1/2/2002 6:48:00 AM
<![CDATA[BOTHELL, Wash., Jan 2, 2002 (BUSINESS WIRE) — Microvision, Inc. (Nasdaq:MVIS)
today announced that it has begun shipping the first Nomad(TM)Personal Display
System to customers.
The Nomad display system is a high-resolution headworn display that presents
images and information to the user in a see-through or “head-up” mode. This
unique personal display will enable head-up, hands-free access to information
such as diagrams, instrumentation, maintenance records, moving maps and
interactive training manuals. The Nomad display 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 immediately compatible with a broad range of existing
applications and content.
By enabling users to merge selected electronic images into their natural field
of vision, the Nomad Personal Display System can bring critical information to
the point of task. From flight lines to factory floors, surgical suites, and
more, systems utilizing the Nomad display can deliver major improvements in
productivity, quality and safety for virtually any type of manual task.
The company is targeting applications for workers in four vertical markets —
industrial, aerospace, medical, and military — that enable customers to keep
information in front of people engaged in manual tasks or on the move, noted
Rick Rutkowski, Microvision CEO.
The first shipments reflect the diverse applications for the Nomad system that
Microvision is developing with customers and partners:
Stryker Leibinger (a division of Stryker Corporation) will
couple the Nomad system with a surgical workstation. The
display will provide surgeons with a see-through display so
they can visualize the surgical field while viewing targeting
and guidance information provided by the workstation. The
system has the potential to improve accuracy and decrease
operative time.
Telesensory, a leader in providing product solutions to assist
people with low vision, will assess the Nomad system as a
device intended to improve the ability of people with low
vision to read printed material.
EUROCONTROL, the European Agency for the Safety of Air
Navigation, will evaluate its first Nomad systems as tools to
improve visualization for air traffic controllers, potentially
reducing stress and workload, reducing delays, and improving
airport safety.
ARVIKA — a consortium of German companies including Audi,
Siemens, Volkswagen, and Airbus — is researching augmented
reality technologies to support development, production and
servicing of complex technical products in a user-oriented,
application-driven manner. ARVIKA will adapt Nomad systems
into its research projects. Consortium members will also
evaluate the Nomad display for their own specific near-term
applications.
“This year will be an exciting time for Microvision,” noted Rutkowski. “We are
now shipping a ground-breaking display product that enables a whole new paradigm
for how electronic information is visualized in applications from maintenance
and manufacturing to air-traffic control, surgery and security. As a result of
our work, the U.S. military recently awarded us contracts to further develop and
enhance the Nomad display technology for both combat and medical applications.
With Nomad, Microvision has the opportunity to play a role in shaping and
defining a very significant new market in information technology as it develops
over the next several years.”
Microvision set stringent performance expectations for the Nomad system, said
Rutkowski. “Based on feedback from customer evaluations of prototypes and the
field trials we’ve conducted in the last two years, we’re confident that the
Nomad display delivers a level of performance that is both essential to safe
head-up visualization, and absolutely unique in the marketplace.”
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.
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CONTACT: Microvision Inc.
Matt Nichols, 425/415-6847 (media)
mattn@mvis.com
or
Brian Heagler, 425/415-6847 (investors)
brian_heagler@mvis.comURL: http://www.businesswire.com
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