Kopin and 3001 AD to Bring Virtual Reality to Xbox, PlayStation and PCs; ‘Trimersion’ Virtual Reality System Incorporates Kopin Binocular Display Module
Kopin(R) Corp. (Nasdaq: KOPN), the largest U.S. manufacturer of microdisplays for mobile consumer electronics, today announced that virtual reality gaming developer 3001 AD, LLC has incorporated the BDM-230K into its Trimersion virtual reality system, which for the first time will bring virtual reality gaming to the Microsoft Xbox, Sony PlayStation and PCs. 3001 AD unveiled Trimersion last month at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3), the world’s largest gaming exposition.
Trimersion brings full immersion and 360-degree head tracking to home gaming, and is the only system to deliver high-quality, cross-platform virtual reality for this market. The Kopin BDM-230K, a complete binocular video subsystem, delivers crisp, full-color, QVGA-quality (320 x 240 resolution) video with a virtual image equivalent to a 35-inch display viewed from a seven-foot distance.
“For years, virtual reality game systems were prohibitively expensive, available only to high-end arcades and research facilities,” said 3001 AD CEO Jimmy Barker. “Kopin’s plug-and-play BDM-230K subsystem lets us concentrate on developing great virtual reality environments while letting Kopin take care of video delivery. With stereo sound and Kopin video in the Trimersion, viewers will no longer be playing games: they’ll be living them.”
Head-tracking capability lets gamers control key elements of their virtual environments, such as point of view and player position, with an intuitive turn of the head instead of a thumb or finger command. A non-tracking version of the Trimersion is available for players who prefer a mouse or hand control. Trimersion also lets gamers wield a pistol-style input device, rather than push buttons, to shoot within the game. Thousands of gamers, analysts and businesspeople thronged to the 3001 AD booth at E3, which took the form of an oversized Trimersion virtual reality helmet.
“Virtual reality is the Holy Grail of gaming and will soon be the status quo in homes around the world, thanks in large part to the strides we’ve made in bringing ultra-small, ultra-high-resolution microdisplays to the mass market,” said Dr. John C.C. Fan, Kopin’s president and CEO. “The availability of our BDM should shorten the time to market and lower the cost for virtual reality systems, allowing them to be affordable and fun for the home. In addition to gaming applications, the BDM-230K is ideal for mobile video eyewear for watching movies and music videos, as well as photography, Web surfing, ultra-compact computing and personal communications.”
“I am very pleased we have the first design-in for our BDM,” said Alan Richard, Kopin’s director of display marketing. “3001 AD has chosen BDM-230K for its high image quality and easy-to-use features. I expect our BDM will have many design-ins going forward for various applications.”
This is Kopin’s second major foray into virtual reality. Kopin’s CyberDisplay(R) microdisplays were instrumental in an unprecedented entertainment experience at the 2005 World Exposition (Expo) called “Nature Contact,” an interactive mixed-reality ride that is taking 8,000 visitors per day through the virtual habitats of endangered species in the Hitachi Group’s ultra-modern Expo Pavilion.
About the BDM-230K
The BDM-230K is a complete video subsystem that integrates all the necessary electronics and optics for video eyewear in a lightweight (26 grams), compact package (97.5 mm x 23.75 mm x 22.0 mm). The BDM-230K frees video eyewear manufacturers from the technical complexity of the display system components, allowing them to focus on the creative process of designing stylish products that consumers want. The BDM-230K contains two CyberDisplay 230K full-color displays, backlights, drive electronics, and a pair of 24-degree field-of-view optics with 20-mm eye relief and 10-mm pupil size. It also includes audio pass-through connectors to simplify final assembly. Requiring only 3.3 V power and video input, either in NTSC or PAL format, the BDM-230K’s low power consumption (http://www.kopin.com/BDM-230K.pdf.
About 3001 AD
3001 AD is the premiere manufacturer and developer of virtual reality games for the theme park, arcade and home markets. Established in 1997, the company uses the latest 3D technology to create exciting, immersive games that place the player inside the play. 3001 AD is based in Raleigh, N.C., and Delray Beach, Fla, and is the parent company of the Beta Zone, a network of location-based entertainment centers. 3001 AD also presents many OEM relationship opportunities for virtual reality experiences. For more information, please visit www.3001AD.com.
About Kopin
Kopin is a leading developer and manufacturer of digital imaging and telecommunications technologies that enhance the delivery and presentation of video, voice and data. The company has combined advanced AMLCD and integrated circuit technology to produce its CyberDisplay family of award-winning ultra-small, high-density imaging devices for consumer and defense systems, including camcorders, digital cameras, personal video eyewear and thermal weapons sights. Telecommunication providers are using Kopin’s heterojunction bipolar transistor (HBT) wafers in wireless handsets, Wi-Fi, VoIP and high-speed Internet data transmission. Kopin’s HBTs are currently used in nearly one-third of the world’s cell phones, and the CyberDisplay is the imaging device in nearly 40 percent of the world’s camcorders. Kopin’s CyberDisplay also is the microdisplay standard for the U.S. military. For more information, please visit Kopin’s Website at www.kopin.com.
Safe Harbor Statement
Statements in this news release that are not historical facts may be considered forward-looking statements as defined in the “Safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could materially affect future results. Statements that may be considered forward-looking include: those related to the market projection of virtual reality games, various application areas for BDM, and the expected design-ins. Among the risk factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from any forward looking statements are general economic and business conditions and growth in the flat-panel display industry, the Company’s ability to manufacture BDMs, customer demand for the Company’s BDM products, the impact of competitive products and pricing, availability of third-party components, viability of integrated circuit fabrication facilities, cost and yields associated with production of the Company’s CyberDisplay imaging devices, loss of significant customers, acceptance of the Company’s products, continuation of strategic relationships, and the other risk factors and cautionary statements listed from time to time in the Company’s periodic reports and registration statements filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including but not limited to, the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 25, 2004.
CyberDisplay is a registered trademark and The NanoSemiconductor Company is a trademark of Kopin Corporation.
Kopin – The NanoSemiconductor Company(TM)
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