3/4/2002 9:14:00 AM
DETROIT,(BUSINESS WIRE),March 4, 2002
Nomad Personal Display System allows hands-free
access to automotive maintenance procedures
Today at the Society of Automotive Engineers conference in
Detroit, MI (March 4-7), Microvision, Inc. (Nasdaq:MVIS) unveiled the
Expert Mechanic Package featuring the Nomad(TM)Personal Display
System.
Microvision is demonstrating the system at booth No. 1625. The
system is being targeted to automakers and fleet operators who wish to
reduce maintenance and warranty expenses by increasing the automotive
mechanic’s productivity.
The Expert Mechanic Package is built around the Nomad System, the
world’s first high brightness, head-worn, see-through display. The
system increases the productivity of service technicians and mechanics
by allowing head up, hands-free access at the point of task to images
and information such as automotive service manuals in electronic
format. The Nomad display superimposes technical data and procedural
instructions in the worker’s field of view, according to Bruce Ridley,
Microvision marketing manager for industrial applications.
A recent field trial done in the service department of an
ambulance and emergency vehicle company — where minimizing downtime
is critical — proved that the Expert Mechanic Package increased
efficiency and provided on-the-job (or at-the-task) training. The
trial resulted in a total efficiency gain of 45 percent. Experts
decreased their repair time by 27 percent and novices decreased 63
percent.
Of particular significance, noted Ridley, was that novice task
time and expert task time ended up almost equal, proving that
“information at the point of task can help train employees of all
levels.”
As a result of recent demonstrations of the Expert Mechanic
Package, Microvision expects to begin field trials with one or more
automobile manufacturers within the next ninety days. The company also
expects to attract fleet, airline and other large maintenance
operations and is also in active discussions with content and service
providers while at the SAE conference.
“We think this application of the Nomad System has enormous
potential,” added Ridley. “With each model year automobiles are
becoming increasingly complex while customers’ expectations for
reliability and a satisfactory service experience are rising. It’s
nearly impossible to adequately train service technicians and the
result can be escalating warranty costs for automakers.”
By providing interactive electronic support for maintenance and
repair procedures, the Expert Mechanic Package can improve quality and
productivity to help automakers control those costs. Service
technicians and mechanics will perform more accurate diagnoses and
spend less time looking for information with a system designed to
display relevant information at the worker’s point of task.
Microvision’s Expert Mechanic Package includes the Nomad Personal
Display System, a wearable computer, voice activated software, and an
optional wireless communication feature that enables hands-free access
to a remote server. The Expert Mechanic Package bundle retails at
approximately $16,000.
Based on Microvision’s patented light scanning technology, the
recently introduced Nomad Personal Display 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 information such as 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 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 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, allowing access to information at the point of task and
information, anywhere.
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.
CONTACT:
Microvision Inc.
Matt Nichols (media), 425/415-6657
or
Brian Heagler (investors), 425/415-6794