12/18/2000
Focus on Developing Visualization Tools to Make air Travel Safer and More Efficient
BOTHELL, Wash., Dec. 18 /PRNewswire/ — Microvision, Inc., (Nasdaq: MVIS), announced today that EUROCONTROL, The European Agency for the Safety of Air Navigation, has purchased for test and evaluation a prototype Nomad. Nomad, a head-worn display featuring the company’s breakthrough retinal scanning
display (RSD) technology, projects high-resolution, computer generated images
directly onto the user’s retina, appearing to the user as a “see-through”
computer screen at arm’s length. The Nomad display can improve visualization
for air traffic controllers to reduce stress and workload, and to reduce
delays and improve airport safety.
The unique and innovative display is scheduled for market release in mid
2001. EUROCONTROL’s purchase and evaluation of the Nomad prototype is part of
Microvision’s ongoing effort to identify compelling applications of the
display system in military, medical, and industrial market segments.
Air traffic controllers would use the display to help manage increasingly
complex air traffic information systems, by allowing them to view
computer-generated advisories while maintaining visual contact with the
terrain and airspace surrounding the airfield. The Nomad’s unique ability to
enable “head-up” image overlay against daylight conditions is seen as a key
requirement for this application.
Many within the aviation community believe that improved visualization
tools in air traffic control towers are a key to reducing the risk of runway
“incursions” and near collisions. As reported by USA TODAY, in the United
States alone, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has recorded 391 close
calls on runways during 2000, and the number could rise to a total of about
420 for the year. That total represents a 31% increase over 1999 and far
exceeds the FAA’s goal of holding these runway incidents to less than 250 for
the year. Poor visualization and communications alerts have been identified
as some of the possible reasons for the Oct. 31, 2000 crash of a Singapore
Airlines jet in Taiwan, which killed 82 people. In that accident, pilots
tried to take off on a runway under construction and slammed into equipment.
EUROCONTROL’S move to acquire the unique display is in direct response to
the decisions made by the ministers responsible for Air Traffic Services in
Europe where the EUROCONTROL Air Traffic Management (ATM) strategy for the
years 2000+ was formally adopted. The EUROCONTROL ATM Programme was developed
by the Agency to meet these challenging objectives in order to ensure greater
safety and efficiency for all phases of flight from before take off to after
landing. Microvision’s retinal scanning display will immediately begin
product evaluations within EUROCONTROL’s flight control tower simulator to
define application requirements for improving data display visibility for air
traffic controllers.
“Air traffic control is one of several exciting opportunities to apply the
Nomad display within the commercial aviation market,” commented Steve Whiston,
Microvision’s marketing manager for Aerospace and Defense. “Over
200 airfields in the United States have been identified for air traffic
management upgrades with each control tower having the potential for several
display units. Our work with EUROCONTROL will complement our activities in
cockpit safety systems and aircraft ground maintenance. We are excited to see
a significant market opportunity emerging in this market and we’re anxious to
deliver real benefits to airline operators, air crews and air travelers
alike.”
“The European ATM, as well as the FAA, have been looking for technology
vehicles to meet the aviation community’s future requirements for improving
Air Traffic Management service,” stated Marvin Storey, customer development
manager at Microvision. “The Nomad provides a means to increase safety for
the traveling public through the use of a “Head Up” Display that permits
reliable readability of electronic data against even the most challenging
ambient lighting conditions encountered in the Control Tower environment. We
are pleased that EUROCONTROL, is taking this first step to integrate our
display technology within their operations. We see a significant market
opportunity and we are confident that we can assist EUROCONTROL, and
ultimately the aviation community worldwide, by delivering a product that can
provide powerful enhancements to control tower visualization and awareness.”
About Microvision
Headquartered in Bothell, Wash., Microvision, Inc. is the developer of the
proprietary retinal scanning display technology and a world leader in micro
miniature optical scanning technology for display and imaging applications.
The company’s technology has application in a broad range of military,
medical, industrial, professional and consumer information products.
Microvision is also the majority owner of a newly established subsidiary,
Lumera Inc. http://www.lumera.com. Lumera is a world leader in the
development of electro-optic devices based on proprietary optical polymers.
The company will deliver superior and unique component solutions to optical
systems suppliers. Additional information can be found about Microvision at
the company’s Web site at http://www.mvis.com.
About EUROCONTROL
Founded in 1960, EUROCONTROL is the European Organization for the Safety
of Air Navigation. EUROCONTROL oversees air traffic control in the upper
airspace of its 29 Member States of Western and Eastern Europe. It has as its
most important goal the development of a coherent and coordinated air traffic
control system in Europe. Member States include Germany, Austria, Belgium,
Bulgaria, Cyprus, Croatia, Denmark, Spain, France, Greece, Hungary, Ireland,
Italy, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova,
Monaco, Norway, Netherlands, Portugal, Slovak Republic, Czech Republic,
Romania, United Kingdom, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland and Turkey.
Forward-Looking Statement
The information set forth in this release includes “forward-looking
statements” within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, as amended, and is subject to the safe harbor created by those
sections. Certain factors that realistically could cause results to differ
materially from those projected in the company’s forward-looking statements
are set forth in the company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly
Reports on Form 10-Q, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.