V.I.O. Inc. and U.S. Army Research Laboratory Collaborate to Advance Wearable Video...

V.I.O. Inc. and U.S. Army Research Laboratory Collaborate to Advance Wearable
Video Technology for Military and Law Enforcement
Army Research Laboratory Recognizes Military Intelligence and Training
Capabilities of V.I.O. POV.1 Wearable Video Capture Device with Direct Funding
for Advanced R&D

MARQUETTE, Mich., Jan. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- V.I.O. Inc., the leading
innovator of hands-free video technology, announced today a direct funding
collaboration with the U.S. Army Research Laboratory (ARL) to perform research
and development of specialized wearable video technology for military and law
enforcement applications.
Part of a multi-year agreement with the ARL, first year funding of
$862,000 was awarded to V.I.O. Inc., a developer of wearable video technology
based in Marquette, Michigan. Under this agreement, V.I.O., subcontracted with
Michigan Technological University, will perform research and development of
wearable video capture electronics specialized for military and law
enforcement. V.I.O will demonstrate to The Army new R&D refinements on their
current video system, the POV.1 to help military and law enforcement succeed
in a variety of applications in the future. The funding is part of the
Department of Defense Appropriations bill for fiscal year 2007 and also in the
Conference Report passed by the U.S. House of Representatives for fiscal year
2008. "The V.I.O. wearable video technology offers a very unique capability
for the warfighter to further increase the ability to see the battlespace,"
said Dr. Eric Forsythe of the ARL. "The ARL is very pleased to be working
with V.I.O. to further advance this important technology."
V.I.O. has received strong support from Michigan House and Senate
representatives in support of the ARL agreement. "I am pleased that V.I.O.
Incorporated will be playing a role in the development of wearable video
technology for our military," stated Senator Carl Levin (D-MI), Chairman of
the Senate Armed Services Committee. "This technology could aid troops in
intelligence gathering, mission debriefing, and training activities. We must
continue to leverage the strong contributions of Michigan's small businesses
to provide the best tools available to our men and women in uniform."
Congressman Bart Stupak (D-MI) added, "The groundbreaking video technology
being developed by V.I.O. Inc. will help keep our troops safe and also has
important applications for law enforcement. I am proud this innovative work
is being performed by northern Michigan entrepreneurs and employees."
The current wearable POV.1 platform is a fully integrated, rugged
point-of-view (POV) video system that's waterproof, dustproof and
shock-resistant. The system includes a mountable camera head, microphone,
built-in video recorder with LCD screen, wireless remote and PC software for
managing and distributing video content. The POV.1 has been in combat use by
two infantry divisions of the U.S. Army deployed in Iraq. The POV.1 is also
sold in public safety, law enforcement and in commercial and active sports
markets.
"Initial production of our POV digital camera in the fall of 2007, was
prioritized for orders from several infantry divisions operating in
battlefield conditions overseas," said David Ollila, President of V.I.O.
"Feedback from soldiers using the system on the ground drives our focus around
research and development to design the next generation wearable video camera.
Our partnership with the Army Research Laboratory provides critical resources
to do this well."
The contract is part of the Sensors and Electron Devices Directorate's
(SEDD) research and development of sensors and electron devices. The SEDD
conducts innovative research to provide the Army with affordable enabling
technology in electro-optic sensors, advanced radio frequency (RF)
technologies, autonomous sensing, power & energy, and signature management.
SEDD, in collaboration with academic and industry partners, conducts basic and
applied research on electro-optic and photonic devices (including active and
passive sensing technologies) and transition these technologies in support of
reconnaissance, intelligence, surveillance and target acquisition (RISTA);
fire control; guidance; fusing; survivability; mobility; and lethality
applications.
"We are very pleased to partner with V.I.O. on the Wearable Video Capture
System/POV project," said Rick Berkey, Senior Research Engineer and Manager of
Project Development at Michigan Tech. Michigan Tech's Enterprise Program
continues to provide an effective way to connect industry with bright,
energetic, and entrepreneurial students. "V.I.O.'s technology and products
align well with several of our faculty's research and expertise in
electronics, optics, photonics, and wireless communications," added Berkey.
"It presents a challenging and rewarding opportunity for our Integrated
Microsystems Enterprise (IME) to help V.I.O. advance its POV product to better
meet the demands of military, law enforcement, and consumer markets."
V.I.O. cameras and integrated POV systems are wearable. They are
manufactured to be lightweight and to withstand a variety of climate
conditions. In addition, their design makes them simple to use. V.I.O. has
established the benchmark for durability, video quality and adaptability to
multiple uses.
Visit http://www.vio-pov.com to see the complete line of V.I.O. POV
products and accessories.
About V.I.O. Inc.
Since its inception in 2000, V.I.O. Inc., has been the leading innovator
in point-of-view wearable video technology. The V.I.O. point-of-view system is
unique in that it's designed specifically to capture adventure and tactical
video. V.I.O.'s customers include professional and amateur athletes in a wide
variety of sports such as mountain biking, skiing, snowboarding, skydiving,
motocross, snowmobiling, and auto racing. Other industries relying on V.I.O.
video systems include the military, law enforcement, aviation, and movie and
television production. For more information, visit http://www.vio-pov.com or
call 1-888-579-2267.
Contact: Dax Kelm
Carmichael Lynch Spong
307.733.1514
dax.kelm@clynch.com

SOURCE V.I.O. Inc.

Dax Kelm of Carmichael Lynch Spong, +1-307-733-1514, dax.kelm@clynch.com, for
V.I.O. Inc.