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VeriChip and Ricoh to Demonstrate VeriTrace(TM), an End-to-End Implantable Tagging Solution for Remains and Evidentiary Items at the 2006 National Disaster Medical System Conference
[April 24, 2006]

VeriChip and Ricoh to Demonstrate VeriTrace(TM), an End-to-End Implantable Tagging Solution for Remains and Evidentiary Items at the 2006 National Disaster Medical System Conference


WEST CALDWELL, N.J. & DELRAY BEACH, Fla. --(Business Wire)-- April 24, 2006 -- VeriChip Corporation, a subsidiary of Applied Digital (NASDAQ: ADSX), and Ricoh Corporation, a global leader in digital office solutions, announced today that, upon an invitation from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), they will be demonstrating the VeriTrace(TM) system operating with Ricoh's Pro G3 Digital Camera, at the 2006 National Disaster Medical System (NDMS) Conference held in conjunction with the Disaster Response & Recovery Exposition, running April 22-26, at the Reno Hilton in Reno, Nevada. This end-to-end solution is the first to use implantable RFID tags to identify, track, and inventory remains and the first to automatically embed each tag's ID along with the GPS coordinates into the images captured by the Ricoh camera during disaster response and recovery situations.



"During Hurricane Katrina relief efforts when VeriChip's implantable microchips and handheld readers were used to help identify victims, we proved implantable technology could help eliminate identification and tracking errors while speeding day-to-day recovery efforts," said Kevin McLaughlin, Chief Executive Officer, VeriChip Corporation. "Working with Ricoh, we can ensure our tags' ID's are tied to relevant digital images for rapid, reliable tracking of remains and associated evidentiary items."

The VeriTrace system includes a unique implantable RFID microchip, the Ricoh camera capable of receiving both RFID scanned data and GPS data wirelessly, and a Web-enabled database for gathering and storing information and images captured during emergency response operations. The microchip is inserted into the remains at the onset of processing and a VeriChip wireless handheld reader is waved over the insertion area to "read" the unique 16-digit ID. Then the Ricoh camera accesses each ID from the reader and automatically embeds this ID into every subsequent image taken around those particular remains. In addition to embedding the VeriChip ID into the image, the Ricoh camera also embeds the GPS coordinates of the subject being captured into the image. The data and images are gathered and uploaded (or entered) into a proprietary Web-enabled database or an existing database system at the intended facility. This database ensures the precise collection, storage, and inventory of all data and images related to each set of remains and the associated evidentiary items. This also allows the facility to recreate an accurate and complete reconstruction of a disaster setting, crime scene or similar environments and locations that would require such action.


VeriChip and Ricoh will be demonstrating VeriTrace at Booth #621 at the NDMS conference. Additional VeriTrace information is available by calling 1-800-970-CHIP or emailing [email protected].

About Ricoh Corporation

Ricoh Corporation, headquartered in West Caldwell, N.J., is a subsidiary of Ricoh Company Ltd., the 70-year-old leading supplier of office automation equipment and electronics, with fiscal year 2004 sales in excess of $17 billion, a 1.9 percent increase over the previous year.

Ricoh Corporation is a leading provider of document solutions. Ricoh's fully integrated hardware and software products help businesses share information efficiently and effectively by enabling customers to control the input, management and output of documents.

Ricoh Corporation directly or through its subsidiaries markets and distributes products in North, Central and South America.

Information about Ricoh's complete range of products and services can be accessed on the World Wide Web at www.ricoh-usa.com.

About Ricoh's Advanced Camera

The Ricoh advanced digital camera is specifically designed to meet the needs of businesses and provides for complete end-to-end automated workflow solutions. For information contact the Ricoh camera solution office at 909-890-9039.

About VeriChip Corporation

VeriChip Corporation, headquartered in Delray Beach, Florida, develops, markets and sells radio frequency identification, or RFID, systems used to identify, locate and protect people and assets. VeriChip's goal is to become the leading provider of RFID systems for people in the healthcare industry. VeriChip sells passive RFID systems for identification purposes and active RFID systems for local-area location and identification purposes. VeriChip recently began to market its VeriMed(TM) Patient Identification System which is used to rapidly and accurately identify people who arrive in an emergency room and are unable to communicate. This system uses the first human-implantable passive RFID microchip, the implantable VeriChip(TM), cleared for medical use in October 2004 by the United States Food and Drug Administration.

About Applied Digital - "The Power of Identification Technology"

Applied Digital develops innovative identification and security products for consumer, commercial, and government sectors worldwide. The Company's unique and often proprietary products provide identification and security systems for people, animals, the food supply, government/military arena, and commercial assets. Included in this diversified product line are RFID applications, end-to-end food safety systems, GPS/Satellite communications, and telecomm and security infrastructure, positioning Applied Digital as the leader in identification technology. Applied Digital is the owner of a majority position in Digital Angel Corporation (AMEX:DOC).

Statements about the Company's future expectations, including future revenues and earnings, and all other statements in this press release other than historical facts are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and as that term is defined in the Private Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties and are subject to change at any time, and the Company's actual results could differ materially from expected results. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect subsequently occurring events or circumstances.

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