Xybernaut Granted European Patent for Wearable Computing Technologies

Business Wire, Oct 17, 2001

Business Editors/Hi-Tech Writers

FAIRFAX, Va. & MUNICH, GERMANY--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 17, 2001

Nine Additional Countries Grant Patent Protection, Further

Expanding International Leadership in Wearable Computing

Xybernaut(R) Corporation (Nasdaq: XYBR), today announced that the company has been granted patents by the European Patent Organization (EPO) in nine additional countries under European Patent No. 94 300 856.5, which corresponds directly with one of Xybernaut's basic U.S. patents No. 5,305,244.

This European patent together with others issued earlier ensures protection for Xybernaut wearable and related mobile computing technologies on four continents.

This European patent grant is indicative of the depth and breadth of Xybernaut's expertise and points to continued success in enhancing the company's position as the leading developer of wearable computing technologies and related intellectual property. As such, stakeholder value continues to be enhanced as the company protects its most valuable assets on an international basis.

Both the U.S. and European patents recognize specific features that define a wearable computer.

"Wearable and related mobile computing technology represents one of the strongest platforms for worldwide business and personal technology deployment," stated Edward G. Newman, chairman, president, and CEO of Xybernaut Corporation. "The common ground that connects wearable and mobile technologies encompasses both business and consumer applications and is expected to constitute a rapidly-growing worldwide market."

Xybernaut has more than 700 patent applications pending or granted worldwide covering its innovative technologies, business methods, and concepts. "We believe that by maintaining, expanding, and defending a strong patent position, we continue to retain and expand our competitive advantage in this dynamic market," added Mr. Newman.

The following countries will be encompassed under European Patent No. 94 300 856.5: Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Liechtenstein, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.

According to the April 17, 2001 Gartner Group Research Note, Wearing it Out: The Growth of the Wireless, Wearable World, "By 2007, more than 60 percent of the European Union and U.S. populations aged 15 and 50 will carry or wear a wireless computing and communications device at least six hours a day." The report also emphasizes a dramatic increase to 75 percent of these populations by 2010.

For more than a decade, Xybernaut has led the market as thought-leader related to integrating wearables into commercial and consumer applications and continues to be regarded as a vanguard for product design, technological interoperability, application support and systems integration.

During this period, Xybernaut's patents and patent applications have been extended to cover an even broader spectrum of issues related to wearable and mobile computing technologies such as ergonomic design, data security, hygiene, ruggedization, battery life, peripheral support and others.

Xybernaut's patented technologies represent attractive options for licensee or other companies in a wide variety of vertical market sectors. Through actively seeking licensing agreements Xybernaut continues to successfully attract a growing base of industry-leading equipment manufacturers, resellers, and solutions integrators.

About Xybernaut Corporation

Xybernaut Corporation is the leading provider of wearable computing hardware, software and services, bringing communications and full-function computing power in a hands-free design to people when and where they need it.

The Mobile Assistant(R) V (MA(R) V), Xybernaut(R)'s patented wearable PC, runs all major PC operating systems, including Windows(R) 98/2000/NT, Linux and SCO Unix.

With the MA V, customers can realize immediate savings in maintenance, repair, diagnosis, inspection, inventory control and data collection in a broad spectrum of industries, including manufacturing, distribution, utilities, government and transportation. Xybernaut also provides hyper linking, multimedia authoring tools, project management, asset management and speech software toolkits.

Headquartered in Fairfax, Virginia, Xybernaut has offices and subsidiaries in Europe (Germany) and Asia (Japan). Visit Xybernaut's web site at www.xybernaut.com.

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