Total ID management

Viisage Technology Inc., Billerica, Mass., launched Viisage Proof 1.0, software that combines facial recognition technology with other methods of identification to help government agencies when they issue credentials or do background checks. In addition to matching facial images, the system can automatically analyze documents, such as driver's licenses; watch lists; and other data sources, the company said.

Double servings of speed

Advanced Micro Devices Inc., Sunnyvale, Calif., this month demonstrated dual-core processors that the company expects to begin releasing to the market next year. And at press time, reports were that Intel Corp. of Santa Clara, Calif., planned to discuss its dual-core chips at the Intel Developer Forum, Sept. 7-9. It is not known which product will ship to vendors first.

Rugged gets secure

Itronix Corp. of Spokane, Wash., introduced the GoBook III, the next generation of its rugged laptop computer. It's the first Itronix system to support smart-card and biometric fingerprint readers, although a company official indicated Itronix has not yet seen widespread demand for those security features.

Tech Success: 'Heads up' takes on fresh meaning for Army

If you want to know what it's like to be a commander in a brigade of Army Stryker armored vehicles, do 70 knee bends.

Hands-on VPN

Having your production line behind your design office isn't the usual practice, but it works for satellite communications provider Cryptek Inc. of Sterling, Va.

Las Vegas pilots mesh network

Las Vegas is set to flip the switch on a wireless broadband pilot based on mesh networking technology from MeshNetworks Inc. of Maitland, Fla.

Report: Intelligent transportation spending to rise sharply

Market opportunity will be driven by dedicated short-range communications, like e-toll collection, and homeland security initiatives for logistical management and tracking and control.

Multifunction printer prices tumble

Walk around most midsize to large enterprises, and you'll likely see what I see: networked copiers and printers hooked up to scanners and faxes, mixed with all-in-one devices that make the same functions accessible from a desktop PC.

Industry Titans still blazing trails

When <b>Robert Beyster</b> stepped down in July as chairman of Science Applications International Corp., he became the latest retiree among the first generation of executives who built the government systems integration industry. When industry insiders are asked to identify the early movers and shakers, they invariably point to seven names, including the former SAIC chief. Washington Technology profiles these Titans in a special report that includes "what are they doing now" updates and Q&As.

Tech Success: Green-card forms are an online 'go'

You don't have to be an immigrant in the United States to know that renewing a green card can be a long, drawn-out process.

Let the games begin

It's an unusual situation for a game developer, but Doug Whatley isn't complaining. The chief executive officer of BreakAway Games Ltd. In Hunt Valley, Md., said only a quarter of his company's business comes from its entertainment titles, such as "Waterloo: Napoleon's Last Battle," and "Emperor: Rise of the Middle Kingdom." The rest comes from Uncle Sam.

Digital radio processing

Hypres Inc. of Elmsford, N.Y., is in the final phase of developing an all-digital radio receiver, considered to be an industry first. The company has been doing the work through an $8 million Small Business Innovative Research Phase III contract with the Office of Naval Research.

Sun is super, too

&#009;Lost in the flurry of supercomputing wins by vendors such as IBM Corp., Cray Inc. and Silicon Graphics Inc., is the fact that Sun Microsystems Inc. is also a player in the high-performance computing market. The Santa Clara, Calif., company recently won a three-year, $2 million deal with the Energy Department to build a supercomputing cluster at the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory.

Connecting the dots

&#009;Last week, i2 Inc. of Springfield, Va., introduced a suite of data visualization tools called Visual Notebook that the company said can help law enforcement investigators and intelligence analysts better piece together disparate information.

Unmanned air vehicles go organic

Honeywell International Inc. completes testing of an unmanned air vehicle that the Defense Department hopes to use for gathering surveillance and protecting troops.

General Dynamics to develop advanced tablet PCs

General Dynamics Corp. won a contract to develop 10 prototype tablet computers powered by liquid fuel cells to replace the Air Force's ground air traffic control computers.

Vulnerability reporting

NetForensics Inc. of Edison, N.J., recently launched its nFX Policy Reporting system, which helps agencies ensure that networked devices and users comply with established security policies. The platform reports information such as whether a device or network user has outdated antivirus software or an operating system that isn't up to date on security patches

Roam where you want to

A trio of companies is developing <BR>

Winning the peace

As soldiers rotate into Iraq, they will begin training with a new electronic learning system designed to improve their decision-making skills. Will Interactive Inc., Potomac, Md., developed for the Army a simulation program called Lessons Learned in Iraq that puts soldiers in situations like what they will encounter in Iraq.

Tech Success: Integrator builds net-centric test bed

If the Defense Department remains intent on spiraling network-centric capabilities to the warfighter, then it has a major challenge on its hands, according to some experts.