Illustra Releases Next Generation Web Datablade Module

 
 							For more information please contact 
 							Sandra Bateman @ 510/873-6209 or
 							Arcangela Zichichi @ 510/869-6353
 
 
 
 Illustra Introduces Next-Generation Web DataBlade(R)  Module:
 Enables dramatic reduction in cost and effort of Web site creation and
 maintenance
 
 
 OAKLAND, Calif. -- December 4, 1995 -- Illustra Information Technologies,
 Inc., today announced that it is shipping the second version of its Web
 DataBlade(R) module. The Web DataBlade module makes Web sites dynamic,
 flexible, and easier to design, build, and maintain.  The Web DataBlade
 module is a tool to dynamically construct HTML documents in the database and
 access them through any Web server and/or browser.
 
 "In order to have a Web site with the richest use of content, you need the
 content management capabilities that Illustra delivers today," said Dick
 Williams, Illustra president and CEO. "More and more, companies are
 realizing that they need to manage more than just the alphanumeric data that
 relational databases understand.  This is especially true on the Web, which
 is inherently multimedia-based.  Illustra anticipated this paradigm shift in
 information management, and was built from the ground up to manage complex,
 rich data types along with traditional alphanumeric data types." 
 
 The Illustra(TM) object-relational database management system allows
 Internet/Web-based ad-hoc queries of text, spatial, financial, image, video,
 and relational data, using industry standard SQL.  The Illustra database
 system can also be extended via snap-in software, called DataBlade modules.
 Users can build their own DataBlade modules, or purchase them from Illustra
 or third-party vendors.
 
 "Once we had developed a new database-driven electronic publishing model, we
 decided to go database shopping," said Larry White of Hyperzine.  "We heard
 about Illustra and its tagline, 'the Database for Cyberspace,' and after
 talking with their representatives and reviewing their home page, we knew it
 was going to be a good fit. With Illustra's technology, I've basically been
 able to do everything I wanted with my Web application.  Our site is
 entirely database-driven.  There are few hard-coded links.  Even our
 glossary is stored in a table inside the database, and hyperlinks to
 glossary information are automatically 
 generated. Shortly, we will also dynamically generate links to sponsor
 sites. I had a vision, and Illustra allowed me to implement it."
 
 With the Web DataBlade module, the database does all the work
 "Who would have predicted 24 months ago that HTML would be a data type we
 would all be worrying about," said Robbie Vann-Adibe, director of product
 strategy for Illustra.  "The industry continues watching relational vendors
 struggle to support HTML and other rich, multimedia data types of the Web.
 Meanwhile, Illustra already supports them because Illustra's architecture
 was designed to support any defineable data type.   Next year, there will be
 a new data type to worry about, and the question will be, 'How quickly can
 your environment take advantage of it?'"
 
 Dynamic Page Creation
 The Web DataBlade module dynamically generates HTML pages and hyperlinks
 from components inside the database, as well as data collected as the
 visitor "surfs" the Web site.
 
 Application Pages
 The Web DataBlade module provides "Application Pages" or building blocks
 that make building a Web site faster and easier.  Application pages are
 modular and therefore, conducive to reuse.  For example, if users build an
 application page to dynamically generate headers and footers displaying
 their company's logo, they can reuse that page for every application they
 write thereafter.
 
 Supports All Standard Web Servers
 The Web DataBlade module does not lock the user into one Web server, but
 rather, provides an interface to all the leading industry Web servers.
 
 Manages Entire Web Site in One Database 
 Illustra's object-relational database management system supports all types
 of data and data formats in one database.  Users can manage graphics, video,
 full text, and HTML pages in one database server.  Relational technologies
 typically require multiple specialized servers such as, a video server, a
 Web server, and a server that supports full text search.  Using Illustra,
 Webmasters can now search across both the "content" and the "code" that
 makes up their Web site.
 
 Open Environment Allows Webmasters to Innovate Without Leaving Users Behind
 The Web DataBlade module is "mark-up tag independent," allowing users to
 pick and choose the HTML tags they prefer. As a result, Web sites can make
 use of the most advanced HTML tags, without excluding anyone. For example,
 using the Web DataBlade module's support for conditional HTML, the database
 can automatically format data in frames for those customers' browsers that
 support them, and without frames for those that do not.
 
 Eliminates the Need for Propietary Scripting Languages
 The Web DataBlade module eliminates the need to develop propietary scripts
 in languages such as perl or tcl to dynamically access, process, and format
 database content.  The database does all the work. 
 
 Provides Targeted Advertising Capability
 The Web DataBlade module can take advantage of Illustra's facilities for
 user-tracking and version control to customize content for each user that
 logs onto the site.  Customizing content enables such things as targeted
 advertising.
 
 "We have found that the unique architectural advantages of Illustra provide
 the best platform for transaction processing and asset management
 applications on the Web," said Jim Davidson of NaviSoft.  "These features
 include:  ad-hoc query using HTML forms; full text search of HTML pages
 through the Text DataBlade; and automatic page versioning through Illustra's
 innovative no-overwrite storage mechanism."
 
 Regarding traditional relational database management systems and complex
 data, Michael Stonebraker, Chief Technology Officer of Illustra said,
 "Relational database companies attempt to support the rich multimedia data
 types of the Web, such as images, video, maps and documents, but do so with
 severe performance degradation.  Relational vendors must simulate complex
 data types on top of  traditional SQL-2 data types.  Furthermore, content
 queries on such objects must typically be done in application logic, because
 no support for rich data types is provided in SQL-2.  In contrast, Illustra
 manages complex data as "native types" and offers full SQL support for all
 data types."
 
 Availability and Pricing
 The Illustra Web DataBlade module is available immediately.  Pricing begins
 at US$395 per single developer license.
 
 Editor's Note
 Headquartered in Oakland, Calif., Illustra Information Technologies, Inc.,
 The Database for Cyberspace, is the leading worldwide supplier of content
 management systems and tools for applications in multimedia and
 entertainment, digital media publishing and financial services. The
 company's flagship product, the Illustra Server, allows users to store,
 manage and analyze complex multimedia data, such as audio, video and images,
 in a single database along with traditional character strings and numbers.
 The company was founded in 1992.  For more information on the company and
 Illustra's products,  please visit http://www.illustra.com.
 
 ###
 
 Illustra, the Illustra logo and DataBlades are trademarks or registered
 trademarks of Illustra Information Technologies, Inc.  All other products
 are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.

Received on Tuesday, 5 December 1995 12:46:23 UTC