GestureTek Grants Patent License to Sony Computer Entertainment America for EyeToy and PlayStation2 Game Development

Business Wire, Feb 18, 2005

TORONTO -- GestureTek CEO Announces Company is Working to Embed Its Video Gesture Control (VGC) Technology in a Variety of Toys, Videogames, and Consumer Electronics Applications in 2005

GestureTek (www.gesturetek.com), the world leader in gesture technologies and the inventor and patent holder of Video Gesture Control (VGC) technology, announced today that GestureTek has licensed its 1996 foundational patent to Sony Computer Entertainment America for use in EyeToy(TM) technology based products. GestureTek (formerly called Jestertek) also announced today that it is working with toy manufacturers, smart phone manufacturers, and video game manufacturers to help them build upon the functionality of gesture technology for new videogame applications.

Video gesture interface technology uses cameras to capture people's images, allowing them to control a video game using gestures alone. The player's image is combined in real time with the computer-generated action, and is displayed on a monitor or large screen. The player can participate in virtual reality scenarios such as snowboarding, soccer, boxing, racing, and even sky diving, controlling the action by moving parts of his or her body via gestures. These gestures can range from a finger-pointing motion to the nod of a head; a shrug to a toe-twitch.

"Gesture technology in EyeToy allows us to create games accessible to all ages by translating body movements to on screen interactions," said Shuhei Yoshida, vice president, product development at Sony Computer Entertainment America. "In keeping with that objective and philosophy, we value the relationship with GestureTek and look forward to bringing new experiences to PlayStation(R)2 consumers. We're pleased to be working closely with GestureTek on new gesture technology."

Said GestureTek CEO Bill Leckonby, "With millions of EyeToy units sold worldwide, it is clear that people want to control the characters and action in a videogame without a joystick, and want to be a part of the action by being a significant living, breathing character in the game. We're excited at the prospect of GestureTek technology expanding the level of human action in the videogame medium."

Over a 15-year period, GestureTek founders Francis MacDougall and Vincent John Vincent have been enhancing their robust library of human video gesture capture, analysis and control technologies, as well as developing and refining a unique, real-time 3D animation engine. The result is that Video Gesture Control has been implemented by GestureTek in a wide variety of over 1,000 public venues around the world: exhibits at museums and trade shows; information kiosks serving financial and real estate institutions; interactive advertising displays found on the floors of retail stores; entertainment applications for the disabled; rehabilitation applications for those rebounding from physical injuries; and educational toys for kids.

Hasbro, Inc. (NYSE:HAS) recently obtained rights to develop and manufacture the ION (E.G.S.) and related products that are protected by a patent owned by GestureTek, and will be displaying the ION EGS at the International Toy Fair in New York City Feb. 18-22. Playskool, a division of Hasbro, Inc., recently announced its plans to introduce the ION Educational Gaming System (E.G.S.) for kids ages 3 to 7 -- a game that uses patented motion-capture technology to place the child onscreen and literally "in" the game. Players move their bodies to navigate through learning adventures in core preschool and elementary subjects.

"These are especially exciting times for us at GestureTek," said Leckonby. "GestureTek is working with multiple OEM partners to embed our gesture technology in a variety of applications within the videogames and toy industries, and we are stepping up our efforts with OEMs in the consumer electronics world to change the way consumers use their PCs, cell phones and other mobile computing devices."

About GestureTek

GestureTek (formerly known as Jestertek) is the world leader in gesture technologies employed in a wide array of applications and environments: videogame consoles; museum/trade show exhibits; location based entertainment facilities; physical rehabilitation programs; corporate boardrooms for executive presentations; military control rooms; retail kiosks; interactive floors/windows and interactive billboards. GestureTek headquarters are in Toronto, Canada, with additional offices in Ottawa, Silicon Valley, and New York. For information and/or a DVD or video, contact GestureTek at 1-800-315-1189 ext. 231 or visit www.gesturetek.com