Ltr-Initial-Letter-To-Sony-4-14-02

                                                                    April 14, 2002

                                                                                                                                  Mike Tomich
                                                                                                                                  Page 1 of 2
Mr. Ken Kutaragi – President/CEO
Sony Computer Entertainment of America
919 E. Hillsdale Blvd, 2nd Floor
Forest City, CA. 94404

Sony Computer Entertainment of America
Consumer Services
P.O. Box 5888
San Matco, CA. 94402-0888

Sony Computer Entertainment of America
Correspondence
P.O. Box 5888
San Matco, CA. 94402-0888

RE: Design Flaw in Play Station Controller – Urgent

Dear Mr. Kutaragi:

I have two grandsons who play games on your Play Station. Recently I saw them staring at their hands while
opening and closing them.   This is a sign from them that there is a problem. I examined their hands and saw
that their fingers were distorted and bent. This distortion and bending is on both hands, symmetric. This
distortion and bending does conform to a precise fit and form of the controller handles. I have examined
other children’s hands and found the same condition/trend.

You do have a design flaw which results in crippling damage to children’s hands. This damage to the fingers,
and possibly the inner hands, is not reversible. It is permanent. This damage will result in arthritis when the
movement/function of the joints is changed or redirected.

The controller needs to be designed for more compatibility with the hands. I think what might be happening is
when children play the game, and because the game moves so fast, they hold the controller with a death
grip.
                                                                 Page 2 of 2

You must notify your existing purchasers, put a warning on the container or controller, so people can be
aware of the consequences of using the controller, and do a redesign that will be more compatible with the
users hands.

In any event, I plead with your company to take immediate Corrective Action as soon as possible…this matter
is of the utmost urgency.   I know a wide range of people that play these games. Maybe this is attributing to
the high rate of the carpal tunnel problems.

Please feel free to contact me with any questions..

                                                                  Very truly yours,

                                                                   Mike Tomich

Initial letter Informing Sony of Children's Finger Deformities from Video
Gaming
www.miketomich.com