Kwikpoint Extends Military Product Line With Launch of Iraqi Visual Language Survival Guide (VLSG) Also Introduces Visual Language Translator for Medical/Military Operations and DARPA Phraselator

Alexandria, VA-Gaia Communications, publisher of the fold out translation tool, Kwikpoint Visual Language Translator for Military and Civilian Operations (VLT), announced the launch of three new Kwikpoints designed for military and medical use.

Alexandria, VA (PR WEB) Gaia Communications, publisher of the fold out translation tool, Kwikpoint Visual Language Translator for Military and Civilian Operations (VLT), announced the launch of three new Kwikpoints designed for military and medical use.

"Our first generation VLT was launched in November and is being tested by MarForPac, the UNS Comfort and U.S. Special Forces," says Alan Stillman, president of Gaia Communications. "There are strong indicators of the need for our product due to a shortage of military foreign language specialists. We developed a custom Kwikpoint encompassing military images along with phrases in English, Iraqi and phonetics to create the Visual Language Survival Guide (VLSG)"

Like all Kwikpoint's low-tech translators, the VLSG allows instant face-to-face communication through pictures that users point to in order to describe items ranging from land mines and tanks to clothing identification. The VLSG's added capability is survival level language skills that require no formal training. Users can speak a phrase phonetically, or point to it, while a response is given by pointing to a picture.

"Information and intelligence is gathered through visual identification overcoming terminology and language barriers," says Stillman. "Radar, SAM and SCUD images from Spoon Rest to Oxidizer Truck to SAM8 allows anyone to point to a picture to describe what they have seen even if they don't know how to say it."

Additional key features of the VLSG include a national map with major cities, Air and Army bases and a Middle East map for quick orientation value. Command and Control Card provides basic survival words and phrases and the Surrender Module graphics indicate sequence and instructions during surrender procedure to avoid loss of life.

Also new to Kwikpoint's Military and Medical line of products is the Visual Language Translator for Special Operations that carries a combination of military images and newly developed medical trauma images. Patient and clinician communicate by pointing to a picture symbol to request and receive key information about cause, symptom and treatment of the medical condition. In the ER or in the field where time is critical and medical interpretation may not be available, the translator can help assess the situation quickly with non-English speaking or verbally impaired patients. "The Kwikpoint Visual Language Translator card is being field tested by the United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) for the Global War on Terror (GWOT)", said a USSOCOM language specialist.

Finally, in conjunction with the DARPA Phraselator, the high tech automated translation device already deployed in Afghanistan, Kwikpoint's new translator offers an added communication capability-users respond to a Phraselator question by pointing to an informative picture instead of a simple yes or no answer. Lt. Col. Jim Bass, U.S. Army, Program Manager, DARPA-IAO, says, "In a world that expects a silicon-based, high-tech solution, the Kwikpoint solution is refreshingly functional, elegant, and just low-tech enough to work almost anywhere - even Afghanistan!"

"Our goal for Kwikpoint is to get them into the hands of all soldiers who can make use of them," says Stillman. "With the successful launch of our VLT military products, and continued customization for multiple branches of the military, we are confident that our cost effective solution will support communications needs throughout the services."

About Kwikpoint
Fortune 100 firms, travel and hospitality, pharmaceutical and government are some businesses worldwide that use Kwikpoint as an advertising medium, promotional tool, trade show premium and a communication tool for language barriers. For more information on the company, please visit www.kwikpoint.com/links.html

CONTACTS:
Laura Madonna, Marketing Communications Director, 703-370-5527, LMadonna@Kwikpoint.com
Kwikpoint: Alan Stillman, President, 703-370-5527, Astillman@Kwikpoint.com
Lt. Col. Jim Bass, U.S. Army, Program Manager, DARPA-IAO, jbass@darpa.mil