Posted on 11/25/2003 1:26:09 PM PST by batter
Xybernaut and Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics to Develop Mobile/Wearable Computing Solutions; China's Aerospace Industry Priority Target
FAIRFAX, Va.--Nov. 25, 2003--Xybernaut(R) Corporation (Nasdaq:XYBR) and the Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics (Beihang) today announced that they will conduct joint research and development of mobile/wearable computing, and its application to the commercial and government sectors in the People's Republic of China (PRC).
Under terms of the agreement, Xybernaut and Beihang will establish a National Center of Competence for Wearable Technology for research, development and deployment of Xybernaut technologies and their applications throughout the PRC.
Xybernaut will provide technologies, know-how and access to intellectual property, while Beihang's relationships with various governmental agencies, ministries and commercial companies will provide access to funding for both developmental activities and pilot programs targeting commercial industries and governmental aviation/aerospace sectors.
"The work that Xybernaut has successfully accomplished in the areas of mobile/wearable computing has great promise when combined with our own scientific development work. We believe that our combined strengths will support technology transfer from our labs to the public marketplace," stated Jiancheng Fang, professor, Vice Deputy Dean and Deputy Director of the School of Astronautics, and the Modern Space Information and Control Technology Center.
Dr. Jun Zhang, professor and Vice Dean of the School of Electronic and Information Engineering, added, "Xybernaut breakthrough patents on effective computing architectures, both here in China and around the world, represent a very promising new generation of computers. We are very pleased to be able to establish the National Center of Competence for Wearable Computing with high level ministry support here at our university."
"This joint program helps China develop extensive mobile/wearable computing solutions and allows us to deploy products and know-how to the key industries in the largest country in the world," said Ed Newman, chairman and CEO of Xybernaut. "We are pleased to be able to work with Beihang to find ways to effectively realize the economic advantages of their extensive research programs, as well as to apply our patented technologies, products and international relationships to their ongoing programs."
The joint programs have the primary objective of allowing students, faculty and interested third parties to be on the cutting edge of mobile/wearable technologies. Curricula and development will relate to computation, communications, information processing, project and change management and man-machine interface, as well as more traditional studies in math, physics, electronics and engineering.
Dr. Bo Li, professor and Vice Dean of the School of Computer Science and Engineering, concluded, "Xybernaut patented computing architectures, and its location-based information delivery models, represent tremendous opportunities for us to collaborate on many novel and interesting consumer deployment models in the PRC as well with our partner companies and ministries."
About Beihang
Beihang University (BUAA) was founded in 1952. It was the first university of aeronautical and astronautical science and technology in China. For nearly half a century, BUAA, the cradle of aeronautics and astronautics engineers, has provided more than 70,000 senior aerospace professional students to China and other nations, and has made a great contribution to China's scientific research and economic development.
About Xybernaut
Xybernaut Corporation is the leading provider of wearable/mobile 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. Headquartered in Fairfax, Virginia, Xybernaut has offices and subsidiaries in Europe (Germany) and Asia (Japan). Visit Xybernaut's Web site at www.xybernaut.com. Product photos are also available directly from Xybernaut.
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To date, personal computers have not lived up to their name. Most machines sit on the desk and interact with their owners for only a small fraction of the day. Smaller and faster notebook computers have made mobility less of an issue, but the same staid user paradigm persists. Wearable computing hopes to shatter this myth of how a computer should be used. A person's computer should be worn, much as eyeglasses or clothing are worn, and interact with the user based on the context of the situation. With heads-up displays, unobtrusive input devices, personal wireless local area networks, and a host of other context sensing and communication tools, the wearable computer can act as an intelligent assistant, whether it be through a Remembrance Agent, augmented reality, or intellectual collectives.
A couple of things... I am not a military person. I don't know tactics and all that.
These guys are trying to win DoD contracts. Everyone has seen all the special ops guys with all those cool 007 gadgets.
Thats what these guys want to be able to sell...for cheap.
The big difference between the US having these things and the Chinese having them is battle feild infrastructure.
If I can talk to my buddy across the way...and see around corners...and be able to transfer info...thats good.
Whats the most important info though? And how will it be interpreted and communicated?
Just having these things that soldiers wear is one thing. Being able to supply (and interpret) real time battle feild intel is another. There is a whole long chain of things that will be nessesary to make this stuff useful.
Something as simple as encryption can break down the whole system.
Just having these things that soldiers wear is one thing. Being able to supply (and interpret) real time battle feild intel is another. There is a whole long chain of things that will be nessesary to make this stuff useful.
Good point. Recently I heard someone discussing the rising generation (in the PRC) not having the leadership skills necessary to running the country and believed it was related to the 'one child' policy (essentially stating that most kids were spoiled and doted on due to missing out on the give-and-take etc. when dealing with siblings). What do you think.
I bring this up due to your comment as well as an article I noticed in today's Taipei Times (China seeks expatriates to help overhaul state banks).
Do you think China is looking for expatriates due to lacking skills in the rising generation or because they simply don't have enough qualified people to handle the ongoing banking problems?...
China does not lack leaders or leadership skills. There are MANY people that have some unbelievable skills.
The lacking part isn't in leadership, but in western leadership.
Managing banks, big corporations, and other types of modern organizations is fairly new to China.
Navigating the communist party and other types of culturally 'rich' situations isn't a problem.
Put the same people in negotiations with an American, a European, or a Latino...the Chinese will be a fish out of water...not just because of language either.
A whole lot of people have not been exposed to the ways of the rest of the world. Sometimes they will try to apply their native politicing to other areas. It creates more problems than it solves...
An area that is also effected is trying to balance corporate life with Chinese culture. Chinese leaders haven't been very keen on asking the opinions of others...
We had several execs who were SMART. We had to spend a month though building 'guan-xi' so they would tell their opinions. I had to tell them "we pay you to use your brain...now tell me whats in there"...That wouldn't happen with a Chinese manager.
In America everyone has an opinion...even those who don't know jack. In China those who know jack are often not speaking up for one reason or another.
If they step on the wrong toes historically speaking they know they would be screwed.
In a way culture gets in the way of the good stuff. Often you find Chinese willing to say a lot more to Americans (once they are here) than they ever would to a Chinese...Mainlanders are far more like this than Taiwanese or Hong Kong...
There could be a whole book written about this topic.
In short though, Mainlanders often lack the experience of others...that includes technical skills in things like internationally accepted accounting ect.
Some lack critical thinking skills...
Others aren't willing to be agressive enough to get things done. They simply don't want to be in the spotlight.
The ones that don't have these problems are good managers in their own element (in China), but as soon as you expose them to other cultures or whatnot, the best have problems.
I knew one guy though that learned his stuff well. He moved to the US for several years and was outgoing enough to fit in in America. You couldn't tell him from an American (really) but he was Chinese and knew their ways too.
He made several hundred K per year. The people with all those skills though are few and far in between.
In other words, leading in their own element is one thing, leading in 'foreign' things is something else.
In some cases the blunt and honest American is the shoe that fits the situation.
If the local party official's son is screwing up in his job, a Chinese would baby him. An American would tell him (and mean it) "I don't know who you or your family is...get to work and do your job"...
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