Xybernaut and REI Systems, Inc. Combine Wearable Computing and Electronic Performance Support Systems
Friday September 12, 9:15 am ET
"Point of Task" Performance and Knowledge Management Improvements Target Heavy Industries, Manufacturing and Inspection/Repair
FAIRFAX, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 12, 2003-- Xybernaut® Corporation (NASDAQ: XYBR - News) and REI Systems, Inc. (REI) today announced joint marketing efforts under a reseller agreement naming Xybernaut as a value added reseller for REI electronic performance support systems (EPSS) technologies. Additionally, Xybernaut and REI also announced that Xybernaut mobile/wearable computers and REI's MAINT-X applications are being combined into a comprehensive performance improvement solution for enterprise customers.
Under terms of the agreements, REI Systems, Inc. and Xybernaut have already been working together for approximately 6 months to develop and deploy the integrated platform. The joint solution, which is based on Xybernaut Mobile Assistant® V (MA® V) and Atigo(TM) wearable computers and REI MAINT-X(TM) software, integrates technical instructions/procedures, diagrams, illustrated parts documents, inventory data, computer-based training tools, subject matter expert advice, and other information resources into a single portable system.
"REI and Xybernaut have existing relationships with many large enterprises that would likely see greater results with our combined platform," said Steven A. Newman, president of Xybernaut. "We believe that the joint REI-Xybernaut solution will be readily accepted by small, medium and large enterprises as a cost-effective platform for arming field technicians to become more efficient and effective on a daily basis."
Current efforts concentrate on industrial functions such as inspection, maintenance and repair. One of the first opportunities to deploy this solution is related to the previously announced teaming agreement between Xybernaut and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI). With MHI, Xybernaut is integrating MAINT-X and other technologies including remote video/audio technical assistance and dynamic forms generation to create "Mobile Toolkits" for inspection/maintenance/repair.
Target industry sectors include government/military, heavy industries, manufacturing, utilities, telecommunication, aerospace/aviation and many others. These initial efforts are concentrating on larger enterprise customers with field force employees that are likely to see increased productivity when mobile computing devices and MAINT-X are deployed to support their day-to-day operations.
A typical customer, for example, might be a manufacturing company with numerous teams of field technicians -- engineers, inspectors, quality assurance professionals, and/or others. These field technicians are able to utilize Xybernaut mobile/wearable computers running REI's MAINT-X applications to access inspection, maintenance and technical assistance to more efficiently and more accurately complete tasks in the field.
"The mobility and point-of-task computing power afforded by the combined Xybernaut-REI solution allows field employees increased flexibility and greater accessibility to asset data and detailed maintenance information at critical moments," said Roger LaPlante, MAINT-X Program Manager, for REI Systems, Inc. "With access to mission-specific information at the job-site, field technicians are able to make more accurate decisions and perform better under pressure. Additionally, they can gather valuable information related to procedures or specific assets that can be used for various decision-making purposes."
EPSS systems such as MAINT-X provide organizations with multiple tangible business benefits such as:
Time savings -- improved productivity/efficiency
Cost savings -- reduced technician labor and streamlines spares stockpiles
Higher accuracy related to field technician tasks
Better communication across different organizational departments
Increased regulatory compliance
More effective knowledge management
Both companies are leaders in their respective markets -- Xybernaut in mobile/wearable computing, and REI Systems in EPSS -- which can easily integrate with existing Computerized Maintenance Management Systems (CMMS) and Enterprise Asset Management (EAM) systems. The companies have worked together to integrate the Xybernaut Mobile Assistant® V (MA® V) and Atigo(TM) mobile/wearable computers with the capabilities of the REI MAINT-X(TM) product.
About REI Systems Inc.
Founded in 1989, REI Systems, Inc., is a privately held, widely respected provider of web-enabled, database-driven business process management and performance support solutions for both federal agencies and the commercial and industrial (C&I) sector. REI develops reliable, effective and innovative solutions that boost knowledge worker productivity and automate, standardize and streamline business processes enterprise-wide. REI is based in Annandale, VA and can be found on the Web at www.reisys.com.
About Xybernaut
Xybernaut Corporation is the leading provider of wearable/mobile computing hardware, software and services, bringing communications and full-function computing power in a hands-free design to people when and where they need it. Headquartered in Fairfax, Virginia, Xybernaut has offices and subsidiaries in Europe (Germany) and Asia (Japan). Visit Xybernaut's Web site at www.xybernaut.com.
Xybernaut, the Xybernaut logo and Mobile Assistant® V (MA® V) and Atigo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Xybernaut Corporation in the USA and other countries. All other brand and product names are or may be trademarks of, and are used to identify products or services of, their respective owners.
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the "Act"). In particular, when used in the preceding discussion, the words "plan," "confident that," "believe," "scheduled," "expect," or "intend to," and similar conditional expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Act and are subject to the safe harbor created by the Act. Such statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties and actual results could differ materially from those expressed in any of the forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, market conditions, the availability of components and successful production of the Company's products, general acceptance of the Company's products and technologies, competitive factors, timing, and other risks described in the Company's SEC reports and filings.
Third party statements contained herein and information contained on any third party website are not endorsed by or adopted by Xybernaut, nor has their accuracy been verified by Xybernaut.
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Contact:
Xybernaut Corporation
Michael Binko, APR, 703-631-6925
mbinko@xybernaut.com
or
REI Systems, Inc.
Anna Liisa Van Mantgem, 703-256-2245
avanmantgem@reisys.com
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Source: Xybernaut Corporation |
