Mytec Technologies Inc.: BioAPI Reference Implementation Developer's Workshop To Be Held July 12-14 In Toronto, Canada.

Business Editors

TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 11, 2000

BioAPI Reference Implementation Developer's Workshop will be held in Toronto, Canada on July 12th-14, 2000, sponsored by Mytec Technologies Inc. (TSE:MYT.)

This Workshop is a follow-up to the User's and Developer's Seminar held in April at Pentagon City, VA. The objective of the Workshop is to initiate development of the reference implementation of the BioAPI Framework. The BioAPI Framework will allow applications to be written to access a wide variety of biometric technologies in a uniform manner. The first targeted operating system for the Framework will be Win-32 operating systems, such as Microsoft Windows NT, '95, '98, and Windows 2000. The BioAPI Framework will be designed so that it can be ported to other operating systems, such as Linux, in a straightforward manner. Companies contributing resources to develop the Framework include Intel, SAFLINK, IriScan, and Mytec.

The targeted date for release of the BioAPI Framework is during the Biometric Consortium 2000 Conference, September 13 -14 at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Gaithersburg, MD, U.S.A. Web site: http://www.nist.gov/bc2000 It is expected that a beta version of the Framework will be made available to BioAPI members in mid-August so that they can commence the development of Biometric Service Provider (BSP) modules and Software Applications. This will allow BSP and Application developers time to complete their development for display at the Biometric Consortium 2000 Conference in September.

Colin Soutar, Chief Technology Officer at Mytec Technologies Inc. and Chair of the BioAPI Reference Implementation Working Group, said that "Mytec is very pleased to support the definition of the BioAPI interface, and to contribute the resources required to develop the Framework. The availability of the BioAPI Framework will provide a means for applications to be written for a wide range of biometric devices. This is a very important stage in the development of the biometrics market."

"The implementation of the Framework marks the culmination of several years of effort by biometric technology vendors, integrators and end-users to create a biometric API," said Catherine Tilton of SAFLINK Corporation, Chair of the BioAPI Consortium. "We look forward to many varied BSP's and applications being developed once the Framework becomes available. BioAPI will provide a standardized interface for biometric technologies."

Version 1.0 of the BioAPI Specification (released 30th March, 2000) and Framework provides simple biometric application interfaces; standard access methods to biometric functions, algorithms, and devices; secured and robust biometric data management and storage; standard methods of differentiating biometric data and device types; and support for biometric identification in distributed computing environments.

The BioAPI Consortium was founded to develop a multi-level biometric Application Programming Interface (API) that brings platform and device independence to application programmers and biometric service providers. The multi-level BioAPI architecture accommodates a broad range of biometrics technologies, including face, fingerprint, hand, iris, signature, and speaker recognition, and is designed to meet the diverse needs of security administrators, systems integrators, value-added resellers, application developers and end users. Additional information on BioAPI may be found at www.bioapi.org.

BioAPI Consortium member companies include: AuthenTec, Barclays Bank PLC, BERGDATA USA, Inc., Biometric Identification Inc., BioNetrix, BioPassword Security Systems, Inc., BITS Inc., Compaq Computer Corporation, Dialog Communication Systems AG, Digital Persona, Hewlett-Packard, Identification Systems DERMALOG GMBH, Identix, Image Computing Incorporated Inc., Infineon, Intel Corporation, Image Consulting, Inc., I/O Software Inc., IriScan Inc., ITT Industries, Janus Associates, J. Markowitz Consulting, Kaiser Permanente, Keyware Technologies Inc., LCI,-SmartPen NV, Miros Inc., Mytec Technologies Inc., National Biometric Test Center, National Institute of Standards and Technology, National Security Agency, NEC Technologies, Inc., Neurodynamics Limited, Oki Electric Industry Co, Ltd., Precise Biometrics, Presideo, Recognition Systems Inc., SAFLINK Corporation, Sagem-Morpho, Inc., Secugen Corporation, Sensar Inc., Startek Engineering, ST Microelectronics Inc., Systemneeds, Inc., Techguard Security, Transaction Security Inc., Transforming Technologies, TRW Inc., Unisoft, Unisys Corporation, Veridicom Inc, Viatec Research, Visionics Corporation and Who?Vision Systems Inc.