Marconi Multimedia System in Trials

PITTSBURGH -- Marconi Corporation plc (London: MONI) (Nasdaq: MRCIY - News) announced today a trial with the Arizona Surgical Technology and Education Center (ASTEC) at the University of Arizona College of Medicine and ExhibitOne to deploy, test and develop videoconferencing for remote medical applications and training.

Marconi and ExhibitOne Corporation, an Arizona-based provider of telepresence and presentation technologies, are working with ASTEC to explore real-time videoconferencing applications to support ASTEC's medical simulation education programs using Marconi's ViPr(TM) Virtual Presence System, an easy- to-use, flexible, high-resolution video telephony and multimedia communications platform. The applications will make it easier for students, nurses, residents and physicians throughout the state and eventually the world to access University of Arizona College of Medicine faculty, staff and their high-tech medical simulation training facilities.

ViPr will be integrated in ASTEC's Medical and Surgical Simulation Laboratory at the Arizona Health Sciences Center by ExhibitOne, which will also provide support and design services. ASTEC will use the ViPr for telesurgical consults, distance learning with virtual reality simulators, and other activities that support medical training. Additionally, Marconi and ASTEC researchers will work collaboratively to identify product requirements for future enhancements to ViPr, including telementoring, telesurgery and wireless solutions for remote medical training.

Telemedicine is the use of telecommunications technologies to provide and support health care at a distance. In addition to clinical applications, telemedicine can also be effective in the ongoing training of physicians, said Allan J. Hamilton, MD, professor of surgery and ASTEC executive director.

"The goal of the joint project with ExhibitOne and Marconi is to present, explore and evaluate the integration of telecommunications technology in the area of health care training," Hamilton said. "We were very impressed with the ViPr's easy-to-use interface and its multiparty conferencing capability. We hope to demonstrate the benefits and cost efficiency of this blend of medical training and digital technologies."

Marconi Corp. plc