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#Xanadu!
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AUTODESK ACQUIRES XANADU
SAUSALITO, California, April 6, 1988 — Autodesk, Inc. announced
today that it has signed an agreement to acquire an eighty percent
equity interest in Xanadu Operating Company, of Palo Alto, California.
Xanadu is the developer, along with concept originator Theodor
Nelson, of the XanaduTM Hypertext System.
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The Xanadu Hypertext System stores, manages, and manipulates text
and graphical information. It is a new fundamental tool for
information processing in the work group environment.
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"Autodesk and Xanadu are forming this alliance because we believe
that hypertext has the potential to fundamentally change the way
individuals and groups process information," said Autodesk President
Alvar Green. "More pragmatically, we think the alliance makes
sense. Autodesk has always been a pioneer in bringing new
technology to market. Xanadu has demonstrated that their vision is
real. We see this acquisition as adding increased utility to the
current set of tools we provide to over 140,000 design professionals
world-wide, as well as opening an entirely new market for personal
computers."
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Roger Gregory, a founder of Xanadu, concurs. "Autodesk has the
financial, marketing, and distribution resources essential to our
success," Gregory remarked. "Combined with Xanadu's technology,
these resources will allow us to deliver true hypertext products
within the next eighteen months, with only modest support during
the development period." Gregory added that Xanadu will deliver a
preliminary Xanadu Hypertext System for research institutions and
advanced developers later this year.
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The acquisition of Xanadu will not materially affect the financial
results of Autodesk, Inc. Xanadu will operate as an independent
entity with Autodesk representation on its five-member board of
directors and in a key management position. Board members from
Autodesk will be President Alvar Green, Executive Vice President
Dan Drake, and Vice President for Corporate and Business Development
Chris Record. Other members of the board will be Phillip Salin and
Roger Gregory. Mr. Record will also act as President of the new
Xanadu subsidiary, to be located in Palo Alto, California. Mr. Gregory
will be Chairman.
Jamie:
What in blue blazes is hypertext? Anything like Hyperspace? Beam me up,
Scottie.
Craig.
.
Craig-
(From an outsiders point of view) Hypertext envolves the concept of
linking text with other text – for exaple, you might be able to click your
mouse on one word in a paragraph and up might spring a deeper explanation of
that subject. It's sort of a combination of a database organization with
wordprocessing. Apple's Hypercard is sort of a hypertext implementation –
but stops short of the full potential of the concept. If I have my histiry
right, folks (including Xanadu) have been working on sort of the ultimate
Hypertext implementation for a number of years but nothing has really come
along yet. Sounds like they might be getting close.
My curiosity is more why Autodesk chose to spread off into an area which
is not so clearly linked to CAD applications. I heard something about a
Hypertext front end for VersaCAD on the Mac so this may be somewhat of a
counter to that move? Any comments anyone?
>>> John <<<
John – From the start, we've intended to be a software company, not merely
a CAD company. AutoCAD was our first product that "hit", so we put all our
effort into it and have made it an industry standard. But we haven't lost
the desire to open other new markets as well! Xanadu itself is not limited
to text applications; it may form the basis for CAD symbol library or
drawing management products, for instance. Also, specific products aside,
acquisitions such as this one bring us some brilliant, creative people
(programmers, mathematicians, engineers, visionaries, managers…) whose
talents can be applied to many areas of our business, including the CAD
area of course. .
I understand that you guys had some other ideas when getting started
and may still have those ideas. I didn't mean to imply there was anything
wrong with that. As of late, however, you HAVE concentrated on the CAD
markets with Sketch and Shade and this just seems like a bit of a departure
from that trend. I'm sure you'll get some great people and do some great
things and we're all looking forward to that! Just keep up the good work
and we'll all be happy!
I understand that you guys had some other ideas when getting started
and may still have those ideas. I didn't mean to imply there was anything
wrong with that. As of late, however, you HAVE concentrated on the CAD
markets with Sketch and Shade and this just seems like a bit of a departure
from that trend. I'm sure you'll get some great people and do some great
things and we're all looking forward to that! Just keep up the good work
and we'll all be happy!
John – From the start, we've intended to be a software company, not merely
a CAD company. AutoCAD was our first product that "hit", so we put all our
effort into it and have made it an industry standard. But we haven't lost
the desire to open other new markets as well! Xanadu itself is not limited
to text applications; it may form the basis for CAD symbol library or
drawing management products, for instance. Also, specific products aside,
acquisitions such as this one bring us some brilliant, creative people
(programmers, mathematicians, engineers, visionaries, managers…) whose
talents can be applied to many areas of our business, including the CAD
area of course. .
Craig-
(From an outsiders point of view) Hypertext envolves the concept of
linking text with other text – for exaple, you might be able to click your
mouse on one word in a paragraph and up might spring a deeper explanation of
that subject. It's sort of a combination of a database organization with
wordprocessing. Apple's Hypercard is sort of a hypertext implementation –
but stops short of the full potential of the concept. If I have my histiry
right, folks (including Xanadu) have been working on sort of the ultimate
Hypertext implementation for a number of years but nothing has really come
along yet. Sounds like they might be getting close.
My curiosity is more why Autodesk chose to spread off into an area which
is not so clearly linked to CAD applications. I heard something about a
Hypertext front end for VersaCAD on the Mac so this may be somewhat of a
counter to that move? Any comments anyone?
>>> John <<<
Jamie:
What in blue blazes is hypertext? Anything like Hyperspace? Beam me up,
Scottie.
Craig.
.