periscope", with single/dual LCD screen with controls for zoom and time change.

Crest currently supplies post-production and animation services for domestic and overseas markets. It expects a significant growth in these segments and in virtual reality in the coming months.