Cybernet Takes Gesture Recognition Technology to the Next Level by Focusing on a Computer's Ability to Learn

Company Awarded Phase II Contract through the US Army STRICOM to Continue Development of an Automatic Gesture Learning System

Ann Arbor, Michigan - May 31, 2001
Cybernet Systems is taking its gesture recognition technology to the next level by developing a computer's ability to automatically "learn" previously unseen gesture commands used in military training operations.  The Ann Arbor-based research and commercial product development company was recently awarded a Phase II Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) contract with the U.S. Army Simulation, Training and Instrumentation Command (STRICOM) to continue development of an automatic gesture learning system.  When complete, the system will enable small unit infantry leaders - immersed in a virtual reality simulator - to direct computer generated forces through a variety of non-programmed, yet consistent, hand gestures.

"A leader's ability to command troops using hand and arm signals is an integral part of battlefield operations," said Jim Grosse, an electronics engineer with STRICOM.  "In order to provide a training environment that is as realistic as possible, STRICOM and the Army Research Institute have worked with Cybernet to develop a gesture recognition system for virtual reality simulators.  The gesture learning system will allow a soldier to have his or her gesture commands recognized when they are performed.  What's more, the system is tetherless - the user will not need any additional operational equipment."

Cybernet's technology enables a computer to automatically "learn" new gestures through the combination of a pre-programmed equation of hand motions and an algorithm that manipulates the parameters, or "values," of specific movements.  When fully operational, a soldier in a virtual training environment will be able to gesture a new command to computer-generated forces via a motion capture system.  The captured images will be evaluated by the computer for consistency of movement.  If identified as a new gesture command, the computer will then automatically add this newly "learned" gesture to its lexicon of gestures - in a sense, building its own vocabulary.

"Our gesture recognition system has automatically identified more than 80 Army gesture commands to date," said Dr. Charles Cohen, Cybernet's vice president of research and development.  "We're now focusing on enhancing the tracking algorithms and the software development kit.  We anticipate delivering a fully incorporated system to STRICOM in Q3 2002."

Previously, Cybernet's gesture recognition technology has been successfully incorporated into interactive computer gaming peripheral devices and game enhancement tools, as well as business software and kiosk applications.

For more information on the U.S. Army STRICOM's technology initiatives, visit the organization's Web site at www.stricom.army.mil.

About Cybernet
Cybernet Systems Corp. is a profitable, rapidly growing technology-based company focused on developing products that combine software and Internet intelligence with human-machine interaction.  Cybernet has successfully leveraged its wealth of intellectual property to bring force feedback technology to market in the form of game controllers and joysticks, introduced a line of Linux-based Internet appliance software, and launched a PC game enhancement software product.  The company continues to innovate in the areas of Internet medical systems, large-scale distributed network training and gaming and gesture control interface technology.  Additional information on Cybernet Systems is available on the web at www.cybernet.com.