Monday May 24, 6:30 am Eastern Time
Company Press Release
SOURCE: Microvision, Inc.
Microvision Wins Second DARPA
Contract
BOTHELL, Wash., May 24 /PRNewswire/ -- Microvision, Inc. (Nasdaq: MVIS - news,
MVISW - news), developer of the heavily patented Virtual Retinal Display(TM)
(VRD(TM)) technology today announced that it has received funding for a second Phase I
contract from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Administration (DARPA).
Microvision will design a revolutionary ''Autoscope'' which allows multiple viewers to see
a stereoscopic, 3-D virtual image without the need for a head-worn device or special
viewing aids. Microvision will construct a proof-of-concept demonstrator, with the
possibility of a second phase contract for further product development.
Work performed during Phase I will include the design of an Autoscope to meet the
military's needs in various command-and-control applications. Additionally, the design has
the potential to directly support an existing need in the medical community for
high-performance, high-resolution, 3-D, off-the-head displays to service the growing
requirements associated with minimally invasive and microsurgical procedures. Research
analysts forecast that approximately 12 million endoscopic surgical procedures and
explorations, including cardiovascular and arthroscopic procedures, will be conducted by
the year 2000.
''As we continue to develop exciting head-worn applications for the VRD technology, we
also see the need for high-fidelity binocular 3-D displays that require no viewing aids,
unlike head-worn displays,'' said Dr. Thomas Lippert, Microvision Principal Scientist and
Principal Investigator for the Autoscope Project. ''But the highly complex nature of existing
auto-stereoscopic display systems limits their success in applications where video image
quality is of prime importance. For example, holograms are current forms of auto-
stereoscopic displays which remain optically complex, expensive, static, and incompatible
with electronic image sourcing in general. Other approaches suffer from optical complexity,
difficult maintenance of multiple image alignment, and generally low image quality. We
believe Microvision's Autoscope is the best approach to the development of an
auto-stereoscopic display because it combines optical simplicity with the VRD technology's
inherent benefits. The VRD technology features unmatched brightness and color gamut,
high contrast and color resolution, and high bandwith analog line scanning for the greatest
stereo image fidelity as well as pixilated video signal compatibility. Our objective is to
provide revolutionary displays that fully exploit human visual capabilities, while paying
special attention to user-friendly design requirements. In this manner we can meaningfully
improve user confidence and critical task performance.''
''We are honored to have been selected by DARPA with our second contract this year,''
stated Rick Rutkowski, Microvision President and CEO. ''DARPA's overall mission is to
develop imaginative, innovative, and high-risk research technologies offering a significant
technological impact that will go well beyond the normal evolutionary developmental
approaches, and to pursue these ideas from the demonstration of technical feasibility
through the development of prototype systems. Their funding of our technology
development is a strong validation of the product value we can deliver to multiple users in
the military and commercial sectors.''
About Microvision
Headquartered in Seattle, Microvision, Inc. (Nasdaq: MVIS - news, MVISW - news) is the
developer of the patented Virtual Retinal Display(TM) (VRD(TM)) technology that uses a
rapidly scanned beam of light to project images on the eye's retina, allowing the viewer to
see large, full-motion images without the need for a conventional display screen.
Microvision's objective is to be a leading provider of personal display products and imaging
technology in a broad range of military, medical, industrial, professional and consumer
applications. The company was founded in 1993. Additional information can be found at
the company's website at mvis.com.
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.
SOURCE: Microvision, Inc. |
