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Microvision Announces Second Department of Defense Contract for 1998
PR Newswire, Tuesday, January 06, 1998 at 09:37
Company to Build Battlefield Visualization and Situational Awareness Display
SEATTLE, Jan. 6 /PRNewswire/ -- Microvision, Inc. (NASDAQ:MVIS) today
announced that it was awarded a second contract this week by the Department of
Defense to build advanced helmet mounted and head worn display systems based
on Microvision's patented Virtual Retinal Display (VRDT) technology.
The U.S. Army's Battle Command Battle Lab (BCBL) awarded Microvision a
$1 million contract to build a head worn display to replace the desktop
monitor at a workstation within its tactical operations center in Leavenworth,
Kansas. In a separate announcement yesterday, the U.S. Army's Aircrew
Integrated Systems (ACIS) Program Office awarded Microvision a contract
exceeding $4 million to build a helmet mounted display for the ACIS Comanche
Helicopter Compatible Common Helmet program.
With today's contract, Microvision will provide BCBL with a prototype head
worn display system that incorporates an alternative to high-resolution
desktop monitor displays. The Microvision display will be a lightweight,
dual-eye (binocular), head worn device featuring full color and high XGA
resolution (1280 x 1024 lines). Compared to a desktop monitor, Microvision's
display provides the user with the portability of a small goggles-type package
and offers the potential to create a very large apparent field of view making
the display more suitable for viewing detailed and complex data sets.
Microvision's display also promises to deliver higher resolution, contrast and
brightness of displayed images. High performance electronic displays are
critical to Battle Planners, who rely on accurate visualization for
battlefield mission-planning. Applications include digital mapping and
terrain viewing, the ability to use full color images for distinguishing
friendly versus enemy forces, and high resolution capabilities imaging for
operational planning requiring contour mapping. The VRD technology scans a
visual image directly onto the viewer's retina using low power eye-safe laser
light sources, effectively eliminating any need for a desktop monitor.
The basic platform for the head worn device designed for BCBL will support
products for numerous other market applications outside of defense, including
potential use as a tool for all types of simulation and computer modeling.
Examples include CAD, architectural design, molecular modeling, vehicle and
industrial maintenance, training, medical procedures and even computer arcade
games and other networked visual communications.
Rick Rutkowski, President and CEO of Microvision said, "Visualization of
the battlefield requires the use of superior operational tools. Microvision's
display technology, coupled with the advanced sensor and computing technology
now available offers the potential to provide a powerful improved enhancement
to situational awareness and visualization of the battlefield. The
applications being pioneered by BCBL are representative of an exciting future
for all areas of computer visualization. Microvision is pleased to have been
selected by the Department of Defense to demonstrate our technology in a
rapidly emerging head worn display marketplace."
About the Company
Microvision, based in Seattle, Washington, is developing and
commercializing its VRD technology, which allows electronically generated
images and information to be projected onto the retina of the viewer's eye.
The VRD scans a low power beam of light to paint rows of pixels on to the eye,
creating a high resolution, full-motion image without the use of electronic
screens of any kind. The company's objective is to be a leading provider of
personal display products and imaging technology in a broad range of military,
professional and consumer applications. For additional information, find 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-KSB and Quarterly Reports on Form
10-QSB, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
For more information of Microvision via fax, at no cost, dial
800-PRO-INFO, ticker symbol MVIS.
SOURCE Microvision, Inc.
-0- 01/06/98
/CONTACT: Richard F. Rutkowski, CEO, or Richard A. Raisig, CFO, both of
Microvision, 206-623-7055; or general information, Paula Berg, or analysts,
Lynn Chaffier, both of FRB San Francisco, 415-986-1591, for Microvision/
/Web site: mvis.com |
