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{justify:center}{italic}{size:10}Announcer
{plain}{size:12}Machines have always made our lives easier.

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There's a small company in Ann Arbor, 
Michigan that wants to take it 
a step further.

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Cybernet Systems Corporation 
concentrates on computer-based

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 technologies that enhance 
human performance.

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{italic}{size:10}Heidi Jacobus
{plain}{size:12}We know physiologically, 
we know cognitively,

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we know strength wise that humans 
want to do things that their bodies,

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their minds, their eyes 
won't let them do.

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What we do is use computers and 
mechanical devices to enable 
humans to do more.

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{italic}{size:10}Announcer
{plain}{size:12}Cybernet has partnered with NASA 
through the Agency's Small Business 
Innovation Research,

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or SBIR program, to develop 
a number of instruments.

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Through an SBIR award from 
Johnson Space Center,

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Cybernet developed a 
"Force Feedback Hand Controller" 
for the International Space Station.

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The controller provides a sense 
of touch or feel to an operator 
manipulating robots.

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The technology was the company's 
first commercialization effort.

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By partnering with another company 
in California, they developed a

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new technology that is now licensed 
to clients, like Microsoft and 
Logitech, for gaming applications.

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Cybernet has also been able to 
transfer the technology to an

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application for the U.S. Army.  
They're developing a

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Virtual Systems Integration Laboratory 
for a telemedicine application.

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{italic}{size:10}Heidi Jacobus
{plain}{size:12}The idea is to train surgeons using 
force feedback robotics instead of

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live human beings, which makes a lot of sense.

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{italic}{size:10}Announcer
{plain}{size:12}Working with Johnson under another 
SBIR award, Cybernet created a

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device for the physiological 
monitoring of space crews.

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That device has evolved into "MedStar," 
a solution linking patients at home

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with doctors and caregivers elsewhere 
via the internet. Patients can monitor

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conditions like diabetes and congestive 
heart failure from their own homes.

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MedStar then collects their data and 
transmits it through a standard phone

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line to a management system 
location, such as a hospital.

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"Gesture Recognition" is another 
Cybernet technology  that early on

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had SBIR funding from Johnson.  
This technology is used to observe

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human hand and body motions and identify 
them with specific, common gestures.

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It then initiates commands associated 
with the gestures in order to control 
other devices.

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Originally developed for a NASA Public 
Outreach kiosk, the system is now being

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used for other applications, 
such as training.

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{italic}{size:10}Heidi Jacobus
{plain}{size:12}The Army knew that we had an expertise 
in gesture recognition, and they had

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a virtual reality training project 
to train dismounted foot soldiers.

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So we actually installed gesture 
recognition recognizing the Army

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signals in a training facility at 
the Army Simulation and Training 
Command in Orlando, Florida."

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{italic}{size:10}Announcer
{plain}{size:12}Because of its own unique requirements 
for artists and engineers to work

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collaboratively, Cybernet developed a 
product, called NetMax,

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which is now a commercially-available software.

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Cybernet has also developed 
technologies and devices that

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streamline the interfaces between 
humans and machines for other federal 
departments, such as DARPA and the Navy.

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Cybernet actually got its start 
in the owner's home.

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Today, although its employees may be 
figuring out better ways to interact

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with computers, and robots, Cybernet 
still preserves a family-feel.

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And, Jacobus is proud to be working 
with her team.

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{italic}{size:10}Heidi Jacobus
{plain}{size:12}One of the highlights of Cybernet 
is the brains of the people we have here.

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I'm just so proud of everyone who works 
here because they're creative,

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they're motivated, they're very 
well-trained.

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{italic}{size:10}Announcer
{plain}{size:12}On its path to success, the company 
has worked on early, cutting-edge

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technologies with NASA and others, 
but they would still like to make 
life easier for everyone else.

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{italic}{size:10}Heidi Jacobus
{plain}{size:12}Because that's our core competency, 
there's so many places we can go.

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But the theme is take what we have 
built for 15 years and make 
it very useful.

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