12/6/2004 9:03:00 AM
BOTHELL, Wash.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Dec. 6, 2004–Microvision Inc.
(Nasdaq:MVIS) today announced the U.S. Army Reserve has purchased 37
units of the commercial Nomad Expert Technician System for immediate
fielding in U.S. based Army Reserve maintenance facilities. The system
implementation is planned to take place in over 10 locations and has
the potential to lead to follow-on orders.
“The Army’s interest in our commercial off the shelf (COTS) Nomad
Expert Technician System is a result of our automotive maintenance
studies showing productivity improvements as high as 40% and product
demonstrations at military maintenance facilities,” said Tom Sanko,
Microvision’s V.P. of Marketing. “The recent move in all branches of
the military to digitize maintenance manuals makes it possible for the
Nomad System to now support the defense maintenance, repair and
equipment overhaul sector at a time when personnel resources are
scarce due to pressures from overseas operations.”
The U.S. Department of Defense estimates there are 700,000
military and civilian personnel involved in defense maintenance
activities. “Microvision believes these personnel can benefit from the
same type of increased productivity, improved repair quality and
mobile information currently being experienced by service technicians
in the automotive sector,” said Sanko. “The efficiency gains provided
by the Nomad Expert Technician System with its wireless, head-up,
hands-free access to information should help shorthanded Army
maintenance facilities meet wartime readiness requirements.
“This purchase by the U.S. Army Reserve of the commercial Nomad
solution for maintenance applications is a second major defense
related milestone for Microvision. The first milestone was the
fielding of a military version of the Nomad as a helmet mounted
display by the Stryker Brigade to provide improved situational
awareness capabilities to vehicle commanders on the battlefield in
Iraq. We look forward to the opportunity to provide the Nomad for
additional defense related uses in the near future.”
The Nomad Expert Technician System is the world’s first wearable,
see-through display system providing maintenance technicians and
service personnel with hands-free access to online repair information
and equipment history while they work.
About Microvision: www.microvision.com
Headquartered in Bothell, Washington, 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 Statement
Certain statements contained in this release, including potential
follow-on orders, future sales opportunities and product applications,
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, 2003, 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.