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IRIS Subsidiary Awarded $2 Million Grant from U.S. Government to Develop Biometric 3D Face Recognition Technology for Security Screening
May-25-04
CHATSWORTH, Calif. - A System Being Designed for Airports, Ports of Entry, Defense Installations and Other Checkpoints IRIS International, Inc. (NASDAQ: IRIS) today announced that its Advanced Digital Imaging Research, LLC (ADIR) subsidiary has been awarded a $2 million grant from the U.S. government for the development of biometric "3D Face Recognition for Security Screening."
The Advanced Technology Program grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce, National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) calls for the development and testing of an experimental automated personal identification system for airports, ports of entry, defense installations, laboratories, corporations and other sites where security requires screening of individuals.
"We are very excited about the opportunity to apply ADIR's expertise in sophisticated imaging, the underlying technology of IRIS International's core business, to resolve one of the most challenging problems in the security field," stated IRIS President and Chief Executive Officer, Cesar M. Garcia. "Automatic face recognition is a very difficult problem that has evaded a solution for a long time. Many attempts have failed using traditional two-dimensional approaches. A successful highly advanced three-dimensional face recognition device could play a vital role in the area of Homeland Security. While we cannot guarantee success, we believe that ADIR and its highly qualified group of collaborators have assembled one of the most qualified teams to resolve this difficult problem."
Mr. Garcia noted that this is the second time that ADIR has been called upon to apply its expertise to a major U.S. government undertaking. In May 2003, ADIR was awarded a contract from Lockheed-Martin to assist in the analysis of video images of the launch of the Space Shuttle Columbia. ADIR's state-of-the art image analysis techniques were used to analyze the causes of the orbiter's breakup during reentry into the earth's atmosphere.
"This is an exciting new technological direction for ADIR with a significant project in the area of biometric identification technology and the long-term commercial possibilities of this undertaking are very significant," stated Dr. Kenneth Castleman, President of ADIR, who will lead the research and development effort. "We plan a two-stage approach to maximize our chances of success either by delivering on our ultimate goal of airport screening or by achieving significant improvements to the state-of-the-art in commercial security screening."
Dr. Castleman stated that the first stage of the project will be to develop and test, within one year, a real-time, three-dimensional face recognition prototype for use at commercial security checkpoints where employee identity records are already on file. The second phase would involve developing a broader, more far-reaching system that could tap into law enforcement databases, and be used for applications such as passenger check-in at airports.
ADIR's mission is to combine the advantages of both 3D and 2D imaging for facial recognition. The technical challenges involve primarily the selection and/or development of the system components (image acquisition hardware, 2D and 3D databases, and face recognition software) and the integration of these elements with a convenient, easy-to-use graphical interface. The system must be able to achieve high accuracy in real time, and do so with low false alarm rates. The grant provides for a three-year study to be carried out in collaboration with Dr. Ioannis Kakadiaris of the University of Houston, who will join forces with ADIR in the development of face recognition algorithms.
Mr. Garcia said that a successful three-dimensional facial recognition product could create a significant commercial opportunity and could lead to a host of new partnerships and revenue opportunities for IRIS. "At the same time, we are very pleased to be involved in a project that has the potential for making a significant contribution to the Homeland Security effort," he added.
About NIST
The charter of the National Institute of Standards and Technology Advanced Technology Program (ATP) is to accelerate the development of innovative technologies that promise significant commercial payoff and widespread benefit to the United States. The ATP views research and development projects from a broad perspective — its bottom line is how the project can benefit the nation. By sharing the relatively high risks of advanced technology development, the ATP fosters projects with a high payoff for the nation as a whole -- in addition to a direct return to the innovators.
THE COMPANY
IRIS International, Inc. (http://www.proiris.com) is a leader in automated urinalysis technology with systems in major medical institutions throughout the world. The Company's newest generation iQ200 fully Automated Urine Microscopy Analyzer utilizing image flow cytometry, patented Automated Intelligent Microscopy (AIM) technology and neural network-based particle recognition capabilities achieves a significant reduction in the cost and time-consuming steps for manual microscopic analysis. The Company's StatSpin(R) subsidiary, based in Norwood, Mass., manufactures innovative centrifuges and blood analysis products. Advanced Digital Imaging Research, LLC (ADIR), based near Houston, Texas, is the Company's imaging research and development subsidiary.
SAFE HARBOR PROVISION
This news release contains forward-looking statements made in reliance upon the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the Company's views on future commercial revenues, market growth, capital requirements, new product introductions, and are generally identified by phrases such as "thinks," "anticipates," "believes," "estimates," "expects," "intends," "plans," and similar words. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are inherently subject to uncertainties and other factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statement. These statements are based upon, among other things, assumptions made by, and information currently available to, management, including management's own knowledge and assessment of the Company's industry, competition and capital requirements. Other factors and uncertainties that could affect the Company's forward-looking statements include, among other things, the following: the acceptance by customers of our new iQ(R)200 product platform, our substantial expansion of international sales and our reliance on key suppliers, the potential need for changes in long-term strategy in response to future developments; future advances in diagnostic testing methods and procedures, as well as potential changes in government regulations and healthcare policies, both of which could adversely affect the economics of the diagnostic testing procedures automated by the Company's products; rapid technological change in the microelectronics and software industries; and increasing competition from imaging and non-imaging based in-vitro diagnostic products. The Company refers interested persons to its most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and its other SEC filings for a description of additional uncertainties and factors that may affect forward-looking statements. The Company assumes no duty to update its forward-looking statements.
Contacts
IRIS International, Inc.
Cesar Garcia, 818-709-1244
The Wall Street Group, Inc.
Ron Stabiner, 212-888-4848
Advanced Digital Imaging Research
Dr. Kenneth Castleman, 281-535-1889