FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:        G 94-70
July 20, 1994

Contact:  Tara Falwell        DEMONSTRATIONS AT NATIONAL
          (202) 785-3990      INFORMATION INFRASTRUCTURE
                              CONFERENCE WILL SHOW "THE
                              FUTURE IS NOW," COMMERCE
                              SECRETARY BROWN SAYS


     A "smart car" that can help ease traffic congestion and a
crime information system that eventually will allow image
transmission of fingerprints, mug shots and other data directly
to police cruisers are just two of the 25 demonstrations planned
for the Sept. 7-8 "Breaking the Barriers to the National
Information Infrastructure."  This conference, co-sponsored by
the Council on Competitiveness and the Clinton Administration's
Information Infrastructure Task Force (IITF), will be held at the
Washington, D.C., ANA Hotel.

     "In these demonstrations, we will be looking directly at our
future," said Secretary Brown, who chairs the IITF.  "This
conference will not only display some of the more interesting and
useful examples of applications of the NII, but will also provide
a forum for the open discussion of other aspects of the
information infrastructure such as societal, regulatory and
private sector hurdles to be overcome in order for the NII to be
used to its fullest potential."                              

     One demonstration will be the Advanced Driver and Vehicle
Advisory Navigation Concept, or "smart car" program.  The project
was developed by industry in partnership with the Federal Highway
Administration, the Illinois Department of Transportation and the
Illinois Universities Transportation Research Consortium.         

     "The 'smart car' project evaluates that application of
technologies in helping to avoid traffic congestion, thereby
improving safety," Dan Burton, council president, said.  "It also
tests the concept of using some equipped vehicles as 'traffic
probes.'"  The information from the probes is then processed with
other data and sent as real-time traffic information to commuters
in specially equipped "smart cars."  Some of these "smart cars"
will be available for test rides throughout the conference.       

     The conference will also showcase a project underway by the
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to upgrade the National
Crime Information Center System.  When completed, this will allow
image transmissions of important data--such as fingerprints, mug
shots, stolen objects--between state and local public safety
agencies around the country and the FBI.                          

     Fifty-six FBI field offices are using this application, and
state and local government agencies should have it in the near
future.  One aim is for the application to be placed in a police
patrol car, Burton said.  It can improve a police officer's
ability to accurately identify a suspect and help keep officers
from harm because they will be able to identify a possibly armed
and dangerous person before a face-to-face encounter.             

     The conference will feature these and other demonstrations,
panel discussions and keynote speakers, including Secretary
Brown; John Young, chairman of Smart Valley, Inc.; Jim Manzi,
chairman and CEO of Lotus Development Corp.; and others to be
announced.                           

     Demonstrations and discussion will focus on five
applications areas:  healthcare, electronic information
management and commerce, manufacturing, education, and
entertainment and home services.                                 
                                                                  
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