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VTT and Vuzix deliver next generation Augmented Reality for video eyewear

14.02.2011

VTT and Vuzix Corporation have signed a licensing agreement allowing Vuzix to embed VTT’s ALVAR Augmented Reality (AR) tracking technology into Vuzix’ augmented reality authoring software. The cooperation has started with Vuzix launching its first AR-enabled software product, maxReality(TM), which can be used for designing and viewing AR content viewed through the Vuzix Wrap 920 AR glasses. maxReality is a plugin for the Autodesk® 3ds Max® product.

VTT has done R&D work in the area of Augmented Reality (AR) for ten years. Its ALVAR development platform has been used and downloaded by thousands of developers around the world. The ALVAR Library is a suite of software products and libraries for creating virtual and augmented reality 3D applications.

“One of our current focus areas is OEM cooperation with international companies interested in introducing Augmented Reality features in their own products. The Video Eyewear technology is crucial in bringing AR to both industrial and consumer users and we are happy to partner with Vuzix and its leading AR Video Eyewear in making this possible”, says Customer Manager Harri Nurmi from VTT.

Paul Travers, President & CEO of Vuzix Corporation, commented, “We are very pleased to be working with VTT to deliver next generation AR platforms for content and applications. ALVAR provides an excellent tracking tool to enable AR content and application authoring quickly and easily.”

With Vuzix’ AR-enabled Video Eyewear and maxReality software, which uses ALVAR tracking technology, users have an entirely new platform for visualizing their work. They are able to transform 3ds Max objects and scenes into first person AR with little more than a mouse-click. The AR content can then be viewed through a freely distributed maxReality Viewer application.

Vuzix Corporation is a leading supplier of Video Eyewear products in the defense, consumer and media & entertainment markets. The Company’s products, personal display devices that offer users a portable high quality viewing experience, provide solutions for mobility, thermal sighting systems, tactical wearable displays and virtual and augmented reality. With its origins in defense research and development for next generation display solutions, Vuzix holds over 51 patents in the Video Eyewear field. The company has won 9 Consumer Electronics Show Innovations Awards, the RetailVision Best New Product and several wireless technology innovation awards, among others. Founded in 1997. Vuzix is a public company (TSX-V:VZX - News, OTC:BB: VUZI) with offices in Rochester, NY, Oxford, UK and Tokyo, Japan. www.vuzix.com.

VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland is the biggest multi-technological applied research organization in Northern Europe. It provides high-end technology solutions and innovation services. From its wide knowledge base, VTT can combine different technologies, create new innovations and a substantial range of world class technologies and applied research services thus improving its clients' competitiveness and competence.

In the field of media technologies VTT’s research topics include media production and business models, social media platforms utilizing semantics, mobile and p2p television, linking print to mobile Internet (=hybrid media), augmented reality, content engineering and visualization, audio & video analysis and efficient wireless transmission of video, including codecs. www.vtt.fi and www.vtt.fi/multimedia.

See also: VTT’s ALVAR Library: http://virtual.vtt.fi/virtual/proj2/multimedia/alvar.html