New ProVision “Knowledge Exchange” Server Application Supports Collaboration to Meet Demand for Enterprise Agility

Innovative Technology Enables Organizations to Modify and Manage Intellectual Capital

SOUTHFIELD, MICH. --July 2, 2007-- Proforma Corporation, a leading provider of enterprise modeling solutions and services, today introduced the new ProVision Knowledge Exchange server application– elevating enterprise modeling to a truly global level and meeting the demand for greater business agility.

Built upon the ProServer collaboration engine, Knowledge Exchange extends the availability and usefulness of ProVision models via web-centric repository access (thin and rich client). This enables organizations to modify, manage and communicate critical corporate knowledge in a web-based, collaborative environment.

“An enterprise requires the collaboration of many business and IT professionals to combine their varied and detailed perspectives into a unified whole,” said Jerry Huchzermeier, Proforma’s CTO. “Knowledge Exchange directly supports this collaboration, coordinating team members’ independent work within an overall framework and enabling them to leverage intellectual capital to realize innovation in enterprise operations.”

Key Knowledge Exchange Innovations

New product innovations within Knowledge Exchange enable real-time access to content with enhanced browser-based viewing, browser annotation/editing of ProVision data and increased enterprise-level scalability and performance.

Enhanced Browser-Based Viewing

• Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) – Model viewing is substantially improved through the use of SVG technology. With SVG, the graphics of the Knowledge Exchange become crystal clear. It delivers smooth “zoom” capability allowing users to quickly zoom in and out on models. This is possible because SVG allows the geometry of the model to be downloaded, not just a bitmap, thus eliminating delays due to web traffic. Less network traffic means accelerated application performance.
• Rich Internet Application Technology (RIA) – RIA delivers improved performance from a single rendering of the model because it provides additional controls that do not require an applet. The faster technology improves the users’ experience in managing the interface. In addition, RIA enhances the look and feel of the Knowledge Exchange user interface because all inventory views are available right in the browser.

Browser Annotation and Editing of ProVision Knowledge Exchange Data

• Asynchronous Java-script and XML (AJAX) – AJAX is the chosen technology to enable the editing of ProVision data without the need to install ProVision on every machine. It provides browser annotation and editing of data – no client required. Inventory views are available in the browser. Distributed work teams benefit from the use of AJAX technology because it provides for more frequent and efficient interaction with the server. This enables a more specific and intelligent user experience.