Company History

ISEE3D Inc. originated from International Telepresence and International Telepresence Research which were formed in 1983. They were two related private companies that provided imaging services under contract to several companies internationally. Their clients included c NASA, Canadian Space Agency, Caterpillar (mine field clearing with remotely driven vehicles), US Army (San Diego – cargo handling on extendable boom forklifts). These were all twin camera systems as the new technology had not been developed.

By January 1993, ISEE3D Inc. commenced the development of a 3D single lens, single camera solution for the rapidly growing market of minimally invasive surgery, specifically the endoscopic surgery market. This technology as developed and patented received FDA approval on April 10, 1995 and was used in numerous human procedures. For the period 1993 to 1998 the company completed and patented the single lens 3D technology and built a number of working prototypes. The first was a 3D coupling device for an endoscope (utilizing various brands including Wolf & Olympus), which converted that device into a 3D endoscope as provided in the attached diagram.



This 3D converter system received FDA approval in October 1995 and has since been used in many minimally invasive operations since. Attached below is a peer review addressing the performance of the ISEE3D technology in practice, based upon a 10 week, 21 patient study performed by a group of surgeons from London, UK and Canada. The result of this study was support for the distinct benefits and improved clinical results achieved when using a 3D enabled endoscope.

A similar 3D converter configuration was utilized by the company attached to a video camera, and successfully demonstrated the ability of the technology to produce quality 3D video. The videos produced captured both near field imagery and more expansive imagery such as a horserace, with similar impressive results.

By the late 90’s ISEE3D had developed a 13,000 square foot manufacturing facility in Vancouver, British Columbia which was focused upon the manufacture of the endoscope 3D converter system.

By March 1999 a new Board of Directors came into the Company. That Board changed the direction of the Company to bring the company’s focus to streaming video, specifically of 3D image. The company then proceeded to establish partnerships with various companies focused upon streaming various 3D content. That single strategic decision did not properly evaluate the inherent weaknesses with streaming video at that time. As a result of limited bandwidth in the late 90’s and computer processor speeds that were one tenth of what they are today, the quality of image, speed of delivery and size of image was compromised. Essentially, the company’s management tied the company’s very valuable 3D technology applications to streaming video applications at a time that streaming video was in its infancy and resulted in a failed product launch of all proposed applications. This was not related to the company’s image capture technology, it was related to the host of technologies associated with video streaming that were not there at that time, but are in existence today.

Since that time several things have occurred in the market. First, broadband has expanded tremendously both in terms of availability and speed. Computer processors have increased ten times from 300 megahertz to 3.2 gigahertz. The advent of high definition screens brought on the need for higher quality lens into the image capture market and virtually every television manufacturer along with several new innovative companies have brought new high quality 3D-ready flat screen TVs onto the market with a major roll out of product planned for 2010 and onwards.

In late 2007 and 2008, the Board of Directors of ISEE3D was changed, the company recapitalized and significantly cleaned up its operating base. Two of the original founders of the 3D technology have been re-enlisted. The 3D industry is expanding at a record setting pace and the company is now perfectly positioned to move into several market verticals as more fully described herein.