1/30/2004 10:01:00 AM
Head-worn, display with easy-to-use integrated wireless wearable
computer increases throughput and productivity by up to
40% in automotive service bays
BOTHELL, Wash.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Jan. 30, 2004–
Microvision, Inc. (Nasdaq:MVIS) today announced the launch of the
Nomad Expert Technician System, the first wireless wearable computer
with a head-worn, head-up display.
Scheduled for first commercial shipments in the first quarter of
2004, the Nomad Expert Technician System allows automotive service
technicians to superimpose text and diagrams from electronic service
manuals directly over their workspace, so that they can stay focused
on their task and perform diagnostic and repair work faster and more
accurately. As a result, dealers, service managers and service
technicians can keep customer satisfaction high and new technicians
can be trained quickly to achieve peak performance levels.
The Nomad Expert Technician System will be unveiled in a national
advertising campaign aimed at full service automotive dealerships and
independent service chains, beginning with a “Sneak Preview”, held at
the Embassy Suites – Convention Center Hotel in Las Vegas during the
National Automobile Dealers Association Conference and Exposition,
January 30 – February 3. Details can be found at
www.microvision.com/sneakpreview.
The Nomad Expert Technician System is the world’s first “connect
and work,” wireless, head-up, wearable computer, and is specifically
designed to be familiar, intuitive and easy to operate.
Weighing only 4.5 ounces, the Nomad head-worn Display Module
delivers high contrast, high-resolution (SVGA) transparent images that
can be overlaid on the user’s vision. Users can choose from two
comfortable headgear options: A version mounted under the brim of a
baseball cap or integrated into a stylish contemporary headband. The
Nomad Expert Technician System includes a fully integrated wireless
(802.11b) Windows CE.Net “thin client” computer, so that it can be
easily connected to an existing computer terminal or remote server to
access automakers’ web-based service content via the included Internet
Explorer browser. The user controls input and navigation through a
handy touch pad and keypad on the belt-mounted Nomad Control Module.
In separate field trials at American Honda Motor Company and Volvo
Trucks North America, technicians using the Nomad Expert Technician
System reduced their time to perform a range of repair and maintenance
tasks by up to 40%. As part of a recent study by Microvision, a
formula for return on investment (ROI) with the use of the Nomad
Augmented Vision System was created for a typical automotive
dealership. At a conservative 18 – 20% time efficiency gain, a
dealership would realize a net ROI of $2,292 per technician per month.
Annualized for an average dealership repair shop consisting of eight
technicians, the ROI could be as high as $113,000.
Strong Industry Acceptance
Automotive industry reaction has been strongly positive according
to Tom Sanko, Vice President of Marketing for Microvision. “We’ve
received an enthusiastic response from every segment of the automotive
repair market during the last few months of pilot trials, from car and
truck manufacturers to new car dealerships, and from aftermarket
digital content providers to large independent service and parts
chains,” said Sanko. “They become believers in the benefits of the
Nomad System after seeing how easily technicians and other front line
workers adapt to a new way of working that improves quality and
productivity.”
“The Nomad product will help us to have more accurate, more timely
repairs and services for vehicles,” said Larry Mallory, General
Manager, Honda of Kirkland, Kirkland, Washington and Chairman of the
e-Business Committee, Honda Dealer Council. “Our customers want
perfect Hondas, we want to give them perfect Hondas and American Honda
Motor Company wants that too … it’s a win, win, win product.”
“The Nomad Expert Technician System gives us a competitive
advantage by providing quality repairs, quickly,” said Chud Wendle,
President, Wendle Motors, Inc., a Ford dealer in Spokane, Washington.
“The customer, dealer and manufacturer all win by ‘getting it right
the first time.'”
“Nomad gives us the opportunity to be more productive and
efficient with the diagnosis and repair services we offer,” said John
Wiegand, Senior VP of Operational Programs, Precision Tune Auto Care,
Inc. Leesburg, Virginia. “The Nomad System allows us to instantly
access the needed repair data to promptly handle our customers
concerns.”
“I’ve been a service technician for 19 years, and this is the most
significant change that I have seen in that 19 years,” said Ray Mesa,
Master Service Technician, Roger Beasley Lincoln-Mercury, Victoria,
Texas. “Nomad is going to revolutionize the industry. Words can’t
describe how neat it is and how much time it can save you, because the
more complex these cars get, the more information you need. Instead of
having information just in the manuals, on a computer or a laptop,
it’s right there at your fingertips … right there in front of you
… information all the time.”
The Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) for the Nomad
Expert Technician System is $3,995 for a complete system with
integrated wireless computer. Distribution of the product will be
through Microvision’s direct sales organization and a number of
certified resellers, OEM partners and approved automotive distribution
centers.
According to the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association the
service portion of the automotive aftermarket is estimated at $132
billion in 2003, with roughly $59 billion of that coming from labor.
Sales of tools used in aftermarket service and maintenance were
estimated at $7.9 billion for the year.
There were 25,200 separate new car dealer franchises listed in the
1997 U.S. Economic Census. Worldwide there are an estimated 73,000 new
car dealerships, 3,200 heavy truck dealers, 448,000 Repair Shops, and
48,000 tire dealers. In total these enterprises employ more than 1.37
million technicians. More than 43% or 591,000 technicians are employed
in the U.S.
About Microvision: www.microvision.com
Headquartered in Bothell, Wash., Microvision Inc. is the world
leader in the development of high-resolution displays and imaging
systems based on the company’s proprietary silicon micro-mirror
technology. The company’s technology has applications in a broad range
of military, medical, industrial, professional and consumer products.
Microvision has been working with Canon, BMW, the Electronics
Research Lab of Volkswagen of America and others to develop a number
of display and image capture product applications based on its
proprietary scanned beam technology.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements contained in this release, including those
relating to timing of commercial shipments, potential return on
investment, product distribution channels and product performance and
applications, as well as statements containing words like “believe,”
“expect,” and other similar expressions, are forward-looking
statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Factors
that could cause actual results to differ materially from those
projected in the company’s forward-looking statements include the
following: market acceptance of our technologies and products; our
ability to obtain financing; our financial and technical resources
relative to those of our competitors; our ability to keep up with
rapid technological change; government regulation of our technologies;
our ability to enforce our intellectual property rights and protect
our proprietary technologies; the ability to obtain additional
contract awards and to develop partnership opportunities; the timing
of commercial product launches; the ability to achieve key technical
milestones in key products; and other risk factors identified from
time to time in the company’s SEC reports, including in its Annual
Report on 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002, and its Quarterly
Reports on Form 10-Q.
CONTACT: Microvision, Inc.
Matt Nichols (media), 425-415-6657
Brian Heagler (investors), 425-415-6794
SOURCE: Microvision, Inc.