This just came across the stock market wire......I hope it's relevant because of the surveillance discussion.
PR Newswire - Tuesday, June 03, 2003 Expansion Valued at $3.2 Million to Identix Creates Largest IBIS Network To-Date Includes 64 Latest Generation Remote Data Terminals, Upgrades to Midwest Area Fingerprint Identification Network and Hennepin County's Central IBIS Site MINNETONKA, Minn., June 3 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Identix Incorporated (Nasdaq: IDNX), the world's leading multi-biometrics security technology company, announced today that it has been awarded a contract with Hennepin County Sheriff's Office to expand Identix' mobile, real-time identification IBIS Wireless network in Hennepin County, MN. The contract is being funded through a grant by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) and is valued at $3.2 million to Identix over the next 12 to 24 months. Identix' IBIS system uses a hand-held portable device, called a Remote Data Terminal (RDT), to capture photographs and forensic-quality fingerprint images in a mobile environment. The fingerprint data is then transmitted wirelessly to the central IBIS server via the police radio communication system or cellular communications. At the IBIS server, the data is processed and transferred to one or more AFIS databases. If a fingerprint match exists, identification information is transferred back to the RDT. Fingerprint and photo non-matches are discarded from the system after the transaction. Identix will work closely with Hennepin County to expand the existing IBIS infrastructure. This will include a significant upgrade to the Midwest Automated Fingerprint Identification Network (MAFIN) to provide two finger automated search capability and approximately sixty-four (64) of Identix' latest state-of-the-art IBIS Remote Data Terminals for distribution to police officers throughout the region. Additionally, Identix will upgrade the County's central IBIS site to provide enhanced performance and throughput for the expanded system. Dr. Joseph J. Atick, President and CEO of Identix commented, "This expansion of IBIS is the largest in the history of Identix to-date. The MAFIN upgrade will now provide the potential for even faster identification of suspects by police officers in the field through the elimination of the requirement for an operator at the police station to process the data. This upgrade should result in response times of generally less than three minutes. Additionally, the MAFIN upgrade should make it even easier and cost efficient for other counties that link to the MAFIN system to adopt our IBIS solution. "We believe IBIS is ideally suited for every single law enforcement officer who is faced with the complex, daily decisions of assessing a proffered identity," Atick continued, "and we will continue to look for opportunities to expand the use of IBIS to additional law enforcement departments and agencies throughout the nation. IBIS has been very successful in Hennepin County, as well as in the California regions of Ontario and Redlands," Atick said. "These IBIS deployments have resulted in excellent efficiencies for officers in the field by eliminating the need to take every suspect into the station for booking just to identify them. Additionally, the current IBIS programs have proven successful in helping to remove a number of suspected felons from the streets." In addition to the County of Hennepin, the City of Ontario, the City of Redlands, and the City of Rialto, California are also utilizing the IBIS system under a National Institute of Justice grant, made possible with bi- partisan support from U.S. Congressmen Jerry Lewis (R-CA), Gary Miller (R-CA) and Martin Sabo (D-MN). About Identix Incorporated Identix Incorporated (Nasdaq: IDNX) is the world's leading multi-biometric security technology Company. The Company's broad range of fingerprint and facial recognition technology offerings empower the identification of individuals who wish to gain access to information or facilities, conduct transactions and obtain IDs. Additionally, the Company's products and solution offerings can help identify those who perpetrate fraud and otherwise pose a threat to public safety. Identix' products serve a broad range of industries and market segments - most notably, government and law enforcement, aviation, financial, healthcare and corporate enterprise. In addition, the Company's wholly owned subsidiary, Identix Public Sector, Inc. provides project management and facilities engineering services to the government sector. Posted by Vicky Heller, North Oaks TEMPORARY REMINDER: 1. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. 2. If you don't like what's being discussed here, don't complain - change the subject (Mpls-specific, of course.) ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
