GeckoSystems Intl. Corp. (PINKSHEETS: GCKO) announced today that
they have successfully negotiated a Memorandum of Understanding
(MOU) with a wholly owned contract manufacturing subsidiary of
Dell, TriFusion LP. GeckoSystems is a dynamic leader in the
emerging mobile robotics industry revolutionizing their development
and usage with "Mobile Robot Solutions for Safety, Security and
Service™."
"We are pleased to announce the signing of this foundation
agreement, an MOU in which TriFusion's management commits to
sincere efforts in assisting us in meeting our sales goals. While
the difficulty in developing cost effective, truly utilitarian
mobile robot solutions is 85-90% software R&D, the cost drivers
for manufacturing are the mechanical systems, the electronics, and
their final assembly into a complete mobile service robot (MSR),"
remarked Martin Spencer, President/CEO, GeckoSystems.
TriFusion's approach to bridging the common gap in contract
manufacturing services was the fusing of services, technology and
logistics to provide an end-to-end solution. Their end-to-end
solutions are built on defined and repeatable processes and caped
with a web-based tool that provides real-time status of a project
24/7.
GeckoSystems and TriFusion have also executed a five-year,
bilateral, binding arbitration non-disclosure agreement (NDA). A
similar NDA was executed with Dell some years ago.
"Even though Commercial Off The Shelf (COTS) electronics,
electro mechanicals, and mechanical subsystems are used
extensively, an experienced, skilled and professionally managed
contract manufacturer must be identified, and partnered with in
order to hold total direct manufacturing costs to the lowest
possible level," said Spencer. "Additionally the contract
manufacturer must have the strategic resources that will enable
them to scale production up rapidly in the event that the
anticipated hyper growth occurs due to pent up demand.
"We are pleased to report that we have found these capabilities
and qualities in TriFusion and look forward to our developing
relationship as we continue to progress in the expansion of our
elder care robot trials. Dell has reassured us on several occasions
as to the solidarity of their support of TriFusion. This is very
important since it is TriFusion's intimate relationship, and Dell's
confirmation of that relationship, that should enable GeckoSystems
to benefit from Dell's existing, high volume, low cost computer
systems' manufacturing infrastructure to better prepare for our
anticipated hyper growth from pent up demand.
"As an illustration of their close, working relationship, at one
point recently, Dell requested that they do all billing to
GeckoSystems on TriFusion's behalf.
"We have several, very sensitive discussions occurring at this
time with other notable potential suppliers and customers, both in
the US and Japan. Despite having non-disclosure agreements (NDA's)
in place with a number of them, we expect to identify more
demonstrable progress -- if not outright successes -- in the near
term.
"Since beginning these world's first trials, we have learned
that valued family behaviors can be readily expressed to the care
receiver using a CareBot due to the robustness of its
functionality. There seems to be a very important positive -- and
unforeseen by some parties -- impact of valued family behaviors for
all members in using a CareBot to communicate their thoughts and
feelings to their beloved family members," commented Spencer.
Some believe that the technology is approved and paid for
through options such as the Assistive Technology Act of 1998, which
broadens the definition, use, and funding of technology at home.
Other sources include long-term care insurance, Medicare and
Medicaid, Medicaid waivers, and (potentially) stimulus funds from
the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, under the
provisions for health information technology and electronic medical
records for acute care.
The elderly frequently endure loneliness and/or loss of
independence when living in nursing homes or other assisted living
facilities. This new type of remote medical monitoring system, a
CareBot, will postpone, if not eliminate that trauma to them. Their
families can now better manage the difficult decisions regarding
the independence they allow their now dependent parent while
enabling the caregiver to hold their risk at a tolerable and
acceptable level.
"Since late last year, we have been conducting these world's
first elder care robot trials. We have learned a great deal about
expected and unexpected human to machine interactions in an elder
care setting. Our expectations of anticipated benefits have been,
in some instances, much more gratifying than we believed prior to
initiating these trials. Consequently our conviction as to there
being extraordinary pent up demand for personal assistance robots,
like our CareBot, bode well for the ROI that our nearly 1400
investors expect and deserve," concluded Spencer.
About TriFusion, LP
TriFusion is a managed IT deployment provider based in Round
Rock, TX, with warehousing facilities in 98 locations around the
country. We combine service, technology and logistics to provide
PC, server and software solutions for companies of all sizes. From
imaging PDAs to building some of the largest supercomputing
clusters in the world and delivering them to your doorstep, they
manage your IT risk so you don't have to.
TriFusion's facility brings warehousing and IT operations into
the same space as the executive team. The entire space, about
80,000 square feet, was renovated to bring all departments working
together in the same space.
For more information, visit www.trifusion.com
About Dell, Inc.
Dell listens to its customers and uses that insight to make
technology simpler and create innovative solutions that simplify
daily activities and help people stay entertained, connected and in
touch.
Dell is focused on creating open, affordable and capable
enterprise solutions designed to help customers. The company has an
industry-leading portfolio of enterprise solutions, including
servers, storage, networking and services. Dell's commercial
enterprise solutions revenue grew 43 percent year over year in the
company's second fiscal quarter and is now a $17 billion annualized
business.
For more information, visit www.dell.com.
About GeckoSystems Int'l. Corp.:
Since 1997, GeckoSystems has developed a comprehensive,
coherent, and sufficient suite of hardware and software inventions
to enable a new type of home appliance (a personal robot) the
CareBot™, to be created for the mass consumer marketplace. The
suite of primary inventions includes: GeckoNav™, GeckoChat™ and
GeckoTrak™.
The primary market for this product is the family for use in
eldercare, care for the chronically ill, and childcare. The primary
distribution channel for this new home appliance is the thousands
of independent personal computer retailers in the U.S. The
manufacturing infrastructure for this new product category of
mobile service robots is essentially the same as the personal
computer industry. Several outside contract manufacturers have been
identified and qualified their ability to produce up to 1,000
CareBots per month within four to six months.
The Company is market driven. At the time of founding, over
twelve years ago, the Company did extensive primary market research
to determine the demographic profile of the early adopters of the
then proposed product line. Subsequent to, and based on that
original market research, they have assembled numerous focus groups
to evaluate the fit of the CareBot personal robot into the
participant's lives and their expected usage. The Company has also
frequently employed the Delphi market research methodology by
contacting and interviewing senior executives, practitioners, and
researchers knowledgeable in the area of elder care. Using this
factual basis of internally performed primary and secondary market
research, and third party research is the statistical substance for
the Company's sales forecasts.
Not surprisingly the scientific statistical analyses applied
revealed that elderly over sixty-five living alone in metropolitan
areas with broadband Internet available and sufficient household
incomes to support the increased costs were identified as those
most likely to adopt initially. Due to the high cost of assisted
living, nursing homes, etc. the payback for a CareBot™ is expected
to be only six to eight months while keeping elderly care receivers
independent, in their own long time homes, and living longer due to
the comfort and safety of more frequent attention from their loved
ones.
"We project the available market size in dollars for cost
effective, utilitarian, multitasking eldercare personal robots in
2011 to be $74.0B, in 2012 to be $77B, in 2013 to be $80B, in 2014
to be $83.3B, and in 2015 to be $86.6B. With market penetrations of
0.03% in 2011, 0.06% in 2012, 0.22% in 2013, 0.53% in 2014, and
0.81% in 2015, we will anticipate CareBot sales, from this consumer
market segment, only, of $22.0M, $44.0M, $176M, $440.2M, and
$704.3M, respectively. We expect these sales despite -- and perhaps
because of -- the present recession due to pent up demand for
significant cost reduction in eldercare expenses," opined
Spencer.
The foregoing forecasts do not include sales in non-metropolitan
areas; elderly couples over 65 (only elderly living alone are in
these forecasts); those chronically ill -- regardless of age -- or
elderly living with their adult children.
The Company's "mobile robot solutions for safety, security and
service™" are appropriate not only for the consumer, but also
professional healthcare, commercial security and defense markets.
Professional healthcare require cost effective, timely errand
running, portable telemedicine, etc. Homeland Security requires
cost effective mobile robots to patrol and monitor public venues
for weapons and WMD detection. Military users desire the
elimination of the "man in the loop" to enable unmanned ground and
air vehicles to not require constant human control and/or
intervention.
The Company's business model is very much like that of an
automobile manufacturer. Due to the final assembly, test, and
shipping being done based on geographic and logistic realities;
strategic business-to-business relationships can range from private
labeling to joint manufacturing and distribution to licensing
only.
Several dozen patent opportunities exist for the Company due to
the many innovative and cost effective breakthroughs embodied not
only in GeckoNav, GeckoChat, and GeckoTrak, but also in additional,
secondary systems that include: GeckoOrient™,
GeckoMotorController™, the GeckoTactileShroud™, the
CompoundedSensorArray™, and the GeckoSPIO™.
The present senior management at GeckoSystems has over
thirty-five years experience in consumer electronics sales and
marketing and product development. Senior managers have been
identified for the areas of manufacturing, marketing, sales, and
finance.
While GeckoSystems has been in the Development Stage, the
Company has accumulated losses to date in excess of six million
dollars. In contrast, the Japanese government has spent one hundred
million dollars in grants (to Sanyo, Toshiba, Hitachi, Fujitsu,
NEC, etc.) over the same time period to develop personal robots for
their eldercare crisis, yet no viable solutions have been
developed.
GeckoSystems is the first mobile robot developer in the world to
begin actual in-home eldercare evaluation trials.
What Does a CareBot Do for the Care Giver?
The short answer is that it decreases the difficulty and stress
for the caregiver that needs to watch over Grandma, Mom, or other
family members most, if not much, of the time day in and day out
due to concerns about their well being, safety, and security.
But, first let's look at some other labor saving, automatic home
appliances most of us use routinely. For example, needing to do two
or more necessary chores and/or activities at the same time, like
laundering clothes and preparing supper.
The automatic washing machine needs no human intervention after
the dirty clothes are placed in the washer, the laundry powder
poured in, and the desired wash cycle set. Then, this labor saving
appliance runs automatically until the washed clothes are ready to
be placed in another labor saving home appliance, the automatic
clothes dryer. While the clothes are being washed and/or dried, the
caregiver prepares supper using several time saving home appliances
like the microwave oven, "crock" pot, blender, and conventional
stove, with possible convection oven capabilities.
After supper, the dirty pots, pans, and dishes are placed in the
automatic dishwasher to be washed and dried while the family
retires to the den to watch TV, and/or the kids to do homework.
Later, perhaps after the kids have gone to bed, the caregiver may
then have the time to fold, sort, and put up the now freshly
laundered clothes.
So what does a CareBot do for the caregiver? It is a new type of
labor saving, time management automatic home appliance.
For example, the care giver frequently feels time stress when
they need to go shopping for 2 or 3 hours, and are uncomfortable
when they have to be away for more than an hour or so. Time stress
is much worse for the caregiver with a frail elderly parent that
must be reminded to take medications at certain times of the day.
How can the caregiver be away for 3-4 hours when Grandma must take
her prescribed medication every 2 or 3 hours? If the caregiver is
trapped in traffic for an hour or two beyond the 2 or 3 they
expected to be gone, this "time stress" can be very difficult for
the caregiver to moderate.
Not infrequently, the primary caregiver has a 24 hour, 7 days a
week responsibility. After weeks and weeks of this sometimes
tedious, if not onerous routine, how does the caregiver get a "day
off?" To bring in an outsider is expensive (easily $75-125 per day
for just 8 hours) and there is the concern that medication will be
missed or the care receiver have an accident requiring immediate
assistance by the caregiver, or someone they must designate. And
the care receiver may be very resistant to a "stranger" coming in
to her home and "running things."
So what is it worth for a care receiver to have an automatic
system to help take care of Grandma? Just 3 or 4 days a month "off"
on a daylong shopping trip, a visit with friends, or just take in a
movie would cost $225-500 per month. And that scenario assumes that
Grandma is willing to be taken care of by a "stranger" during those
needed and appropriate days off.
So perhaps, an automatic caregiver, a CareBot, might be pretty
handy, and potentially very cost effective from the primary
caregiver's perspective.
What Does a CareBot Do for the Care Receiver?
It's a new kind of companion that always stays close to them
enabling family and friends to care for them from afar. It tells
them jokes, retells family anecdotes, reminds them to take
medication, reminds them that family is coming over soon (or not at
all), recites Bible verses, plays favorite songs and/or other
music. It alerts them when unexpected visitors, or intruders are
present. It notifies designated caregivers when a potentially
harmful event has occurred, such as a fall, fire in the home, or
simply been not found by the CareBot for too long. It responds to
calls for help and notifies those that the caregiver determined
should be immediately notified when any predetermined adverse event
occurs.
The family can customize the personality of the CareBot. The
voice's cadence can be fast or slow. The intonation can be breathy,
or abrupt. The voice's volume can range from very loud to very
soft. The response phrases from the CareBot for recognized words
and phrases can be colloquial and/or unique to the family's own
heritage. The personality can range from brassy to timid depending
on how the care giver, and others appropriate, chooses it to
be.
Generally, the care receiver is pleased at the prospect of
family being able to drop in for a "virtual visit" using the
onboard webcam and video monitor for at home "video conferencing."
The care receiver may feel much more needed and appreciated when
their far flung family and friends can "look in" on them any where
in the world where they can get broadband internet access and
simply chat for a bit.
Why is Grandma really interested in a CareBot? She wants to stay
in her home, or her family's home, as long as she possibly can.
What's that worth? Priceless. Or, an average nursing home is $5,000
per month for an environment that is too often the beginning of a
spiral downward in the care receiver's health. That's probably
$2-3K more per month for them to be placed where they really don't
want to be. Financial payback on a CareBot? Less than a year.
Emotional payback for the family to have this new automatic care
giver? Nearly instantaneous.
Safe Harbor:
Statements regarding financial matters in this press release
other than historical facts are "forward-looking statements" within
the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, Section
21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and as that term is
defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
The Company intends that such statements about the Company's future
expectations, including future revenues and earnings, technology
efficacy and all other forward-looking statements be subject to the
Safe Harbors created thereby. The Company is a development stage
firm that continues to be dependent upon outside capital to sustain
its existence. Since these statements (future operational results
and sales) involve risks and uncertainties and are subject to
change at any time, the Company's actual results may differ
materially from expected results.
Contact: GeckoSystems Intl. Corp. www.GeckoSystems.com Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=140182685996116&v=wall or
http://www.facebook.com/pages/GeckoSystems-Mobile-Robot-Solutions/144965492201437?v=wall
Telephone: Main number: 1-866-CAREBOT (227-3268) International: +1
678-413-9236