August
14, 2000
TORONTO,
Aug. 14 /PRNewswire/ — Matias Corporation announced today that
it has raised the funds required to complete the development and initial
marketing of its Half Keyboard™ product.
The
funds were supplied by Transpacific Resources (CDNX: YTQ)
in a partial exercise of its option to acquire 25% of Toronto-based
Matias Corporation.
With
potential applications ranging from handheld computers to cellphones,
the Half Keyboard has regular size keys and uses peoples' existing
skills, to allow one-handed touch-typing speeds fast
enough for practical word processing (upto 88% of normal typing
rates). Current pen- and compact-keyboard-based handheld devices are
too slow for typing
anything longer than a few words or phrases.
A handheld
capable of word processing has a total worldwide market potential
of over US$60 Billion (C$90 Billion).
In addition
to its Half Keyboard handheld information appliance product,
Matias plans to introduce a Half Keyboard for Palm and Handspring
devices (Nasdaq:PALM, Nasdaq:HAND).
A software
prototype is available for download at:
http://halfkeyboard.com
The
company also released a statement by noted computer scientist and
user interface expert, Professor Scott MacKenzie, endorsing its
Half Keyboard technology.
“. . . the
half keyboard is the fastest, most intuitive means available
for text entry on a compact device . . . attaching
a half keyboard to a common palmtop, such as the Palm III . . . would
extend its usability into the ranks of laptop and desktop computers,”
said MacKenzie, Associate Professor of Information Technology at York
University.
“We
are very grateful for Professor MacKenzie’s generous testimonial.
His support and enthusiasm for our technology played a major role
in its development,” said Edgar Matias, President of the company.
“I
have seen the evolution of this technology and remain excited about
its potential to change the industry on a global basis,” added
MacKenzie.
With
over 50 publications to his name, MacKenzie has lent his expertise
to such companies as: Microsoft, SGI, Nokia, and Logitech. The work
he is best known for was recently incorporated into an international
standard for evaluating computer pointing devices (ISO 9241-9).
The
full text of his statement is available
at:
http://news.matiaspr.com
Matias
is delighted that Professor MacKenzie has accepted a seat on its Advisory
Board, joining the very capable members already assembled:
Vic
DiCiccio, B.A.Sc., M.A.Sc., P.Eng., is the Vice President of Research
at CITO (Communications
and Information Technology Ontario), and previously the VP of Research
for ITRC (Information Technology Research Centre).
Elizabeth
Sgro, BA, MBA, CA, is the former Chief Financial Officer of institutional
brokerage firm, Griffiths McBurney & Partners, where she was also
a founding partner.
Matias
Corporation is a startup company whose patented Half Keyboard
technology allows fast text entry on cellphone-sized devices, using
peoples’ existing touch-typing skills. It is enabling technology
for handheld word processing, cellphone e-mail, and wearable computing.
Press
Contact:
Edgar Matias
Matias Corporation
+1-905-265-8844
pr@halfkeyboard.com
NOTE
TO EDITORS: For electronic artwork, please visit: http://matiaspr.com.
Matias,
the Matias logo, and Half Keyboard are trademarks of Matias Corporation.
Other names may be trademarks and their owners are respectfully acknowledged.
SOURCE:
Matias Corporation
