*Science Applications International Corp. [SAI] has acquired technology, intellectual property and related assets from AppTek Partners, LLC, Applications Technology, Inc., and MediaMind, LLC, all of which develop human language technologies. The deals includes the acquisition of a complete suite of products for text and speech processing, including machine translation, knowledge management and automated speech recognition tools for more than 20 languages. The deals will further establish SAIC’s presence in delivering language services to the intelligence, defense and law enforcement communities. Terms of the deals were not disclosed.
*The Transportation Security Administration is implementing expedited screening measures for U.S. air carrier pilots to pass through security checkpoints into the sterile areas of the nation’s airports based on their trusted status. Under the new regime that is being phased in, eligible pilots in uniform who work for a U.S. carrier and are on airline business will present their airline-issued credentials and another form of identification to a Transportation Security Officer who will check the credentials against the Cockpit Access Security System database based on digital photographs and biographical information. Pilots may still be subject to random additional layers of screening such as Behavior Detection Officers, whole body imagers, pat-downs and more. The new screening procedure is based on the Crew Personnel Advanced Screening System that began pilot testing in 2008.
*The Department of Homeland Security has launched the Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center (MS-ISAC) Cyber Security Operations Center, a 24-hour watch and warning facility in New York that will allow the federal government to quickly and efficiently provide cyber risk, vulnerability, and mitigation data to state and local governments. The new centers builds on a long-standing information sharing partnership between the MS-ISAC and the DHS National Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Center (NCCIC). DHS also recently signed agreements with the MS-ISAC and the Information Technology Information Sharing and Analysis Center to each embed a full-time analyst and liaison to DHS at the NCCIC. The IT-ISAC consists of information technology stakeholders from the private sector.
OSI Systems’ [OSIS] Rapiscan Systems division says it has sold over 1,000 of its 620DV Advanced Technology X-Ray systems worldwide. The system is being purchased by TSA for screening of carry-on bags at U.S. airports and is gaining more interest in Australia, Asia and Europe, Rapiscan says.