Xybernaut’s Wearable Computer Chosen for Mars Training Mission in Northern Canada – Mobile Assistant to be Integrated Into Space Suit
Xybernaut®
Corporation , the leader in mobile wearable computing
and wireless communications, today announced that it has been chosen
to provide its Mobile Assistant® wearable computers for the 2001
Haughton-Mars Project (HMP).
Heavily funded through NASA and the non-profit SETI (Search for
Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence) Institute, this research project is
dedicated to the exploration of the planet Mars.
Xybernaut equipment will help the proto-Mars explorers of the HMP
learn to use hands-free computing environments in exploration field
work, and will be used as processing nodes for the delivery of video
and high resolution imaging from the field site to remote operations
centers.
Xybernaut’s video capability will also be used for two-way
conferencing and audio conferencing between remote field parties.
Researchers will also test ways to integrate the MA IV into several
prototype `Mars suits’ built by Hamilton-Sundstrand, the makers of
spacesuits for NASA.
“Xybernaut equipment will help pioneer human exploration of Mars,”
said Dr. Pascal Lee, Project Scientist on the Haughton-Mars Project.
“HMP scientists are convinced that Xybernaut devices are the ones they
want for their field work, since Xybernaut makes the best and most
industrially robust wearable computing systems available. We need
relatively high processor speed and memory, which the Xybernaut
devices have. Wearable computers may be the future not only for Mars
expeditions, but for many future space missions.”
“Xybernaut has long believed in the infinite utility of wearable
computers,” said Edward G. Newman, President and CEO of Xybernaut.
“Our Mobile Assistant is ideally designed for the demands of space
travel and exploration. We look forward to pushing the boundaries of
Mars exploration with the Haughton-Mars team.”
The research project is being staged on Devon Island, located in
northern Canada within the Arctic Circle. It has the distinction of
being the world’s largest completely uninhabited island. It is one of
the best sites on earth that mirrors some of the extreme conditions of
Mars.
About Xybernaut Corporation:
Xybernaut Corporation is the leading provider of wearable
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. The Mobile Assistant® V (MA® V),
Xybernaut®’s patented wearable PC, runs all major PC operating
systems, including Windows® 98/2000/NT, Linux and SCO Unix.
With the MA V, customers can realize immediate savings in
maintenance, repair, diagnosis, inspection, inventory control and data
collection in a broad spectrum of industries, including manufacturing,
distribution, utilities, government and transportation. Xybernaut also
provides hyper linking, multimedia authoring tools, project
management, asset management and speech software toolkits.
Headquartered in Fairfax, Virginia, Xybernaut has offices and
subsidiaries in Europe (Germany) and Asia (Japan). Visit Xybernaut’s
web site at www.xybernaut.com.
MS-DOS, Windows and Windows NT are registered trademarks of
Microsoft Corporation
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.
Contact:
Xybernaut Company, Fairfax
James Harder, 703/654-3525
or
Investor Contact:
The Wall Street Group
Ron Stabiner, 212/888-4848
rstabiner@thewallstreetgroup.com
or
SETI Institute
Diane Richards, 650/960-4513
or
Xybernaut
Press Contact:
Sheryl Frye, 703/654-3627
