Viisage Is Founding Member Of New Biometric Research Center; Center Aims To Transfer New Biometric Technologies to Private/Government Sectors.

Business Editors

LITTLETON, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 24, 2002

Viisage Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ: VISG), the leader in face-recognition technology and identification systems and solutions, announced today that it is a founding member of the Center for Identification Technology Research (CITeR) based at West Virginia University (WVU).

CITeR is a new National Science Foundation Industry/University Cooperative Research Center (I/UCRC), which draws upon the interdisciplinary faculty expertise of WVU, Marshall, Michigan State and San Jose State Universities. It is the first comprehensive academic center to serve the emerging field of biometrics and identification technology advancement.

According to Tom Colatosti, CEO and president of Viisage Technology, "Viisage remains committed to the advancement of our scientific research, to extend the technology, and to work with other biometric companies and researchers to provide the best toolbox of identification technologies for the many applications demanded by current national security concerns. The CITeR will aid us in achieving these goals."

Dr. Larry Hornak, CITeR director comments, "We are delighted to have Viisage as a CITeR member. Viisage's expertise and wealth of experience will add significant value to the Center's research activities."

The goal of CITeR as an I/UCRC is to serve the needs of its members by advancing the performance of biometric systems through cross-cutting research of new enabling technologies, interdisciplinary training of scientists and engineers through its biometrics research, and the facilitation of the transfer of new biometrics technology to the private and government sectors through its membership.

Viisage has supported WVU's effort to make the Center a reality for the last two years and participated in the Center's April 2001 Planning Conference along with other representatives from industry and government. For more information on CITeR research and membership, visit its web site at www.csee.wvu.edu/citer

About Viisage Technology

Viisage Technology is the world leader in biometric face-recognition technology and identification systems and solutions that enhance consumer convenience, improve security and protect personal privacy. Originally developed at MIT, Viisage's patented, accurate, non-intrusive and cost-effective face-recognition technology is widely acknowledged for its unmatched performance including speed in real-time applications, scalability for managing large image databases, and systems integration for complete customer solutions.

Viisage delivers annually through 1,500 U.S. systems in 1,200 locations in 15 states, more than 25 million high-quality and high-security digital-identification documents for government agencies responsible for issuing drivers' licenses, social services cards and law enforcement credentials.

Viisage provides a full family of face recognition products. FaceEXPLORER(TM) is a powerful and scalable image retrieval and analysis database product, used to combat identity fraud -- it is implemented in the world's largest face recognition system with more than eight million enrolled images. FaceFINDER(TM), acclaimed for its processing speed, is the industry's most widely implemented surveillance and identification system -- it is installed in more than 100 casinos worldwide and has been deployed to improve security at premier sporting events. FacePASS(TM) (for PC, Mobile, & Internet) provides secure authentication for PC, Internet and e-commerce connections. FacePIN(TM) offers consumers convenient and private verification for point-of-sale transactions such as ATMs. FacePASS(TM) (keyless entry/physical access) is a practical security solution for keyless entry to secure facilities, such as offices, dormitories and government facilities. FaceTOOLS(TM) is a leadership Software Developers Kit that enables application providers the ability to develop and customize unique customer and market applications.

This news release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements in this document and those made from time to time by the Company through its senior management are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements concerning future plans or results are necessarily only estimates and actual results could differ materially from expectations. Certain factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, among other things, potential fluctuations in quarterly results, the size and timing of award and performance on contracts, dependence on large contracts and a limited number of customers, lengthy sales and implementation cycles, changes in management estimates incident to accounting for contracts, availability and cost of key components, market acceptance of new or enhanced products and services, proprietary technology and changing competitive conditions, system performance, management of growth, dependence on key personnel, ability to obtain project financing, general economic and political conditions and other factors affecting spending by customers and other risks, uncertainties and factors including those described from time to time in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including without limitation, the company's Form 10K for the year ending December 31, 2000 and its quarterly reports on Form 10Q.