OPTIX® Adds Cross-Platform Annotation and Markup Features for Both Macintosh and Windows

FLINT HILL, Va. - (BUSINESS WIRE) - April 29, 1996 - Blueridge Technologies, "The Internet Document Management Company (TM)," announced that they have added industrial-strength annotation and markup features to their cross-platform OPTIX® Document Imaging System. The new features allow users to annotate and markup scanned images in much the same way that they would use highlighters or Post-it® notes to flag sections on printed documents.

The OPTIX system enables users working from different locations to annotate and markup a single image simultaneously. Users can then decide whether their annotations are made public or viewed only by select users. The system supports both Macintosh and Windows-based computers.

According to Keith Ellis, Vice President of Blueridge, "The cross-platform annotation capabilities of OPTIX offer an extraordinarily powerful tool to companies who regularly annotate and markup documents. Examples of such firms include engineering firms, advertising departments, and publishers. These organizations can now pass fully annotated documents back and forth between Macintosh and Windows users, transparently."

Another advanced feature of OPTIX is its ability to store annotations as "non-destructive" overlays to the original. These non-destructive overlays can be turned on or off at the user's discretion without altering the original document. As a result, users can view or print scanned images with or without accompanying annotations. Because an OPTIX document can support an unlimited number of overlays, users are given the option of color coding their overlays for instant identification.

Nathaniel Palmer, Senior Market Analyst for Delphi Consulting Group, remarked, "Color-coded annotations provide users a means to quickly communicate document attributes. By adding these, Blueridge has demonstrated their appreciation for the importance of interface issues."

Founded in 1988, Blueridge Technologies is one of the industry's oldest and most respected providers of electronic document management systems (EDMS). Long the leading industrial-strength document imaging and workflow system for Apple Macintosh computers, in 1994 OPTIX became the first electronic document management system to offer workflow, document imaging, document control, COLD (Computer Output to Laser Disk), and natural language text retrieval for both Windows and Macintosh workstations. Via the new OPTIX WEB interface, OPTIX also supports popular Web browsers, including Netscape Navigator, Internet Explorer from Microsoft, Mosaic, and all the client platforms these products support, including Windows, Macintosh, and UNIX workstations. An online demo of OPTIX WEB is available at http://www.optixweb.com. Blueridge Technologies is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Metters Industries.

OPTIX systems begin in the range of $40,000 and include server software, client software for both Macintosh and Windows, installation, training, and support.