Microvision to Market Nomad(R) Expert Technician System as Remote Display for Hunter Wheel Alignment Systems

Microvision to Market Nomad(R) Expert Technician System as Remote Display for Hunter Wheel Alignment Systems

New Application Can Save More Than 1/3 the Alignment Task Time and Can Increase Throughput

BOTHELL, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 14, 2005--Microvision, Inc. (Nasdaq:MVIS - News), the world leader in the development of scanned beam displays and imaging products, today announced it will immediately promote Microvision's Nomad Expert Technician System as a wireless remote display and terminal for Hunter Engineering Company's latest line of automotive wheel alignment machines.

The Nomad Expert Technician System, the world's only hands-free wearable computer with a head-worn, head-up display, enables technicians and other mobile workers to overlay relevant information on their tasks, thereby reducing task time and guesswork by eliminating footsteps. While the Hunter Wheel Alignment Systems have existing flat panel or CRT displays, the Nomad display makes the task easier, since the display is always in view. The remote terminal application allows the technician to control the console as if he was standing at it -- while never leaving the vehicle. This capability can be very convenient when using optional Hunter WinAlign® Software features such as Digital Photo and Digital Video to help perform thorough pre-alignment inspections or diagnostic evaluations.

With installations world-wide, including thousands of automotive dealerships and repair shops as well as exclusive arrangements with Sears Auto and Tire Centers and Midas Muffler Shops, Hunter Engineering is a world leader in wheel alignment, brake service, wheel service, and safety inspection lane equipment. Hunter systems are also used by virtually every automobile manufacturer in their assembly plants and corporate garages, and by many of the major automotive dealer groups. Hunter has over 600 sales and service representatives in the field.

Hunter's latest system, the Series 811, runs Windows® XP Home operating system and with a minor hardware and software upgrade to Windows® XP Professional and Hunter's WinAlign® 8.1 Software, the screen display can be remotely viewed and operated by a service technician wearing the Nomad System. As a result, the technician can interact with the Hunter System from all four corners of the car.

Tom Sanko, Microvision Vice President of Marketing commented, "The Hunter Engineering alignment application for the Nomad Expert Technician system is a major step in broadening market exposure for the Nomad System in the automotive marketplace. There is a very large installed base of loyal Hunter customers being served by 600 well-trained sales and service representatives. This is also one of several "killer apps" for the Nomad System in the automotive service shop. The benefit of a remote display and control for alignment machines is easy to explain, understand and quantify so we believe this application will serve as a great introduction to the Nomad System for many service shops."

Sanko continued, "We've already conducted a Nomad trial in a Hunter installation in which we measured 39% overall time savings, a system payback of 4.7 months, and a projected three-year increase in gross profit of over $33,000 per system deployed."

Microvision plans a variety of promotional activities, including sales force promotion, website features, video and print case studies, and demonstrations at selected automotive trade shows.