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URBAN COMBAT TRAINING TO BENEFIT FROM VIRTUAL REALITY TECHNOLOGY - 1/8/2007
JANUARY 8, 2007. LAUREL, MD – InterAction Laboratories, a leader in physically active interface technology, and Raydon Corp, a leader in simulation-based military training, today announce a new agreement. Under this agreement:
• InterAction Labs will enhance the capabilities of it’s PowerSquad™ Leg Joystick system
• Raydon will integrate the technology into its award-winning virtual warrior training system and exclusively re-sell the PowerSquad Leg Joystick to US military customers
Urban combat, like much of the work being done by forces now deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan demands specialized “feet-on-the-street” training. The goal of simulation is to provide the most effective means to practice without actually being there. Prior to Raydon’s integration of the InterAction Labs’ leg joystick, technical limitations related to simulated walking and running in simulation training had, unfortunately, omitted the physically realistic effort of these activities. As a result, soldiers were forced to use hand or thumb joysticks to simulate walking/running in simulation environments. The training that occurred was compromised due to the lack of physical stress.
About InterAction Labs’ PowerSquad Leg Joystick
The PowerSquad Leg Joystick is a practical combat locomotion (walking, running) interface for military simulation training. The system uses the Company’s ISOCOR™ technology and features a unique low cost, high performance interface that allows individual soldiers to walk, run, fight and interact physically in simulations without the drawbacks of high price and complexity. Initial deployments have demonstrated training value beyond the use of joysticks and other non-physical interfaces for simulating locomotion for the dismounted warrior.
The leg joysticks sensors measure the force of the soldier’s leg muscle contractions and allow the user to exert effort while simulating walking and running in a computer simulation training environment. The ramifications are considerable – there are no moving parts and no associated high cost and mechanical complexity. Reaction times are immediate, since there is no lag required for some mechanism to reflect the new state of the simulated world, and the user can be required to push as hard as they would in the real world to cause a synthetic object to move in the simulation. Recent research has indicated that the system can increase metabolic rate 5x resting levels and can burn 350 calories per hour.
“InterAction Labs’ sensor technology is very innovative and it is the only technology we have seen that provides this level of physical InterAction,” says Marion Owens, Executive Vice President of Raydon Corporation.
“Instead of just training with a mouse or joystick soldiers now use there legs to provide movement across the Virtual Battlefield,” said Greg Merril, CEO of InterAction Labs. “The PowerSquad Leg Joystick adds realism and physical intensity to patrolling, clearing buildings, fighting, walking and running within the virtual combat environment. Raydon is the natural partner to introduce this technology – they are a recognized leader in providing cost effective state-of-the-art simulation technology.”
About InterAction Laboratories
Powergrid Fitness, Inc. (d/b/a InterAction Laboratories) is making the ‘digital world’ a physically active place. Greg Merril, a leader in human-computer interface technology, and an experienced entrepreneur, founded InterAction Labs in 2002. The Company has a growing portfolio of intellectual property related to physical InterAction with computers such as the patented ISOCOR technology that has applications in diverse markets from toys to military training. The Company’s products based on this technology have been named the 2005 and 2006 CES Electronic Gaming Innovation of the Year and also received an award from Readers Digest as the Top 100 of 2006. InterAction Labs’ strategy is to build market presence through licensing, distribution partners, or where risk/reward merits enter markets directly. The Company is headquartered in Laurel, Maryland, USA, on the web at www.InterAction-labs.com.
About Raydon Corporation
Founded in 1988 and located in Daytona Beach, Florida, the Raydon Corporation is a leading developer of simulation training programs and technology. Raydon designs, develops, and delivers high tech training systems for the U.S. Military as well as U.S. commercial customers and overseas customers. The company specializes in gunnery, tactical maneuver and driver trainers for its military customers, as well as in automobile trainers for high school driver education programs, law enforcement, and other emergency management forces. Raydon can be found on the web at www.raydon.com.
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