7/14/2005 9:36:00 AM
BOTHELL, Wash.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–July 14, 2005–Microvision, Inc.
(Nasdaq:MVIS), the world leader in the development of scanned beam
displays and imaging products, today announced it will immediately
promote Microvision’s Nomad Expert Technician System as a wireless
remote display and terminal for Hunter Engineering Company’s latest
line of automotive wheel alignment machines.
The Nomad Expert Technician System, the world’s only hands-free
wearable computer with a head-worn, head-up display, enables
technicians and other mobile workers to overlay relevant information
on their tasks, thereby reducing task time and guesswork by
eliminating footsteps. While the Hunter Wheel Alignment Systems have
existing flat panel or CRT displays, the Nomad display makes the task
easier, since the display is always in view. The remote terminal
application allows the technician to control the console as if he was
standing at it — while never leaving the vehicle. This capability can
be very convenient when using optional Hunter WinAlign(R) Software
features such as Digital Photo and Digital Video to help perform
thorough pre-alignment inspections or diagnostic evaluations.
With installations world-wide, including thousands of automotive
dealerships and repair shops as well as exclusive arrangements with
Sears Auto and Tire Centers and Midas Muffler Shops, Hunter
Engineering is a world leader in wheel alignment, brake service, wheel
service, and safety inspection lane equipment. Hunter systems are also
used by virtually every automobile manufacturer in their assembly
plants and corporate garages, and by many of the major automotive
dealer groups. Hunter has over 600 sales and service representatives
in the field.
Hunter’s latest system, the Series 811, runs Windows(R) XP Home
operating system and with a minor hardware and software upgrade to
Windows(R) XP Professional and Hunter’s WinAlign(R) 8.1 Software, the
screen display can be remotely viewed and operated by a service
technician wearing the Nomad System. As a result, the technician can
interact with the Hunter System from all four corners of the car.
Tom Sanko, Microvision Vice President of Marketing commented, “The
Hunter Engineering alignment application for the Nomad Expert
Technician system is a major step in broadening market exposure for
the Nomad System in the automotive marketplace. There is a very large
installed base of loyal Hunter customers being served by 600
well-trained sales and service representatives. This is also one of
several “killer apps” for the Nomad System in the automotive service
shop. The benefit of a remote display and control for alignment
machines is easy to explain, understand and quantify so we believe
this application will serve as a great introduction to the Nomad
System for many service shops.”
Sanko continued, “We’ve already conducted a Nomad trial in a
Hunter installation in which we measured 39% overall time savings, a
system payback of 4.7 months, and a projected three-year increase in
gross profit of over $33,000 per system deployed.”
Microvision plans a variety of promotional activities, including
sales force promotion, website features, video and print case studies,
and demonstrations at selected automotive trade shows.
More information about the Hunter alignment systems can be found
at www.hunter.com.
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.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements contained in this release, including those
relating to performance, product applications, and those which use
words such as “can” and “believe” 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, 2004, and its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q.
CONTACT: Microvision, Inc.
Matt Nichols, 425-415-6657 (media)
Brian Heagler, 425-415-6794 (investors)
SOURCE: Microvision, Inc.