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National Cancer Institute Creates Accessible Online Maps with OptiMap™ from Corda Technologies

Blind and visually impaired individuals now have access to the same cancer information as those without visual impairments Lindon, Utah - July 21, 2003 - CORDA Technologies, Inc., a Lindon, Utah based developer of interactive data visualization solutions, announced today that the National Cancer Institute (NCI) is using Corda OptiMap to create Section 508-compliant maps, which display cancer mortality rates for the United States.

NCI maintains a massive database containing cancer mortality information for 40 different cancers for all 50 states, their more than 3,000 counties, and Washington, DC. The NCI Cancer Mortality Maps & Graphs site, located at www3.cancer.gov/atlasplus/ allows visitors to view customized maps portraying cancer mortality rates at the state, county or state economic area level for any of the 40 listed cancers, which are tracked and sorted by age, gender, time period, and race.

Since NCI uses both PopChart and OptiMap software from Corda Technologies, all the interactive charts, graphs and maps on the site are compliant with Section 508. Section 508 requires that Federal agencies' electronic and information technology is accessible to people with disabilities. The information contained in the charts, graphs and maps is made accessible to the blind and visually-challenged through text files that are dynamically generated at the time the chart is created. These files are accessed through the [D] link located above and below the graph or map.

"Maps are an inherently visual medium, therefore, the information they contain has historically been out of reach for people with visual impairments," said Neal Williams, chief executive officer for Corda Technologies. "The National Cancer Institute came to us with a need for an interactive mapping solution that is fast, stable, able to handle high volumes of users and is compliant with Section 508 regulations. We were able to meet this need more efficiently than the previous GIS mapping solution."

Corda PopChart and OptiMap technology is the first of its kind to offer Section 508-compliant charts, graphs and maps. The software is designed to provide organizations or individuals with a tool that allows them to quickly and dynamically visualize every kind of data online. Government customers include: Federal Aviation Administration, NASA, Social Security Administration, US Air Force, US Army, US Navy, Office of Inspector General, and Bureau of Transportation Statistics.

About CORDA Technologies

Corda Technologies is the global leader in interactive data visualization solutions. With more flexibility, scalability and speed than any other charting or mapping solution, Corda's family of tools and services are the leading choice for fast and easy to build charts and maps. Corda's solutions display data as visual images allowing customers to explore relationships, perform analysis and more easily understand their data.