Great NEWS TODAY (not rehash or speculative posting)
Company Press Release
SOURCE: Xybernaut Corporation
Xybernaut(R) and Sendero Group Offer Navigational Systems for the Blind and Visually Impaired Solutions for Millions of Visually Impaired Persons Part of Xybernaut's Broader Push into Medical Marketplace
FAIRFAX, Va., April 24 /PRNewswire/ -- Xybernaut Corporation (Nasdaq: XYBR - news), the leader in wearable computing and communication solutions, announced today that it has signed agreements with Sendero Group to provide navigation systems to people who are blind or visually impaired. This new relationship will focus attention on harnessing wearable technology to assist people who are blind or visually impaired to move freely and accurately in unfamiliar settings. Xybernaut has previously helped to develop wearable computing solutions for individuals with dyslexia using voice commands to enter information and avoid transposition problems.
Under the agreements, Sendero Group will serve as a reseller for Xybernaut's wearable computing solutions, products and services and Xybernaut will additionally provide consultation and equipment to the Sendero Group to foster more research in the area of wearable, wireless, voice interfaced, navigation systems for people who are blind or visually impaired. In the U.S. alone, there are approximately 2.6 million people who are blind or visually impaired, many of whom can benefit from this solution. One of the primary navigational solutions being marketed with Sendero Group is GPS-Talk.
GPS-Talk is a ``talking map,' which consists of a GPS (Global Positioning System) receiver, a Xybernaut MA IV© wearable PC, customized speech output software, an external speaker, digital map data and GPS-Talk software to provide users with block-by-block orientation information. This technology has been under development since 1993 with testing starting in 1995 and active use since 1996. GPS-Talk was developed by Michael May, founder and president, of Sendero Group with assistance by Xybernaut and May's team at Sendero Group. May was blind from the age of three, but recently underwent a successful procedure for sight restoration.
``Xybernaut has been working with Michael May, his partners and company in an 'unofficial' capacity for several years to help heighten the awareness of the benefits that can be derived by applying wearable technology to assist people who are blind or visually impaired,' stated Edward G. Newman, president and CEO of Xybernaut. ``We have provided Sendero Group with know how, equipment and consulting services to help further their research and development efforts and May has spoken at numerous forums on the developments in navigational systems for the visually impaired.
``We are pleased that he will be speaking at our upcoming International Conference on Wearable Computing, May 17th, 2000, in McLean, Virginia on this issue. Xybernaut looks forward to growing our involvement with Sendero Group and continuing these important development efforts for the blind community for both humanitarian reasons and because we see the medical marketplace as a major sector for wearable technology,' Newman continued.
``Sendero has benefited greatly from the support we've received from Xybernaut,' commented Michael May, founder and president of Sendero Group. ``They have gone out of their way to support our efforts over the years. Formalizing our relationship is a natural progression and one which we are hopeful will bring many fruitful returns for the visually impaired and Xybernaut alike. We expect this new relationship will help better deliver our solutions to this market.'
About Xybernaut Corporation
Xybernaut Corporation is the leading provider of wearable computing hardware, software and services. The company's patented wearable computer is a full-function Pentium PC that runs Microsoft MS-DOS, Windows, and Windows NT, along with UNIX, Linux and other operating systems that run on the Intel x86 architecture. The MA IV© allows users hands-free access to information in the computer's internal storage, in local area networks and on the Internet on an as-needed, where-needed basis. With the MA IV, customers realize immediate savings in maintenance and repair, diagnosis, inspection, inventory control and data collection procedures. Key industries using Xybernaut's products include manufacturing, distribution, transportation, government, and utilities. Headquartered in Fairfax, Virginia, Xybernaut has offices and subsidiaries in Europe (Germany) and Asia (Japan). Visit Xybernaut's web site at xybernaut.com.
About Sendero Group
The Sendero Group is developing and distributing Talking map and GPS information and navigation products for blindness markets worldwide. Sendero was founded by Michael May, vice president of Sales for 5 years at Arkenstone, a leader in the adaptive technology industry along with the software patent author, Charles LaPierre and leading US distributor Jim Misener of Beyond Sight, all of whom are blind or visually impaired. Visit Sendero Group at senderogroup.com.
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,' ``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 successful development and production of Xybernaut's next generation of wearable computers by Xybernaut and IBM, general acceptance of this next generation of product, competitive factors, the ability to successfully complete additional financings to fund marketing and other risks described in the Xybernaut's SEC reports and filings.
MS-DOS, Windows and Windows NT are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation
SOURCE: Xybernaut Corporation |
