American Science and Engineering (AS & E)2006-12-05 22:57:14
CLARIFICATION: MEDIA ALERT: American Science and Engineering, Inc. Issues Clarification to TSA Backscatter Pilot Information: Photos and Images
American Science and Engineering, Inc. (AS&E(R)) issues a clarification to media regarding the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Backscatter Pilot information. Recent media reports contain images that misrepresent the recent news announcement, "American Science and Engineering, Inc. To Provide TSA with SmartCheck(TM) Personnel Screening System at U.S. International Airport", released on December 1, 2006. The press release can be found at: http://investor.as-e.com
The unfiltered Z(R) Backscatter(TM) images that have been associated with the SmartCheck personnel screening system and the TSA Backscatter Pilot are an incorrect depiction of the SmartCheck system's images with privacy filtered software. The images widely distributed were taken in the 1990s and in 2003 with AS&E's previous generation system, and these images do not have the privacy software that will be used by TSA during the Pilot Program.
Following are the correct facts regarding the SmartCheck system and the TSA Backscatter Pilot Program:
SmartCheck Backscatter Pilot - AS&E has been selected by the Transportation Security Administration to pilot test its SmartCheck Personnel Screening System, equipped with privacy software, at Sky Harbor International Airport in Phoenix, Arizona. TSA has announced that the SmartCheck Pilot will commence in the next couple weeks.
Assured Privacy - AS&E's SmartCheck system uses a software algorithm to protect the privacy of screened passengers while effectively displaying threats. The privacy-filtered image looks like an outline of the person and outlines any potential threats on the person. The images are similar to when a child traces an outline of his/her hand.
Images will not be stored, printed or transmitted - For added privacy to the passenger, the SmartCheck system deployed by TSA is not capable of storing, exporting, printing, or transmitting images; all images are automatically deleted from the system immediately after they are reviewed by the remote operator.
Remote Operator Console - The image analysis console will be located remotely, out of the sight of those being scanned and other passengers at the checkpoint. This will prevent the image analyst from seeing or identifying the person being scanned.
Voluntary Screening- Passengers undergoing secondary screening will have the option of a SmartCheck scan as an alternative to a physical pat-down by a TSA Security Officer at the security checkpoint. TSA will not require people to be scanned by SmartCheck.
Safe for All - SmartCheck's Z Backscatter X-ray technology is safe for both operators and scanned individuals. The radiation dose from a single scan is less than 10 microRem (0.1 microSieverts) per scan. To put this into perspective, 10 microRem is equivalent to the radiation a person receives from flying in an airplane for about two minutes at 30,000 feet (due to the increased exposure from cosmic rays). SmartCheck meets the manufacturer's requirements of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) standard N43.17, which is the standard that the Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH) references for systems such as SmartCheck.
About SmartCheck: SmartCheck is a safe, non-intrusive personnel screening system that allows operators to detect threats hidden on a person. The system displays both organic and inorganic materials, revealing objects such as guns and knives, explosives, composite weapons, and other hidden threats and contraband. Its Z Backscatter technology gives the operator easy-to-interpret information about where threats or contraband are hidden, thus eliminating the need for intrusive and time-consuming pat-down searches.
American Science and Engineering, Inc. (AS&E(R)) issues a clarification to media regarding the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Backscatter Pilot information. Recent media reports contain images that misrepresent the recent news announcement, "American Science and Engineering, Inc. To Provide TSA with SmartCheck(TM) Personnel Screening System at U.S. International Airport", released on December 1, 2006. The press release can be found at: http://investor.as-e.com
The unfiltered Z(R) Backscatter(TM) images that have been associated with the SmartCheck personnel screening system and the TSA Backscatter Pilot are an incorrect depiction of the SmartCheck system's images with privacy filtered software. The images widely distributed were taken in the 1990s and in 2003 with AS&E's previous generation system, and these images do not have the privacy software that will be used by TSA during the Pilot Program.
Following are the correct facts regarding the SmartCheck system and the TSA Backscatter Pilot Program:
SmartCheck Backscatter Pilot - AS&E has been selected by the Transportation Security Administration to pilot test its SmartCheck Personnel Screening System, equipped with privacy software, at Sky Harbor International Airport in Phoenix, Arizona. TSA has announced that the SmartCheck Pilot will commence in the next couple weeks.
Assured Privacy - AS&E's SmartCheck system uses a software algorithm to protect the privacy of screened passengers while effectively displaying threats. The privacy-filtered image looks like an outline of the person and outlines any potential threats on the person. The images are similar to when a child traces an outline of his/her hand.
Images will not be stored, printed or transmitted - For added privacy to the passenger, the SmartCheck system deployed by TSA is not capable of storing, exporting, printing, or transmitting images; all images are automatically deleted from the system immediately after they are reviewed by the remote operator.
Remote Operator Console - The image analysis console will be located remotely, out of the sight of those being scanned and other passengers at the checkpoint. This will prevent the image analyst from seeing or identifying the person being scanned.
Voluntary Screening- Passengers undergoing secondary screening will have the option of a SmartCheck scan as an alternative to a physical pat-down by a TSA Security Officer at the security checkpoint. TSA will not require people to be scanned by SmartCheck.
Safe for All - SmartCheck's Z Backscatter X-ray technology is safe for both operators and scanned individuals. The radiation dose from a single scan is less than 10 microRem (0.1 microSieverts) per scan. To put this into perspective, 10 microRem is equivalent to the radiation a person receives from flying in an airplane for about two minutes at 30,000 feet (due to the increased exposure from cosmic rays). SmartCheck meets the manufacturer's requirements of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) standard N43.17, which is the standard that the Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH) references for systems such as SmartCheck.
About SmartCheck: SmartCheck is a safe, non-intrusive personnel screening system that allows operators to detect threats hidden on a person. The system displays both organic and inorganic materials, revealing objects such as guns and knives, explosives, composite weapons, and other hidden threats and contraband. Its Z Backscatter technology gives the operator easy-to-interpret information about where threats or contraband are hidden, thus eliminating the need for intrusive and time-consuming pat-down searches.
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