Vuzix Smart Glasses Enables Continuous Research of Blood Cells and the COVID-19 Virus at Newcastle University

ROCHESTER, N.Y., Nov. 5, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Vuzix® Corporation (NASDAQ: VUZI), ("Vuzix" or, the "Company"), a leading supplier of Smart Glasses and Augmented Reality (AR) technology and products, today announced that Newcastle University, a UK public research university, has deployed the Vuzix M400 Smart Glasses to carry out remote support among staff and academics at multiple lab sites and home offices in the research of blood cells and diseases including COVID-19.  In addition to remote support, lab technicians are using platforms such as Zoom via the M400 Smart Glasses to deliver training across its user base.

The Newcastle Flow Cytometry Core Facility at Newcastle University is an advanced technology platform and research lab in the field of Cytometry.  Newcastle's laboratory relies on a core team of highly skilled individuals whose job it is to maintain and operate the blood cell analytical systems called cytometers that are used to perform blood cell analysis, but also to train other scientists to operate certain platforms.  The systems are not all located in one physical location, and not all members of the team have the same skill sets meaning that it can sometime be difficult to align personnel with the necessary platform.  In the current COVID-19 global pandemic, this situation is made even more challenging as its team is working in "bio-bubbles" with one group active on-site and another located at home.  Moreover, due to COVID-19, all one-on-one in-person user training and support for this program was due to be suspended unless another method of training and support could be put in place.

Much of the research work that the team performs in the laboratory is hands-on and requires complete freedom of both hands to operate the systems and conduct experiments safely and effectively. After extensive research, Dr. Andrew Filby, Director of the Newcastle Flow Cytometry Core and Lead of the Innovation, Methodology and Innovations Research Theme, and his team chose the Vuzix M400 Smart Glasses to provide remote support and training to the team. While still enabling a hands-free working environment, the M400 Smart Glasses, which also can be configured with safety glasses, ensured they that they were safe to use in a BioSafety level 2 laboratory.

"The M400 Smart Glasses from Vuzix have excellent specifications, including noise cancellation for work in environments with high ambient noise levels, image stabilization and zoom functions for close detail work as well as being compatible with several very well-known streaming and remote support platforms," stated Dr. Filby. "Our organization subscribed to TeamViewer and Zoom, so the fact that the M400 glasses are very open in terms of compatible applications is a real benefit.  We have been stung in the past by other Smart Glasses only being compatible with limited streaming platforms, so wanted a more flexible smart glasses option.  Control and operation of the M400 glasses is incredibly easy and intuitive, and they are rugged enough to withstand the laboratory environment."

"Using the VUZIX M400 Smart Glasses technology, the team can now operate effectively across its different locations and even ensure expert training and support is available even when the expert is at home or even across the globe.  The Vuzix M400 Smart Glasses and its technical features are a vital accessory to continuous lab testing, especially as we move into several projects focused on understanding more about the SARS-CoV2 virus and the disease it causes, COVID-19," concluded Dr Filby.

"More and more organizations including universities, research labs and healthcare organizations around the world are recognizing the value of using Vuzix Smart Glasses to provide remote support and training to their associates or students," said Paul Travers, President and CEO of Vuzix.  "We are pleased to add Newcastle University to the growing list of educational and institutions that are embracing our technology to provide safer and more effective tools to perform research and mentor laboratory personnel." 

About Vuzix Corporation

Vuzix is a leading supplier of Smart-Glasses and Augmented Reality (AR) technologies and products for the consumer and enterprise markets. The Company's products include personal display and wearable computing devices that offer users a portable high-quality viewing experience, provide solutions for mobility, wearable displays and augmented reality. Vuzix holds 179 patents and patents pending and numerous IP licenses in the Video Eyewear field. The Company has won Consumer Electronics Show (or CES) awards for innovation for the years 2005 to 2020 and several wireless technology innovation awards among others. Founded in 1997, Vuzix is a public company (NASDAQ: VUZI) with offices in Rochester, NY, Oxford, UK, and Tokyo, Japan.  For more information, visit Vuzix website,  Twitter and Facebook pages.

Forward-Looking Statements Disclaimer

Certain statements contained in this news release are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward looking statements contained in this release relate to Vuzix' existing and future business growth prospects with Newcastle University and among other things the Company's leadership in the Smart Glasses and AR display industry. They are generally identified by words such as "believes," "may," "expects," "anticipates," "should" and similar expressions. Readers should not place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements, which are based upon the Company's beliefs and assumptions as of the date of this release. The Company's actual results could differ materially due to risk factors and other items described in more detail in the "Risk Factors" section of the Company's Annual Reports and MD&A filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and applicable Canadian securities regulators (copies of which may be obtained at www.sedar.com or www.sec.gov). Subsequent events and developments may cause these forward-looking statements to change. The Company specifically disclaims any obligation or intention to update or revise these forward-looking statements as a result of changed events or circumstances that occur after the date of this release, except as required by applicable law.

Media and Investor Relations Contact:

Ed McGregor, Director of Investor Relations, Vuzix Corporation [email protected] Tel: (585) 359-5985

Vuzix Corporation, 25 Hendrix Road, Suite A, West Henrietta, NY 14586 USA,
Investor Information – [email protected] www.vuzix.com

SOURCE Vuzix Corporation

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