May 29, 1997

Researchers at Battelle have helped Explore Technologies discover a new world.

And, the best spokesperson to laud Battelle's work is the product itself - a conversant globe. Better make that a spokesphere.

Explore Technologies of Santa Clara, Calif., recently developed the Odyssey Atlasphere, an interactive globe that talks to the user. The user can point to various locations on the globe with a stylus and can learn more than 50 facts about each country, including its name, capital, language, monetary system, climate, population, size, and even its national anthem and traditional folk songs. The globe is also equipped with game cartridges so users can play geography games.

Battelle's Polymer Products Group played a major role in helping Explore get the product to market in time for the recent holiday season.

Battelle began working on the project in October 1995. Explore's target was to introduce the Atlasphere for Christmas 1996. Battelle's task was to identify a molding compound for the globe, which must have specific electrical characteristics. None of the commercially available compounds were acceptable for the globe.

Faced with a rapidly approaching production deadline, the Battelle team identified a coating that provided the necessary characteristics and then helped Explore Technologies get the coating process into production.

Battelle Program Manager Richard Markham said Explore invented NearTouch© Technology, which would allow the user to precisely locate a point on a three-dimensional object. They perceived the technology would allow the user to "connect" a specific location on the globe to a computer, allowing unlimited interactions between the user and the globe.

However, Explore needed help identifying the materials needed to make the technology work. Explore found that Battelle has those capabilities, and the two companies worked together to find a material and process in time to meet the market-introduction deadline.

"To get to the market, we needed pioneering research on a tight product launch schedule," said Mark Flowers, vice president of technology at Explore Technologies. "We needed to team up with capable technical experts who also understood the practical concerns of product development. We found them at Battelle."

The interactive Atlasphere has been very popular with the public. It can be purchased through Nieman Marcus, FAO Schwartz, Sharper Image, and American Airlines magazine. Also, it can be ordered through a toll-free number, (888) 456-2343, or on-line at http://www.globeheads.com.

For more information, contact Richard Markham, Battelle, 505 King Ave., Columbus, Ohio 43201-2693; telephone 614-424-7786; fax 614-424-7479.

Battelle serves industry and government by developing, commercializing, and managing technology. With a wide range of scientific and technical capabilities, Battelle puts technology to work for clients in 30 countries.