12/20/2001 6:02:00 AM
BOTHELL, Wash.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Dec. 20, 2001–Microvision, Inc.
(Nasdaq:MVIS) today announced that it has been awarded a $3.3 million
development contract from the U.S. Army’s Medical Research Acquisition
Activity (USAMRAA), Telemedicine and Advanced Technology Research
Center (TATRC) for the initial phase in the development of a mobile
wireless personal display system for medical applications.
The contract supports the objectives for the Army’s INFOMEDIC
concept — a mobile medical system that will enable military surgical
personnel and medics to access, read, and transmit critical medical
data via a head-worn display, wearable computer, and wireless network.
Microvision will design, integrate, and test a head-worn mobile
display solution based on its unique retinal scanning display
technology to meet the Army’s medical system specification. The
INFOMEDIC display will be developed over the next 16 months, and will
leverage and build upon Microvision’s newly completed design of the
Nomad(TM) Personal Display System.
The Nomad Personal Display System is a `see-through,’
high-resolution, daylight-readable, head-worn display that augments
the user’s natural vision by merging electronic information into their
field of view to bring information to the “point of task.” The Nomad
display enables mobile workers to work hands-free and head-up in any
lighting condition, allowing them to access information anywhere As a
result, the Nomad system delivers major improvements in situational
awareness, productivity, safety, and precision and provides greater
versatility for mobile applications than alternative display
solutions.
“Microvision’s contract with TATRC underscores the company’s
objectives for the ongoing development of a family of personal
displays based on the Nomad product,” noted Rick Rutkowski,
Microvision president and CEO. “We are just beginning initial
commercial production of the Nomad system, and this effort will pave
the way for subsequent additions to the Nomad product line that will
feature enhancements in overall ergonomic design, form factor, and
performance; enhancements that will benefit a variety of military,
medical, aviation and industrial applications,” said Rutkowski. “This
contract gives Microvision the opportunity to demonstrate that we can
quickly design, develop, and deploy fully integrated display systems
for specific military applications. The INFOMEDIC concept represents
the future of battlefield medicine, and indeed the future of personal
information display. We are excited about the opportunity to
demonstrate the advantages that our display technology will bring to
this critical aspect of military operations.”
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.
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.
Per U.S. Army policy
This release refers to U.S. Army Award Number DAMD17-02-2-0005.
The U.S. Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity, 820 Chandler
Street, Fort Detrick MD 21702-5014 is the awarding and administering
acquisition office. The content does not necessarily reflect the
position or the policy of the Government; and no official endorsement
should be inferred.
| CONTACT: | Microvision Inc. |
|---|---|
| Matt Nichols, 425/415-6847 (media) | |
| mattn@mvis.com | |
| or | |
| Brian Heagler, 425/415-6847 (investors) | |
| brian_heagler@mvis.com | |