Sony, SCEI, IBM to develop content creation environment

Sony Corp., Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCEI) and IBM have revealed their plans to develop a digital content creation environment, a computing application planned for the Cell processor.

The companies expect to build the first prototype Cell-based workstations in during the fourth quarter of 2004. Utilizing massive data bandwidth and vast floating point capabilities, coupled with a parallel processing architecture, the Cell processor based development environment is expected to deliver quantum-leap innovation to entertainment applications. Cell-based workstations will be designed to expand the platform for creating digital content across future movie and video game entertainment industries.

IBM intends to develop the Cell-based workstations to power digital content creation. Sony and SCEI plan to lead the development of the Cell-based operating environment by providing the architecture, algorithms, middleware and data structure for tools needed to create digital content for movies and computer entertainment applications.