And we already know how stunningly reliable facecams are: http://www.politechbot.com/p-03150.html I'll attach the press release below. -Declan --- From: Georgeat_private To: "Declan McCullagh" <declanat_private> Cc: "notbored" <notboredat_private> Subject: Visionics, in the news Date: Fri, 24 May 2002 05:37:42 -0400 Declan, A brief blurb on WNBC-TV (NYC) this morning. The "U.S. Park Police" will protect "NYC tourist sites" by using Visionics software (donated use) to scan faces, to be compared against the Feds database of terrorists. One specific spot mentioned is people waiting to get on the ferrys to Liberty Island. The camera setups are obvious deals on tripods, going by the example shown at an outside site. No veils allowed? (Soon to be an SCP play? ;-) A Visionics spokeswoman was interviewed, told how it works using biometric face capture. FYI. Not on NBC's web site. Nice to know our gov isn't ignoring vague threats anymore, eh? <GROAN> --- http://ir.shareholder.com/vsnx/ReleaseDetail.cfm?ReleaseID=81358 Enhanced Security Measures to Protect NYC Landmarks Ellis Island and Statue of Liberty Include Visionics' Facial Recognition System Visionics Asked to Provide FaceIt®ARGUS System at Gate Entry Ways in Battery Park Screening Facility for Heightened Security Over Holiday Weekend NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 23, 2002-- Visionics Corporation (Nasdaq: VSNX), the worldwide leader in identification technologies and systems, announced today that its latest FaceIt® ARGUS surveillance system will be used to augment security measures at the Battery Park Screening Facility in the ferry embarkation area to Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty in the New York harbor during this Memorial Day holiday weekend. The state of the art system is on loan from Visionics to the United States Park Police for the holiday weekend and is part of a series of stepped up security measures that will be visible at New York City landmarks. Major Thomas H. Wilkins of the United States Park Police commented, "Since the tragic events of September 11, our agency has been focused on preventing future attacks while ensuring everyday life remains as uninterrupted as possible. Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty are potent symbols of our country's freedoms and it is our mission to make these landmarks safe for visitors and tourists." The installation of FaceIt® ARGUS at Battery Park Screening Facility will encompass the security portal area that precedes the ferry boarding planks. The system will automatically scan all faces passing through the entryway and compare them against a database of known terrorists compiled by federal authorities. The installation will be in compliance with Visionics' privacy principles---signage informing the public that the system is in use is posted in corresponding areas and all non-matches are automatically deleted from the system. Dr. Joseph J. Atick, chairman and CEO of Visionics Corporation stated, "We are truly honored to have been asked to participate in enhancing the security of some of our nation's most cherished landmarks. Providing our facial recognition technology for the US Park Police is yet another affirmation of our industry-leading position and we believe our contribution can help make the Memorial Day holiday weekend safer for Park visitors. We welcome the opportunity to respond swiftly and appropriately to the urgent call for heightened security to help deal with this most recent threat." On February 22, 2002, Identix Incorporated (Nasdaq: IDNX) and Visionics announced that they had entered into a definitive merger agreement in an effort intended to create the world's leading multi-biometric security technology company. Upon completion of the merger, the combined company will be named Identix Incorporated and will be headquartered in Minnetonka, MN. The preliminary joint proxy statement/prospectus related to the merger was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission by Identix and Visionics on March 18, 2002, and an amended version was deemed effective by the SEC on May 21, 2002. Investors and stockholders are urged to read the joint proxy statement/prospectus regarding the business combination transaction referenced above because it contains important information. Investors and stockholders may obtain a free copy of the joint proxy statement/prospectus and other documents filed by Identix and Visionics with the SEC at the SEC web site at www.sec.gov, Identix' web site at www.identix.com or Visionics' web site at www.visionics.com. About Visionics Corporation Visionics Corporation is the worldwide leader in identification technologies and systems. The Company is uniquely positioned with a comprehensive set of biometric identification product offerings: FaceIt®, live scan, IBIS and BNP. The award-winning core FaceIt® technology enables a broad range of products and applications built by partners (OEMs, VARs and system integrators). These include enhanced CCTV systems, identity fraud applications, and identity verification systems for physical and network security, travel and banking. The TENPRINTER, FingerPrinter CMS and Modular live scan systems are the most widely used by government agencies, law enforcement, airports, banks and other commercial institutions in the United States. IBIS is a revolutionary mobile identification system capable of capturing both forensic quality fingerprints and photographs for transmission and wireless transmission of data to law enforcement and other legacy databases for real-time identification. Finally, the BNP is the only commercially available platform for delivering scalable biometric solutions. It incorporates FaceIt® technology for implementation over large-scale networks and real-time identification. The product offerings are reflective of Visionics' leadership position in the biometric industry and commitment to the innovation of identification technologies. More information on Visionics can be accessed via the Company web site at http://www.visionics.com or by calling Frances Zelazny, Director of Corporate Communications at +1 201-332-9213. This news release contains forward-looking statements that are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those projected on the basis of such forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are made based on management's beliefs, as well as assumptions made by, and information currently available to, management pursuant to the "safe-harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Among the most significant risks and uncertainties with respect to the merger between Visionics and Identix are obtaining regulatory and shareholder approval, fulfilling the conditions set forth in the Definitive Merger Agreement for the close of the anticipated transaction, and the timing of the closing of the transaction. For a more complete description of the risk factors, which may affect the future performance of Visionics and Identix on an individual basis, see "Risk Factors" under the respective companies' annual reports and other periodic SEC filings. CONTACT: Bob Gallagher, Chief Financial Officer, 952-932-0888 Frances Zelazny, Director of Corporate Communications, 201-332-9213 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- POLITECH -- Declan McCullagh's politics and technology mailing list You may redistribute this message freely if you include this notice. To subscribe to Politech: http://www.politechbot.com/info/subscribe.html This message is archived at http://www.politechbot.com/ Declan McCullagh's photographs are at http://www.mccullagh.org/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Like Politech? Make a donation here: http://www.politechbot.com/donate/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------
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