Oracle Shows Off Latest Database

Oracle Corp. introduced a host of new software products at its Open World customer conference in Los Angeles late last month. Among them are Oracle Solutions Online, a Web-based guide to the companys products; Personal Oracle Lite 3.0, a single-user object-relational database; and industry-specific business applications for aerospace and defense, high-tech, and industrial manufacturers. Company officials also described in detail some of the new features of the companys latest release of its flagship database system, Oracle 8. The new database enables users to input a variety of types of data, including images, video, and spatial data. The new databases query capabilities have been improved, according to Oracle database executive Jerry Held. A 10-dimensional query, for example, that required 140 seconds using Oracle 7, takes just 1.5 seconds with Oracle 8. Some organizations already using the new system include Electronic Data Systems Corp., NASDAQ, and Rockwell Automation/Allen Bradley.