3/18/2002 6:32:00 AM
BOTHELL, Wash., Mar 18, 2002 (BUSINESS WIRE) —
Nomad System Enhances GPS-based Laser Measurement Instruments Used in Survey and Construction
Microvision (Nasdaq:MVIS) today
announced that it has signed a reseller distribution agreement with Laser
Control, Inc. of Bloomington MN as a value added reseller (VAR) for the
Nomad(TM) Personal Display System.
Laser Control, the largest dealer of TopCon wireless GPS and laser surveying
systems in the US, will market Microvision’s unique Nomad wearable display as
part of its line of surveying and measurement instruments used by professional
surveyors, civil engineers and the construction industry.
Wireless GPS and laser surveying instruments generate, capture and display
site-specific coordinates and contour lines that contractors refer to in order
to ensure accuracy throughout planning, surveying, site preparation and
construction, and to minimize the potential for costly mistakes.
Today, grader drivers refer to information generated by the instruments while
operating the equipment, but have to look back and forth between the outside
view and an LCD screen to see these visual cues. Drivers wearing the Nomad
System will be able to keep their eyes on the blade and see contour lines
superimposed over their view of the construction site, allowing them to avoid
running over surveyor’s stakes or making bad cuts (which have to be redone).
“Because of its ability to present positioning cues in a head-up mode, the Nomad
System can turn a 19 ton dozer into a precision instrument,” said Bruce Ridley
Microvision’s marketing manager for industrial applications.
According to Ridley, keeping a driver head-up in the cab also makes for a safer
site, but he is quick to point out that heavy equipment operators are not the
only people on construction sites who will benefit by using the Nomad System.
Surveyors, site supervisors, and equipment maintenance mechanics can also view
site specifications at the point of task.
“We’re very excited about the prospects for the Nomad System in the construction
and engineering field,” said Ridley. “This is a huge industry, and it’s
reasonable to believe that over a period of time, we could see two or three
Nomad Systems at any given construction site. Our timing is also good. The
construction industry has realized enormous benefits from the widespread
adoption of precision laser and GPS-based survey and contour measurement
instruments. The Nomad System is a perfect complement to those high-tech tools.”
“The Nomad System offers a number of compelling benefits,” said Steve Salz,
president of fourteen-year-old Laser Control. “Our customers have enjoyed real
gains in productivity and job quality with automated measurement instruments in
recent years. As a result, they are very open to new technologies that can build
on those systems and compound those benefits.
“The Nomad System really adds to the automated measurement tools in use today.
The ability to view information head-up can allow contractors to improve grading
accuracy, and make fewer mistakes eliminating costly reworking of job sites and
reducing job completion time, in many cases by as much as 15 percent. The
benefit of improved safety should not be underestimated either, since
construction accidents can be both tragic and extremely costly.”
About the Nomad Personal Display System:
Based on Microvision’s patented light scanning technology, the recently
introduced Nomad system is a high-resolution head-worn display that presents
images and information to the user on a see-through virtual 17-inch display.
This unique personal display enables hands-free access to such information
diagrams, instrumentation, maintenance records, moving maps and interactive
training manuals, superimposing the information on the user’s view and creating
“augmented vision.” The Nomad system features full daylight-readability,
allowing users to view high contrast images in even the most challenging ambient
lighting conditions. High quality, Super VGA resolution makes the Nomad system
immediately compatible with a broad range of existing applications and content.
From flight paths to factory floors, surgical suites, and more, the Nomad system
can deliver major improvements in productivity, quality and safety for virtually
any type of manual task. The company is targeting applications in four vertical
markets — industrial, aerospace, medical, and military — that enable customers
About Microvision: www.mvis.com
Headquartered in Bothell, Wash., Microvision Inc. is the developer of the
patented retinal scanning display technology and a world leader in micro
miniature optical scanning technology for display and imaging applications. The
company’s technology has applications in a broad range of military, medical,
industrial, professional and consumer information products. Nomad is a trademark
of Microvision, Inc.
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. mission.
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CONTACT:
Microvision
Matt Nichols (media)
Brian Heagler (investors)
425/415-6847
mattn@mvis.com
brian_heagler@mvis.com
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