Percept with SysTest Labs Earns Accreditation to Test Voting Systems

For immediate release

SysTest Labs Becomes The Only Full Independent Test Authority (ITA)
For U.S. Election Systems
Full Service Software Test Firm, SysTest Labs, Partners with Full Service Hardware Testing Firm, Percept Technology Labs, To Earn Accreditation to Test Complete Voting Systems

Denver, CO, - June 17, 2004 - With the 2004 election close at hand, concerns about the reliability, accuracy and security of voting systems is in the news daily. Independent testing of voting systems is one of the key factors in reassuring election officials and the public that these systems meet the minimum federal voting system standards for reliability, accuracy, and security. Voting system vendors wishing to sell their systems in most states must first pass qualification testing to the federal standards by both hardware and software independent test authorities.

The Help America Vote Act (HAVA) is providing billions of dollars to the states to replace old voting systems. With the availability of these federal dollars, many new players have entered the voting system marketplace. Until now, only one lab in the United States had been accredited to test hardware. The flood of new systems requiring qualification testing has raised concerns among voting system vendors and election officials about the capacity to test new and upgraded products that have an immovable deadline, Election Day.

With the addition of the Full ITA accreditation status, and a working relationship with hardware testing firm Percept Technology Labs, SysTest Labs (Denver, CO) can now deliver greater test capacity and efficiency by providing a single source for both software and hardware qualification testing services.

After completing a rigid audit process to assure conformity to the strict accreditation standards set by the National Association of State Election Directors (NASED), SysTest Labs, along with Percept Technology Labs serving as a sub-contractor, is pleased to announce that SysTest Labs is the only fully accredited Independent Test Authority source for election systems in the United States. With SysTest Labs proven voting software qualification experience and Percept's high-technology hardware testing expertise, the partnership will offer a complete end-to-end testing and qualification solution for electronic voting machines.

According to SysTest Labs' Director of ITA Operations, Carolyn Coggins, "As the only full Independent Test Authority for election systems, we are pleased to provide voting system vendors with a single source for all aspects of voting system qualification testing. As an alternative to sending equipment to multiple sources, we are able to provide a comprehensive one-stop testing service which will streamline the process, improve efficiency, shorten the timeline while assuring election officials and the public that these systems meet all qualification criteria set by the federal voting systems standards."

Brian Cleveland, CEO of Percept comments, "Today's electronic products are increasingly complex and vendors are under tremendous pressure to bring products to market quickly, without sacrificing quality. This is an especially challenging issue for voting system vendors who need to test and qualify their products to very high standards. At Percept, we specialize in technology products, and have a proven track record of delivering complete and accurate test services for today's most complex offerings."

About SysTest Labs

SysTest Labs has provided software testing and QA services to over 500 projects completed for 275 organizations across North America since 1996. SysTest Labs is the only Independent Testing Authority (ITA) authorized by the National Association of State Election Directors (NASED) to certify both Hardware and Software for voting software systems that will be used across North America.

First accredited by NASED as a Software ITA in 2001, SysTest Labs has been enforcing the standards set by the Federal Election Commission (FEC) when reviewing the very complicated election systems that are now being produced. SysTest Labs' staff members serve as ex-officio advisors to the NASED Voting System Technical Committee and hold a sub-task group chair on the IEEE 1583 committee for the development of Voting Standards.

Additionally, they have provided testimony on independent testing of electronic voting systems to the California Ad Hoc Touch Screen Task Force. SysTest Labs has been contacted by the House Subcommittee on Environment, Technology, and Standards and asked to provide testimony on independent testing of electronic voting systems for a hearing scheduled at the end of June.

Services include: Independent Verification and Validation (IV&V), Project Management, Staff Augmentation, Functional, Regression, and Compatibility Testing, Test Tool Evaluations, Test Plan Design as well as Load, Stress and Performance Testing, along with a detailed analysis/review of all our testing engagements. For more information, visit www.systest.com or call 303-575-6881.

About Percept Technology Labs

Percept Technology Labs is an established, independent product test and certification services company, with a proven track record of helping customers test and improve products since 1996. Percept specializes in technology products - providing complete test services and expertise for today's complex offerings.

Percept's experts customize a test plan for each client's specific needs; fully testing and proving product capabilities and performance in an independent, state-of-the-art lab located in Boulder, Colorado. As an alternative to in-house testing, Percept's specialized technology testing expertise, in-depth experience and absolute commitment to customer care empower the Percept team to deliver proven, objective results that enable clients to launch products with confidence. To learn more about Percept's full line of Product Testing, Competitive Analysis, Compliance Certification and Reliability Services, visit www.percept.com or call (303) 444-7480.

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