From: Michael Donahue Subject: INDUSTRY: Ono-Sendai Corporate Backgrounder Date: Thu, 8 Jul 93 14:27:14 -0700 Ono-Sendai Corporation Corporate Backgrounder The Company: Founded in June, 1991, Ono-Sendai Corporation develops affordable virtual reality hardware and software technologies that will enable consumers to interact with the television and with each other in a shared virtual space. These technologies will be licensed on a non-exclusive basis to consumer and commercial electronics companies. Company Mission: Ono-Sendai's mission is to bring enabling low-cost, high-performance software and hardware technologies to consumers in their homes, workplaces and wherever there is a television. Company Strategy: To accomplish its mission, Ono-Sendai is developing supporting software and peripheral devices for use with the television. Ono-Sendai is also developing interactive television operating system for leading television and cable companies. Target Markets: Ono-Sendai's target markets include: - Consumer electronics industry - Communications industry - Entertainment industry - Cable industry - OEM opportunities Technologies and Applications: Ono-Sendai is currently developing three core technologies: Sourceless Orientation Sensor Ono-Sendai originally developed its three dimensional sourceless orientation technology for its virtual reality head-mounted displays (see below). During development, however, the company discovered additional applications for the sensor including use in a remote control for consumer electronic devices. By moving the remote up, down or sideways the user will be able to easily perform such functions as changing the television channel, adjusting the CD-player volume and controlling the VCR. Gesturing with the remote in hand will be another mode of controlling electronic devices. For example, to change the television channel to CNN, the user will press one button and draw a "C" in the air. This sensor has been licensed to a major video game company for use in a virtual reality game system shipping this fall. Software Ono-Sendai is constructing a computer language and operating system for defining virtual worlds. The software is an interactive, multitasking, platform-independent, three-dimensional computer environment in which people in different locations can share virtual reality experiences. For example, users will be able to visualize themselves as coexisting in the same space while they communicate. Among other things, this "virtual meeting room" could be a board room, classroom or concert hall. Ono-Sendai also is developing an operating system for today's televisions. This operating system will become the "consumer interface," providing a necessary software layer between the user and the interactive programs. Head-mounted Displays Ono-Sendai's virtual reality head-mounted display will comprise of three components: orientation sensor, operating system software, and displays. The company's stereo-optic high-resolution head-mounted display will include a pair of miniature displays, one for each eye. Worn like a pair of ski goggles, the user will perceive only the scenes drawn by the unit. Three-dimensional stereo sound will be provided though Walkman-type headphones as part of the head unit. Ono-Sendai will license its head-mounted displays to consumer and commercial electronics companies for use in virtual reality games and entertainment, and in education, graphic arts, computer automated design and medical applications to name a few. Future Products: Ono-Sendai is developing a low cost 3D spatial audio technology for use in head mounted displays (headphones). Also under development and testing are prototypes of a Heads Up Display technology and an AC LAN technology, both of which are currently being tested for consumer and commercial acceptance and viability. Copyright 1993 Ono-Sendai Corporation