Logitech 2005 Annual Report Download - page 62

developers throughout the world to develop new applications and technologies for this market. With its expertise
in force and vibration feedback, cordlessness, voice input, and video input, Logitech is enabling a broad range of
new gaming experiences. Logitech provides retail hardware, such as the Logitech Driving Force™Pro wheel and
Logitech Cordless Controllers. To enable this hardware and promote high-quality support within games, Logitech
also provides advanced software drivers and tools to game developers.
Other
Advanced Remote Controls
Logitech has expanded its presence in the digital living room with a new line of advanced universal remote
controls for home entertainment systems. The Company’s current line of advanced remote controls with Smart
State Technology®provides simple, intuitive control of even the most elaborate entertainment system. The
Company’s Smart State database of electronic equipment supports infrared-controlled entertainment devices
made by any manufacturer, and even other devices such as PCs and home-lighting controls. These advanced
remote controls also have interactive media capabilities, allowing users to select TV shows, movies or music
titles from the interactive display. The latest addition to this product line is the Harmony 880, which is optimized
for people buying newer entertainment equipment such as HDTVs and DVRs. Featuring a large color LCD
display, rechargeable lithium-ion batteries and charging base, this new remote is designed to simplify the
complexities of new home entertainment systems.
3D Motion Controllers
The Company’s subsidiary, 3Dconnexion, offers 3D input devices for the growing field of 3D motion
control, used in the CAD (Computer Aided Design), EDA (Electronic Design Automation), GIS (Geographic
Information Systems) and DCC (Digital Content Creation) markets. More than 300,000 professionals use
3Dconnexion motion controllers, including its SpaceBall®, SpaceMouse®,CadMan
®, and SpaceTraveler™.All
3Dconnexion motion controllers leverage the productivity benefits and comfort of working with two hands – one
hand on the mouse to select, modify or annotate, and the other hand on the motion controller to navigate.
Digital Writing
The Logitech io™and io2 Digital Pens establish a new category of input devices by bridging handwritten
information and the digital world. The latest Logitech io2 pen, based on the Anoto digital pen and paper
functionality, lets people easily store, organize, and retrieve their handwritten information by simply writing with
ink on paper. The pen is used with special Anoto grid paper. An optical sensor embedded in the pen captures the
handwritten images, storing up to 40 pages in memory. This captured digital information can then be transferred
into the PC by synching the pen via a USB cradle. The Logitech io2 Digital Writing system is marketed through
Logitech’s retail channel. The Logitech io2 pen is also sold to companies who are enabling next-generation forms
processing solutions in areas such as healthcare, manufacturing and logistics.
Technology
Logitech products are sophisticated systems that combine multiple engineering disciplines – lightweight
radio frequency transmission, optical, mechanical, electrical, acoustical and software – and incorporate both
cognitive and physiological elements in user-centric industrial designs. These systems share common design
elements, including: sensors to detect and encode motion, images, sound or other analog data into electrical
signals; custom ASICs; microcontrollers to convert and process signals received from the sensor; a
communications subsystem to exchange signals with an attached computer or other intelligent host; and a suite of
driver, utility and user interface software modules and Web sites. The Company believes the software modules
and Web support complete a seamless user-centric solution for information input, access and control. Logitech’s
products incorporate the following principal technologies:
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