Genoa software suite

Genoa requires a peer-to-peer computing architecture in which desktop computers are linked together to become virtual supercomputers. A peer-to-peer architecture is less susceptible to denial-of-service attacks.

Genoa also includes data-gathering tools for rapidly locating and assembling relevant information via a wide assortment of classified and open intelligence sources, creating models for analyzing various courses of action for virtually any mission, including humanitarian, economic, military and law enforcement options.

In addition, it includes data on federal, state, local, international and nongovernmental organizations, allowing a crisis management team to be assembled in a virtual environment on short notice. Also, Athens—which Lt. Col. Doug Dyer, Genoa program manager, described as a "search engine on steroids"—makes it dramatically easier and faster for analysts to find relevant information.

Typing in one keyword, such as "Osama," will call up a list of other relevant keywords, such as "terrorism," "biological," "chemical" and "weapon." In addition, rather than calling up entire Web pages, Athens highlights only the relevant paragraphs, reducing by up to 1,000 times the amount of information analysts have to sort through.