CLARIFICATION: MEDIA ALERT: American Science and Engineering, Inc. Issues Clarification to TSA Backscatter Pilot Information: Photos and Images.BILLERICA, Mass. -- American Science and Engineering, Inc. (NASDAQ NASDAQ in full National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations U.S. market for over-the-counter securities. Established in 1971 by the National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD), NASDAQ is an automated quotation system that reports on : ASEI ASEI American Society of Engineers of Indian Origin ASEI Australian Student Environment Network ASEI Application Service Element Invocation ) (AS&E([R])) issues a clarification to media regarding the Transportation Security Administration (TSA TSA See tax-sheltered annuity (TSA). ) Backscatter backscatter in radiology, radiation deflected by scattering processes at angles greater than 90 degrees to the original direction of the beam of radiation. Important in radiotherapy when estimating surface exposure dose. Pilot information. Recent media reports contain images that misrepresent mis·rep·re·sent tr.v. mis·rep·re·sent·ed, mis·rep·re·sent·ing, mis·rep·re·sents 1. To give an incorrect or misleading representation of. 2. 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 Please wikify (format) this article or section as suggested in the Guide to layout and the Manual of Style. Remove this template after wikifying. This article has been tagged since 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. The actual images can be found on www.as-e.com and www.tsa.gov. 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 SmartCheckPersonnel 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 cosmic rays, charged particles moving at nearly the speed of light reaching the earth from outer space. Primary cosmic rays consist mostly of protons (nuclei of hydrogen atoms), some alpha particles (helium nuclei), and lesser amounts of nuclei of carbon, nitrogen, ). SmartCheck meets the manufacturer's requirements of the American National Standards Institute See ANSI. (body, standard) American National Standards Institute - (ANSI) The private, non-profit organisation (501(c)3) responsible for approving US standards in many areas, including computers and communications. ANSI is a member of ISO. (ANSI (American National Standards Institute, New York, www.ansi.org) A membership organization founded in 1918 that coordinates the development of U.S. voluntary national standards in both the private and public sectors. It is the U.S. member body to ISO and IEC. ) standard N43.17, which is the standard that the Center for Devices and Radiological Health The Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH) is the branch of the United States Food and Drug Administration responsible for the premarket approval of all medical devices, as well as overseeing the manufacturing, performance and safety of these devices. (CDRH CDRH Center for Devices and Radiological Health (US FDA) ) 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 ZBackscatter 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. About AS&E([R]) American Science and Engineering, Inc. (AS&E) is the leading worldwide supplier of innovative X-ray inspection and screening systems. With more than 45 years of experience in developing advanced X-ray security systems, the Company's product line utilizes a variety of technologies, including patented Z([R]) Backscatter[TM], Shaped Energy[TM] and Radioactive Threat Detection (RTD RTD returned to duty (US DoD) RTD Rated RTD Ready to Drink RTD Richmond Times-Dispatch RTD Regional Transportation District RTD Research, Technological Development RTD Research and Technology Development RTD Real-Time Data ). These technologies offer superior detection of threats including explosives, plastic weapons, illegal drugs, other contraband, dirty bombs and nuclear devices. AS&E offers a complete range of X-ray inspection products including Z Backscatter screening systems, CargoSearch[TM], and ParcelSearch[TM] inspection systems, used for critical detection and security applications to combat terrorism, drug and weapon smuggling smuggling, illegal transport across state or national boundaries of goods or persons liable to customs or to prohibition. Smuggling has been carried on in nearly all nations and has occasionally been adopted as an instrument of national policy, as by Great Britain , trade fraud, and illegal immigration. AS&E customers include leading governmental agencies, border authorities, military bases, airports and corporations worldwide, including the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Noun 1. Department of Homeland Security - the federal department that administers all matters relating to homeland security Homeland Security executive department - a federal department in the executive branch of the government of the United States , U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Customs and Border Protection U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), a bureau of the United States Department of Homeland Security, is charged with regulating and facilitating international trade, collecting import duties, and enforcing U.S. trade laws. , Royal Thai Police The Royal Thai Police (Thai: สำนักงานตำรวจแห่งชาติ) is the federal police force of Thailand. , HM Customs & Excise (U.K.) and Hong Kong Customs. For more information on AS&E products and technologies, please visit www.as-e.com. Safe Harbor Statement. The foregoing press release contains statements concerning AS&E's financial performance, markets and business operations that may be considered "forward-looking" under applicable securities laws. AS&E wishes to caution readers of this press release that actual results might differ materially from those projected in any forward-looking statements. Factors which might cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements contained herein include the following: significant reductions or delays in procurements of the Company's systems by the United States and other governments; disruption in the supply of any source component incorporated into AS&E's products; litigation An action brought in court to enforce a particular right. The act or process of bringing a lawsuit in and of itself; a judicial contest; any dispute. When a person begins a civil lawsuit, the person enters into a process called litigation. seeking to restrict the use of intellectual property used by the Company; potential product liability claims against the Company; global political trends and events which affect public perception of the threat presented by drugs, explosives and other contraband; global economic developments and the ability of governments and private organizations to fund purchases of the Company's products to address such threats; and the potential insufficiency of Company resources, including human resources, capital, plant and equipment and management systems, to accommodate any future growth, and future delays in federal funding. These and certain other factors which might cause actual results to differ materially from those projected are detailed from time to time in AS&E's periodic reports and registration statements filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which important factors are incorporated herein by reference. AS&E undertakes no obligation to update forward looking statements to reflect changed assumptions, the occurrence of unanticipated events, or changes in future operating results, financial condition or business over time. |
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