HERZLIYA, Israel and ATLANTA, Sept. 26, 2001 (PRIMEZONE) -- OTM Technologies Ltd., an Israeli company specializing in optical laser technology, and Advanced Recognition Technologies Inc. (ART), pioneer in embedded speech and handwriting recognition technologies for mobile devices, today announced their mutual cooperation agreement. The agreement will enable the companies to demonstrate OTM Technologies' VPen, a comprehensive handwriting and graphical input solution for cellular handsets, PDAs, PCs and iTVs, using ART's simpliWrite software.
The VPen is a revolutionary standalone interaction tool, designed to enable new data applications on existing data terminals (handsets, PDAs, PCs, iTVs). It works on any surface, integrating the functionalities of a PC mouse and a digital pen into a single portable device, usable anywhere, anytime. The range of new applications made available with the VPen includes handwriting emails, notes and SMS, 'point and click' screen navigation and selection in advanced graphical interfaces, for example, activating location-based services. In addition, the VPen enables drawing graphical messages and continuous control for enhanced mobile gaming. Prototypes of the VPen are currently in evaluation projects by leading handsets and data terminal manufacturers worldwide.
Using ART's simpliWrite handwriting recognition software embedded in the VPen, natural handwriting is converted into digital text. Designed to provide fast and accurate input for the new generation of keyboard-less devices, ART's unique, intuitive recognizer identifies users' own natural writing. It performs character recognition of handwritten characters by using the vector map and mouse events created by the VPen core and translating them into digital text in real time. In addition to supporting all major Western European languages, and even allowing for concurrent multilingual use, ART recently introduced a recognition solution for Chinese handwriting.
"OTM Technologies is pleased to welcome ART as a partner for a key element of the VPen functionality," said Gila Lederer, OTM Technologies President and CEO. "With ICR software in the VPen, messaging enthusiasts no longer need to key in endlessly for SMS. We are confident that ART's solution will bring a strong endorsement from our OEM customers."
According to Eran Aharonson, President of ART, "Our handwriting recognition software is an ideal solution for OTM Technologies' VPen. The software will enable the revolutionary interaction between people and their digital devices."
About OTM Technologies (www.otmtech.com)
OTM Technologies Ltd., founded in 1998, develops, manufactures and markets its OTM(tm) technology-based products. The Optical Translation Measurement technology allows for measurement of the relative motion between an OTM(tm) sensor and practically any object moving across its optical aperture, using a coherent light source (laser) and an innovative, simple optical set up.
Potential applications include, input devices; paper encoders; automotive, medical and alarm sensors, and more. The founders of OTM Technologies are: Gilad Lederer (President & CEO); Opher Kinrot (CTO) and Uri Kinrot (VP R&D). OTM Technologies' offices are located in Herzliya, Israel.
About ART (www.artcomp.com)
Established in 1990, ART is the acknowledged pioneer and market leader in Natural User systems of embedded Speech and Handwriting Recognition for mobile devices. ART has generated a decade of software innovation and today develops and markets technologically superior solutions for the control and command of the full range of mobile devices by the human voice and natural handwriting.
Through its range of proprietary technologies based on unique, signal-processing algorithms, ART provides next-generation human user interface solutions for cellular handsets, smartphones, mobile communicators, PDAs and handhelds, and automotive systems.
Today, ART's embedded software-only solutions are deployed in dozens of product lines from industry leaders such as Acer, Agere Systems - Optimay, A.T. Cross, Casio, Franklin, GVC, Hutel, Konka, LGE, Maxon, Microsoft, Motorola, NeoPoint, Panasonic, Philips, Quanta, Samsung, Siemens Automotive, and TTPCom.
Based in the United States, with sales offices on the East and West Coasts, ART maintains a wholly owned Israeli subsidiary -- ART Ltd. -- where research and development are conducted. ART is active in U.S., European, and Asian markets.
Photo available for this release:
VPen or Virtual Pen from OTM Technologies
To view photo, go to www.enewsrelease.com/pressroom and enter release I.D. 29705
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CONTACT: OTM Technologies
Maxine Altman, Corporate Communications Manager
+972 9970 1874
maxine@otmtech.com
ART
Roy Timor, Marketing Director
+972 3 642 7242, ext. 139
roy@artcomp.com