BOTHELL, Wash., Jan. 3 -- Microvision Inc. has begun the first shipments of its Nomad personal display system, a high-resolution display worn on the head that gives users hands-free access to information such as diagrams, instrumentation, maintenance records, moving maps and interactive training manuals. The company is targeting applications for workers in industry, aerospace, medicine and the military that enable customers to keep information in front of people while they are engaged in manual tasks or on the move, said Rick Rutkowski, Microvision CEO. Stryker Leibinger will use the Nomad system with a surgical workstation; Telesensory will assess the Nomad system as a reading aid for those with low vision; the European Agency for the Safety of Air Navigation will evaluate it as a tool for air traffic controllers; and ARVIKA -- a consortium of German companies including Audi, Siemens, Volkswagen and Airbus -- will adapt Nomad systems into its research projects in augmented reality technologies. Microvision recently was awarded contracts by the US military to develop Nomad display technology for combat and medical applications.