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People to Watch November 7, 2003
S. James Miller Jr. ImageWare Systems develops software for digital imaging, law enforcement and secure ID cards. The software manages databases of digital images, accompanying text records and "biometric" data – such as fingerprints and facial features – that can be used to identify people. The 108-employee firm's customers include airports, government agencies and corporations for secure ID cards, as well as police agencies that use the company's technology to share digital photographs and criminal records to speed booking and investigative procedures. What are the fastest growing markets? Law enforcement and the government in general are on a rapid path toward implementing solutions that include biometrics and secure identification. Our law enforcement solutions, for example, are used to create databases of mugshots and criminal information, so when someone enters the criminal justice system, their photos are taken in a digital fashion and married with text created at the time of the arrest. It is then merged with a biometric identifier, which most commonly is the fingerprint. These three packets of information are put into our system and can be deployed across a desk or an ocean. This information can be shared within a law enforcement agency or between agencies. Who are some other customers? We've also seen an explosion in both the private and public sectors in terms of ID. ImageWare supports a broad spectrum of ID documents – everything from the YMCA, which is a very simple, straightforward ID card – all the way to the country's first smart driver's license program in New Mexico. A number of airports such as Ronald Reagan National Airport, Dulles International Airport and Seattle-Tacoma International Airport are also using our ID documents to track employee data and provide access to specific or restricted areas. Aren't there privacy issues surrounding this technology? Clearly privacy is an issue. However, privacy issues are not inherent in technology itself – it's people that misuse technology. We have these world-class rights guaranteed by our Constitution and they absolutely need to be protected. With respect to the criminal justice system, the courts and the legislatures have been pretty clear that while there are certain guarantees, the privacy concern is mitigated by the fact that you are in the legal system. What are some of the more unusual or interesting uses of your products? We have a lot of interesting application stories, however, the most intriguing implementations fall under law enforcement. Not only is law enforcement embracing technology and taking it to the streets faster than ever before, they are sharing data among multiple agencies to gain efficiency. ImageWare's FaceID facial recognition program employs biometric technology that allows users to identify a list of possible suspects by measuring distinct facial characteristics – using the eyes as a reference point to produce a data record representing the face. This data record is then used to compare against a digital database of images, including ImageWare's Crime Capture System, to search for suspects with multiple identities or warrants at the time of booking. What parts of your job keep you up at night? Any business starts and ends with its employees. Finding and retaining high-quality employees, which is a challenge as a small company, is always a priority. In addition, navigating the currents of the capital markets especially for a small company is not for the faint of heart. |
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