BOSTON, Aug. 15, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- Markland Technologies, Inc. (OTCBB:MRKL), a defense and homeland security company transforming advanced laboratory technology into real-world products, has announced that it is continuing development and demonstration of multiple innovative technologies to assist in the war against terrorism. These technologies may provide means to spot and detect suicide bombers and other armed terrorists before they can carry out their attacks. The announcement was made by Robert Tarini, Chairman and CEO of Markland.
Initial development and testing phases of the stand off sensor suite intended for detection of suicide bomber explosive and chemical threats is continuing under government funded programs. Markland subsidiary EOIR Technologies has kept the technology on a fast-track development cycle and believes it will be able to deliver field-ready systems for forward area combat deployment.
"Military leaders have made the development of more effective technologies and methods to stop suicide bombers a top priority, and Markland has responded with an approach that we believe will yield capabilities that are not presently available to our troops and government personnel," said Mr. Tarini.
While the military has funded development of the suicide bomber detection systems, Markland also expects these solutions under development will eventually be employed in civilian settings in the United States, such as at federal buildings, shopping areas, sporting events and other potential terrorist targets. "Recent events in London indicate that the terrorist threat is focused on large population centers in the Western World. We hope that such attacks don't occur on American soil, but we cannot ignore the risk," said Mr. Tarini. "We believe that our innovative solutions will provide an additional measure of security for innocent civilians in the U.S. and abroad."
Markland has developed a unique three-tiered screening system that combines a range of existing thermal imaging and other advanced sensor technology with new Markland-developed software analysis techniques. Together, they generate detection capabilities, which the company believes can be significantly more powerful than could be achieved by any single system.
"When all of these different detection technologies are integrated into a single, unified solution, the system can attain an extremely high level of accuracy in the detection of potential threats with a relatively low rate of false alarms," said Mr. Tarini. Approximately 10 different detection technologies comprise the Markland suicide detection protocols, among them: thermal and electromagnetic sensors and imaging systems, vapor sensors, metal and chemical detection processes to spot firearms and explosives, and systems that can identify biological, radiological and other threats. Most of the individual systems are already proven through longtime use by the military and in civilian implementations around the world, contributing to the Markland system's robustness and dependability.
One of the most important elements of the entire protocol is Markland's proprietary "stand-off" detection system -- detection technologies capable of identifying potential threats at far greater distances than had previously been achieved. Precise distances are classified by the military, but such long-range detection is a critical part of identifying and stopping dangerous individuals before they can reach their targets and cause bloodshed.
Terrorist bombings and other types of armed terrorist attacks are a daily danger for innocent civilians and official personnel in many nations around the world. U.S. troops in Iraq have recently suffered heavy casualties in bombing attacks and they continue to face such deadly threats at traffic checkpoints and in crowded public areas.
Markland's publicly traded majority owned subsidiary Technest Holdings Inc. (OTCBB:TCNH) is also working on the development of disposable sensors which are light weight and based on advanced electro optic technologies which can be networked to provide perimeter defense and surveillance capabilities in both urban and remote terrain combat scenarios. Genex Technologies (www.genextech.com), a wholly owned subsidiary of Technest Holdings Inc., is completing the fabrication of 50 such sensors for delivery to the military in the coming month. It is expected that the future market for these sensors in both military and civilian security applications will be significant.
Genex Technologies Inc is also a provider of advanced 3D facial recognition enhancement algorithms. Pose, lighting, and expression have historically prevented 2D facial recognition from working well. Genex has addressed these problems by drawing upon its extensive research in 3D imaging and 2D-to-3D facial structure conversion.
SureMatch 3D is a suite of facial recognition tools that provides more robust detection capabilities through 3D enhancement. By partnering with leading biometrics companies, Genex has created a suite of facial recognition tools that provides both an enhancement for existing biometrics users and market-leading performance for new deployments. At the core Genex utilizes a recognition engine based upon next-generation 3D-to-3D face matching. The suite also has tools that allow seamless integration with existing 2D systems and databases to improve 2D facial recognition.
The company believes that the future of facial recognition is 3D. Genex's solution offers a path for users who need to effectively deploy recognition today and continue to harness the latest improvements in the future.
About Markland Technologies
Markland Technologies, Inc. is committed to setting next-generation standards in defense and security through the provision of innovative emerging technologies and expert services. The Company is engaged in the identification of advanced technologies currently under development in laboratories, universities and in private industry, and in the transformation of those technologies into next-generation products. Markland's solutions support military, law enforcement and homeland security personnel to protect the nation's citizens, borders and critical infrastructure assets from the threat of terrorism and other dangers. Through strategic development, Markland focuses on the creation of dual-use technology and products with applications in both the defense market and civilian homeland security and law enforcement fields. The Company is a Board Member of the Homeland Security Industries Association, and is a featured Company on HomelandDefenseStocks.com; additional details can be viewed at http://www.homelanddefensestocks.com/Companies/MarklandTech. For more information about the Company and its products, please visit the Markland home page at http://www.marklandtech.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
Investors are cautioned that certain statements contained in this document as well as some statements in periodic press releases and some oral statements of Markland Technologies officials during presentations about Markland Technologies, are "forward-looking" statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the "Act"). Forward-looking statements include statements which are predictive in nature, which depend upon or refer to future events or conditions, which include words such as "expects," "anticipates," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates," or similar expressions. In addition, any statements concerning future financial performance (including future revenues, earnings or growth rates), ongoing business strategies or prospects, and possible future actions, which may be provided by management, are also forward-looking statements as defined by the Act. Some of the factors that could significantly impact the forward-looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to: a reduction in order rates from the Army's Night Vision and Electronic Surveillance Directorate, difficulties integrating our acquisition of EOIR, insufficient cash flow to continue to fund the development and marketing of the Company's products and technology; a rejection of the Company's products and technologies by the marketplace, and; disputes as to the Company's intellectual property rights. Forward-looking statements are based upon current expectations and projections about future events and are subject to risks, uncertainties, and assumptions about Markland Technologies, its products, economic and market factors and the industries in which Markland Technologies does business, among other things. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and Markland Technologies has no specific intention to update these statements. More detailed information about those factors is contained in Markland Technologies filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Markland Technologies, Inc. is a featured Company on http://www.HomelandDefenseStocks.com, a service for which Markland compensates the provider.
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