P>METHUEN, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 7, 1997--

Public Browser Software Creates Public-Friendly and Public-Proof Touch

Applications - Ideal for Retail, Government, and Banking Kiosks

MicroTouch Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:MTSI) today announced it has begun commercial shipments of Prospector 3.0, the winning off-the-shelf World Wide Web browser interface designed specifically for public access through touchscreen kiosks. Prospector 3.0, co-developed with award-winning touchscreen software specialist Lexitech, Inc., is an application for Microsoft's Internet Explorer running on a touchscreen-equipped PC monitor. It transparently adapts the browser interface to better support touchscreen usage by providing large navigation buttons.

It also includes a unique Touch Keyboard, so users can input text such as a guestbook record. Other Internet Explorer applications, including Java and ActiveX, and Web sites created with frames will run seamlessly with Prospector. Users can download an evaluation copy of Prospector 3.0 from MicroTouch's Web site at www.microtouch.com .

Prospector 3.0 allows companies to use their existing Web sites as touchscreen-enabled applications. Prospector is client-only software, so there is no server software to load or manage, and no Web site modifications are needed. As a result, the Prospector kiosk application is always as current as the Web site - without worries of software distribution and kiosk maintenance.

"MicroTouch's Prospector is an ideal solution for those organizations that want to make their dynamic Web site content available to larger audiences through public kiosks," said Janet Muto, vice president of marketing for MicroTouch. "Combined with touchscreen hardware and Factura, MicroTouch can offer a complete turnkey public kiosk - hardware, software, and touch-browser application - that can be deployed immediately."

Prospector makes the corporate Web site a more powerful promotional tool, reaching prospects in stores, airport lounges, government offices, banks, libraries, or even the corporate lobby. It's also ideal for other public-Web applications such as college campuses, remote retailing, or e-mail.

According to market researchers Frost & Sullivan, the market for interactive kiosks in the U.S. is growing at a rapid clip, from $370 million last year to nearly $3 billion in 2003. "Given the extraordinary growth in both the kiosk market and in the Web, we anticipate that Prospector will enjoy continued strong demand," Muto added.

Public-Friendly - And Public-Proof Access

Prospector is ideal for numerous "self-service" markets, including information kiosks, trade shows, "cyberlots" for car dealers, libraries, retail POS, government, banking, universities, and more.

"We've created an environment that is designed expressly for public access to the Web," said Alex Richardson, president of Lexitech, Inc. "With Prospector 3.0, we can provide a more intuitive Web interface - driven by touch input - and simultaneously limit access to only those Web sites that the kiosk owner specifies. It's both public-friendly and public-proof."

Prospector 3.0 includes a complete set of features to provide Web access from a touchscreen-equipped PC kiosk. Key features include:

-- Interface optimized for touch - Prospector remaps the browser interface to facilitate touch usage. Buttons are fewer and larger, making Web usage easier to use. The buttons can also be customized easily.

-- Touch keyboard - Prospector includes a "touch keyboard" where users touch an on-screen keyboard to enter any alphanumeric information, such as name or address. This is ideal for "guestbook" sections of the Web site or for entering sales orders.

-- SurfControl(tm) - Prospector can limit the permissible Web sites (URL's) to a pre-defined list. It eliminates the ability to access unapproved Web sites.

-- Attract loops - Prospector also supports self-running loops that attract users to the kiosk and introduce them to the application.

Pricing and Availability

Prospector 3.0 is available immediately for Windows 95 and Windows NT 4.0 and operates in conjunction with virtually any touchscreen- enabled personal computer. Prospector licenses begin at $249 for a single license; additional licenses are just $89.

About MicroTouch Systems, Inc.

MicroTouch Systems, Inc. is the world leader in touchscreen technology and related software. Its touchscreen products incorporate the world's two most popular touch technologies, analog capacitive and resistive membrane, as well as a host of innovative touch solutions. The Factura(tm) Kiosks division of MicroTouch is the largest kiosk manufacturer in the US. Additionally, MicroTouch's Business Products Division markets its first product Ibid(tm), a digital whiteboard that connects to your PC and saves everything you write.

Founded in 1982, MicroTouch reported sales of $95.0 million in 1996, and was named among America's Top 100 Fastest Growing Companies by Fortune. With its headquarters and primary manufacturing plant in Methuen, Mass., MicroTouch also maintains manufacturing facilities in New York, the United Kingdom, Japan, Taiwan, and Australia, along with sales offices and distributors in numerous other countries. Visit the MicroTouch Web site at www.microtouch.com .

About Lexitech, Inc.

Lexitech is headquartered in Branford, Conn. with additional offices in San Francisco and Washington, D.C. A pioneer in the interactive industry, Lexitech is an innovator in new media solutions, Internet solutions, Intranet solutions, and Web publishing that allow marketers to provide information directly and efficiently to their customers. Since 1983, Lexitech has created more than 200 self- service, interactive applications for worldwide clients including Microsoft, USAA, Travelers, Aetna, Bechtel, the US Postal Service, FujiFilm, and 15 state governments. Visit the Lexitech Web site at www.lexitech.com

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MicroTouch is a registered trademark and Prospector is a trademark of MicroTouch Systems, Inc. All other trademarks or tradenames, registered trademarks or registered tradenames are property of their respective holders.

Photo available: contact Annette Burak at 978-659-9379 or e-mail at [email protected]

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CONTACT: MicroTouch Systems, Inc. Rourke - MS&L

Annette Burak Amy Conefrey

978-659-9379 617-267-0042

[email protected] [email protected]