Monday, April 6 9:13 AM ET - Award-Winning CalliGrapher 5.1 Brings New Features and Improved Recognition Quality Through Write Naturally(TM) Feature-Set; CalliGrapher now Available Via Mail Order and Web for Under $60 With Online Demo

WINDOWS CE Developers Conference, SAN JOSE, Calif. (Booth # 210), April 6 /PRNewswire/ -- ParaGraph PI, the Pen and Internet Technology business unit of Silicon Graphics, Inc. (Mountain View, Calif.) (NYSE:SGI), today announced immediate availability of CalliGrapher(R) 5.1 for the Windows CE operating system through on-line and catalog retailers. This latest version of CalliGrapher is now compatible with both the Handheld PC (H/PC) and Palm PC platforms. At COMDEX '97, CalliGrapher won two major industry awards: Byte Magazine's "Best of Show - Winner" award and finalist for PC Week's "Best of COMDEX" award.

New features in CalliGrapher 5.1 include:

• Enhanced note-taking and screen draw support -- enables users to include sketches and diagrams directly in their notes
• Support for color ink on color-enabled handheld PCs
• A new method of quickly entering punctuation via pop-up menus
• Enhanced screen orientation feature now includes six 45-degree gradations, allowing users to conveniently write on their H/PC

"Calligrapher 5.1 is the accumulated result of 9 years in developing handwriting recognition technology for the handheld market," said Dr. Stepan Pachikov, vice president at Silicon Graphics and general manager of ParaGraph PI. "ParaGraph's experience and engineering expertise in pen-based technology enables us to consistently outpace our competition and offer users the best possible solution in handwriting recognition software."

"Microsoft applauds ParaGraph's announcement of CalliGrapher 5.1 for Windows CE," said Roger Gulrajani, group product manager for PC Companions at Microsoft. "By taking advantage of Win32-based tools, ParaGraph is able to offer and augment handwriting-recognition capabilities on the Handheld PC and Palm PC platforms powered by Windows CE."

"NEC is excited to be working with ParaGraph and incorporating CalliGrapher 5.1 for Windows CE in the MobilePro(TM) 750C line of handheld PCs," said Duane Cowgill, product manager, NEC Computer Systems Division. "In conjunction with the MobilePro 750C's large typeable keyboard and color touch screen, Paragraph's Calligrapher 5.1 gives the mobile professional yet another option for data entry, making the MobilePro a truly flexible, extensible device."

"The latest CalliGrapher is like a breath of fresh air -- I wouldn't think of using an HPC without it," said David MacNeill, executive editor of Pen Computing Magazine. "CalliGrapher 5.1 has a natural feel, its seamless interface integration is impressive and the ink notes feature is convenient and useful. But the best reason to use CalliGrapher is its solid, dependable accuracy, right out of the box."

CalliGrapher Information
CalliGrapher is a universal natural handwriting recognition tool that understands how people normally write -- whether natural cursive, print/mixed cursive or print. The product enables users to write directly on the screen of their handheld personal computers, often a more effective input option than typing.

CalliGrapher, which is based on fuzzy logic and neural network techniques, recognizes both dictionary and non-dictionary words and arbitrary symbol sequences. CalliGrapher can be used immediately and without training, and does not require users to memorize special symbols or change their natural writing style.

CalliGrapher 5.1 Specifications:

• Writer independent - Does not require user training
• Deferred Recognition - Allows user to take notes for later recognition
• Screen Draw Mode - Allows user to draw in document
• Recognition Types - Natural handwriting including cursive, print, mixed cursive/print
• Character Set - Latin alphabet, standard punctuation and special symbols
• Language-Supports "American" English with an expandable language architecture
• Screen Orientation - Supports screen rotation in 45-degree increments
• Operating Environment - Supported by Windows CE versions 1.0 and 2.0
• Processor Compatibility - Hitachi SH3 and MIPS(R)

CalliGrapher 5.1 is available immediately via the Internet and catalog retailers. Internet distributors include CNET Direct, Digital River, MobileSoft and Software.Net. Current catalog distributors include Mobile Planet and MobileScape. CalliGrapher 5.1 is priced at U.S. $49.95 online and U.S. $59.95 via mail order. Visit the ParaGraph PI Web site (http://www.paragraph.com) for additional distribution information.

Online Demo
Simultaneously with the release of CalliGrapher 5.1, ParaGraph has published a remote handwriting recognition game TerecSM on its Web site, which demonstrates the power and features of the CalliGrapher recognition engine in an entertaining way.

ParaGraph PI Information
ParaGraph PI, a Silicon Graphics Company, develops and markets pen and Internet software products and technologies, including CalliGrapher recognition, HodoGraph(TM) compression, MorphInk(TM) auto-morphing & animation technologies. ParaGraph PI products are based on the R&D work of ParaGraph International Inc., which was founded in 1989 and was acquired by Silicon Graphics in 1997. ParaGraph PI is headed by Silicon Graphics Vice President Dr. Stepan Pachikov, founder and CEO of ParaGraph International.

For more information about ParaGraph products, please send e-mail to info@paragraph.com, contact ParaGraph PI directly at 2011 N. Shoreline Blvd, Bldg. 10, MS 571, Mountain View, CA 94043-1389 or call 650-933-3000. CalliGrapher 5.1 licenses may be purchased from ParaGraph's Web site, (http://www.paragraph.com), or by calling 800-810-0055.

Silicon Graphics Information
Silicon Graphics, Inc. is a leading supplier of high-performance interactive computing systems. The company offers the broadest range of products in the industry -- from low-end desktop workstations to servers and high-end Cray(R) supercomputers. Silicon Graphics also markets MIPS microprocessor designs, Alias/Wavefront(TM) entertainment and design software and other software products. The company's key markets include the manufacturing, government, science and industries, communications and entertainment sectors. Silicon Graphics and its subsidiaries have offices throughout the world and corporate headquarters in Mountain View, California.

NOTE: Silicon Graphics and the Silicon Graphics logo are registered trademarks of Silicon Graphics Inc. ParaGraph and CalliGrapher are registered trademarks, and the ParaGraph logo, HodoGraph, MorphInk, and Write Naturally are trademarks of ParaGraph PI, a Silicon Graphics company. MIPS is a registered trademark of MIPS Technologies, Inc. Cray is a registered trademark of Cray Research, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Silicon Graphics, Inc. Alias is a registered trademark, and Alias/Wavefront is a trademark, of Alias/Wavefront, a division of Silicon Graphics Limited. Other product and company names herein are the trademarks of their respective owners.