July 7, 1998

(WINTER PARK, FL) - GMD Studios announced that it has donated the technology to power a new experimental "salon discussion" system for the Emmy award-winning P.O.V. documentary series on PBS Online. The P.O.V. Salon <http://www.pbs.org/pov/salon/>, produced in cooperation with WebLab and PBS, provides a unique "small group" approach to online discussions designed to enhance the experience of the P.O.V. documentaries.

GMD co-founder Brian Clark describes the evolution of the custom solution: "When WebLab came to me with this challenge - a new implementation of online discussion in a controlled environment, I immediately thought of our HyperThread discussion application. Using that base code, we were able to make the modifications for this new enviroment in a very short development cycle."

"GMD Studios is absolutely amazing," says WebLab Supervising Producer Barry Joseph, who spearheaded the P.O.V. Salon project. "Within two weeks, they took our wish list of features and produced a system that makes the Salons really work."

GMD's Hyperthread software (part of their Radiation Software product line) is one of the firm's most valuable code assets, forming the backbone of an entire series of online tools designed for user-to-user interactivity. Beginning with the standard discussion format, over 9 different variants have been developed to serve different needs (including confidential classifieds and personals engines, tech support interfaces, password-protected intranets, and online tutoring systems).

"This technology is flexible and robust enough to handle PBS Online's diverse goals," says Clark, "from powering the Hong Kong '97 and Vietnam Veterans Memorial Foundation discussions, to the newest uses in the P.O.V. Salons, Tube Talk and Web Development Fund projects."

The Salon concept is a revival of the literary circles that have historically played a significant role in the development of American intellectual and literary life. Popular in the late 1800's and early 1900's, these meetings of influential minds led to a cross-fertilization of ideas resulting in some of our greatest works and movements. Today, salons have re-emerged in New York as social gatherings focused on specific topics for debate and discussion.

"We will use this old formula in a completely new way to enhance the impact of P.O.V. films," said P.O.V. founder Marc Weiss. "What's most important about the documentary experience is the reflection and discussion it engenders. With the online Salon, we have a forum that will empower an extremely diverse group of viewers to learn from each other's perspectives on issues and ideas raised by P.O.V. films."

P.O.V. <http://www.pov.org/> is public television's award-winning series showcasing independent non-fiction films. P.O.V. has built a reputation for presenting provocative, engaging films that often reflect compelling "points of view." Now in its eleventh year of broadcasting, P.O.V.'s programs have won every major film and broadcast award, including Academy Awards, numberous Emmys and Peabodys and the PrixItalia, Europe's oldest and most prestigious award.

WebLab <http://www.weblab.org/> is an online laboratory dedicated to developing new models for a new medium, supported by grants from the Ford Foundation, PBS, and various private family foundations. It was founded to develop, sponsor and provide visibility for projects that explore innovative uses of communications technology and that bring fresh perspective and new voices to the discussion of public issues.

GMD Studios and WebLab have worked together extensively, beginning with the award-winning Web documentary, Hong Kong '97, and continuing as participants and technological consultants to the new Web Development Fund. Both projects have been hosted and co-funded by PBS.