Biometrics
UPEK's fingerprint sensor to be incorporated on 2009 Notebook PCs
June 6, 2008 Consumers are increasingly attracted to the security and convenience offered by fingerprint scanners. Not only does it ensure the confidentiality of computer files, it's a silver bullet for the frustrated segment of the market that is running short on favorite sports teams and childhood pets to use as passwords. The latest example of fingerprint reading being brought to the broader consumer market comes UPEK, which has launched the TCS5 TouchStrip Fingerprint Sensor, a system that uses High Definition 3 Dimensional amplified sensing technology to read past the surface of skin to the “live layer”. The TCS5 is set to be included on 2009 Notebook PC models and is currently being demonstrated to select PC manufacturers at Computex Taipei. Read More
Bioscrypt unveils new VisionAccess face reader
May 19, 2008 Bioscrypt has launched its next generation VisionAccess 3D face reader. Using the entire facial surface structure of a person’s face, the reader can authenticate users in less than one second, even in complete darkness. Read More
AuthenTec launches new protective packaging for mobile fingerprint sensors
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April 16, 2008 AuthenTec has announced a thin, durable, waterproof, and surface-mountable covering for its TruePrint biometric fingerprint sensors. Known as TouchStone, the thin casing triples the protective coating over the sensitive technology, shielding it from accidental scratching by coins, keys, pens and anything else you may find in your pocket. Read More
Snowflake Technologies releases prototype vein recognition security system
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March 4, 2008 As security of personal information becomes more important, new technologies are emerging in the fight for privacy protection, fraud prevention and increased security. One of these is vein pattern recognition, and biometric company Snowflake Technologies has just released a prototype identity verification system based on this technology. Read More
Lockheed Martin receives contract to develop FBI's Next Generation Identification System
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February 19, 2008 Lockheed Martin has received a ten-year, $1 billion contract from the FBI to develop and maintain the Next Generation Identification system, which will expand fingerprint capacity to double the size of its current database, and incorporate palm print, iris, and facial recognition capabilities. The system is also designed to incorporate other biometric modalities that may become important in the future.
Eikon Fingerprint Reader now Mac compatible
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January 15, 2008 Biometric security specialist UPEK has launched a software solution allowing Mac users to connect to its Eikon Digital Privacy Manager USB fingerprint reader. Announced at Macworld in San Francisco this week, the UPEK Protector Suite® for Mac software supports Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger and OS X 10.5 Leopard. Read More
Factor 001: BERU f1systems previews high-tech carbon chassis bicycle
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Performance engineering specialist BERU f1systems has provided a glimpse of its intriguing new project - the Factor 001 bicycle. Best known for its involvement in Formula 1 racing and as a supplier for supercars like the Bugatti Veyron, the company's latest innovation rolls advanced electronics into a high-tech package that includes carbon chassis, ceramic brakes and bespoke drivetrain. Marked by square, clean lines and its completely metallic finish, the prototype is designed primarily as an advanced training tool, with stored biometric data such as heart and respiration rate available for downloaded for post-training analysis. Read More
World’s first fingerprint protected personal navigation device
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December 4, 2007 Theft of personal navigation devices (PNDs) is on the rise with several European and US cities reporting that GPS devices are the most commonly stolen items in cars today. To combat this, MEDION AG and AuthenTec have announced the launch of the world’s first personal navigation device to use a fingerprint sensor to enhance user security and deter device theft. Read More
MSI unveil PR200 Crystal Laptop Collection
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December 4, 2007 Looking for an aesthetic edge in the portable computer fashion stakes? MSI Computer Corporation has launched a crystal-studded laptop finished in pearl white that just might fit the bill. Underneath the 120 crystal studs that adorn the lid, the PR200 Crystal Collection features an Intel® Core™ 2 Duo processor, 12.1" TFT WXGA display, 160GB SATA HDD, plus a fingerprint reader, a 4-in-1 card reader and built-in 1.3 mega pixel webcam. Equally chic accessories are offered with the PR200 including two leather carrying cases in different sizes; a specially designed pearl white mouse and a 1GB crystal-studded flash drive. Read More
Hitachi’s biometric steering wheel technology
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November 1, 2007 Another technological gem to surface at the Tokyo Motor Show is Hitachi’s finger vein authentification steering wheel system. The potential for this biometric system goes way beyond the enhancement of vehicle security – not only does it provide driver verification in a fraction of a second just by gripping the steering wheel, it also paves the way for authorization of automatic payment in drive-thrus or for music downloads to increasingly sophisticated networked car audio systems. Read More
OMRON incorporates “smile measurement” into facial recognition software
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October 11, 2007 Facial recognition specialist OMROM has unveiled what is essentially a “smile detector” – a piece of software capable of objectively measuring smiles and giving them a percentage rating. On the surface it sounds like a novel idea, but there are some interesting practical applications for this technology ranging from market research to consumer electronics, where for example, cameras could be equipped with the ability to ensure that everyone in frame is smiling before a photograph is taken. Read More
New technology accurately identifies imperfect fingerprints
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October 9, 2007 Current technology is limited and time consuming in correctly identifying people from partial, distorted, scratched, smudged, or otherwise warped fingerprints. Researchers at the University of Warwick in the UK have now devised a way of recognizing these types of prints in just a few seconds. Read More
New fingerprinting technique could reveal more than just identity
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August 7, 2007 Imagine if a single fingerprint could reveal the diet, race and sex of a suspected criminal. As far fetched as the proposition sounds, it might soon become a reality according to new research published in the August edition of the journal Analytical Chemistry. The new technique collects fingerprints along with their chemical residue - containing a few millionths of a gram of fluid - and keeps it intact for future reference. These residues can be found on all fingerprints and could be used to identify traces of items people came in contact with such as gunpowder, narcotics and biological or chemical weapons, as well as potentially being used to pin-point specific traits - like a persons sex or aspects of their diet - through spectroscopic analysis. Imperial scientists led by Professor Sergei Kazarian from Imperial College London’s Department of Chemical Engineering found that the use of commercial gelatine based tape provides a simple method for collection and transportation of prints for chemical imaging analysis. Read More
Wake-up in your own time: aXbo sleep phase alarm clock
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June 28, 2007 Waking at just the right moment can have a drastic effect on how well-rested a person feels, the trick is knowing exactly when that is. This is the principle behind the aXbo ‘sleep phase alarm clock’- a device that monitors phases of sleep and wakes the user at the optimum moment to maximize their feelings of well-being and vitality. Read More
Real-time athlete monitoring - the future of sport
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On-the-fly physiological monitoring of athletes is developing to a stage where an elite sports coaching box is looking more and more like a Formula One garage, each player being constantly monitored to ensure maximum performance while avoiding injuries. Speed and conditioning expert Dr Adrian Faccione, founder of GPSports talks to us about the cutting edge of elite athlete management, and the amazing future technologies that are now in development. The original 35 minute MP3 of the interview with Dr Adrian Faccione is available here. Read More
The Eikon Digital Privacy Manager Fingerprint Reader
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May 11, 2007 This new offering is targeted directly at solving one of today’s most time and patience-taxing PC user experiences – managing the growing complexity and quantity of passwords. Fingerprint authentication security solutions provider UPEK has a new US$50 product dubbed the Eikon Digital Privacy Manager which combines its Eikon USB peripheral fingerprint reader with its Protector Suite QL softwar, enabling biometric authentication to be retrofitted to an existing PC. The device significantly simplifies many aspects of PC usage with the swipe of a finger – things like instant access to password-protected online accounts, a simple response to Windows Vista User Account Control (UAC) requests to enter an administrator password for tasks such as software installations or configuration changes, logging on to Windows, locking and unlocking a PC, switching Windows user accounts, protecting sensitive files by encrypting them and launching different applications by assigning specific fingers for each one. Read More
Biometric Home Security - entry via fingerprint scan
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February 9, 2007 America’s top-selling lock-set manufacturer Kwikset, has unveiled a stylish biometric keyless entry system for the home. SmartScan eliminates the need for a key or key code, with the deadbolt activated simply by swiping a valid fingerprint across its sensor. Programmable with up to 50+ user fingerprints, SmartScan also has a special timed "lock out feature" that allows homeowners three levels of access options. This feature allows continual access (24/7) for family members, temporary access for house sitters or contractors, and time restricted access for babysitters or housekeepers. Read More
Palm Vein-based Biometric ID system for schools
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October 26, 2006 When we first saw Fujitsu Europe’s plans to develop a palm vein biometric identification system for schools, we thought that perhaps it was a case of overkill, but the more we looked, the more it made sense. The initial system installation in a Scottish primary school addresses the need for a secure non-token or cashless system to provide Electronic Point of Sale (EPOS) for their catering facilities. The system uses pre-registered palm vein patterns from the pupils and staff to manage individual accounts thereby creating a cashless catering solution. The flexibility of the PalmReader design means that the technology can be expanded to provide biometric access control applications to monitor truancy levels, facilitate accurate attendance at classes and overall better time management for teachers. The installation provides a glimpse of the coming cashless society and also the school of the future. Read More
Personal Biometric Device offers access to multiple facilities
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Now this is an interesting key-fob-sized device designed to eliminate the need for employees to use multiple access cards and passwords. The plusID authenticates a user's identity with their fingerprint and enables secure access to buildings and other physical facilities, local and remote computers and networks, and online or onsite financial transactions. The plusID works with existing, installed security infrastructure, making deployment quick and affordable with just one secure wireless device. Read More
Fujitsu launches compact Palm Vein Biometric Authentication Device
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March 12, 2006 Fujitsu Limited and Fujitsu Laboratories Limited has announced the joint development and commercial introduction of a significantly more compact and higher performance model of their original award-winning contactless palm vein biometric authentication device. Targeting a major expansion of its biometric security systems business, Fujitsu will market the new device worldwide under the PalmSecure brand beginning immediately. The new PalmSecure model is being exhibited at CeBIT 2006, being held in Hannover, Germany.
North American Biometrics Market
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January 19, 2006 There’s an excellent article been posted on findBIOMETRICS this week which will be useful to anyone interested in biometrics and its future. It’s an interview with Frost & Sullivan analyst Rob Allen about the research company’s latest report on the North American Biometric market and it yields a lot of very useful information. The major take-outs are that the U.S. Biometrics Market generated US$527 million in 2004 and is projected to generate US$1.4 billion in 2008 creating many entry and exit opportunities. Read More
FingerGear Computer-On-a-Stick with Biometric recognition
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October 14, 2005 FingerGear Computer-On-a-Stick USB Flash Drive now has fingerprint security. The Computer-On-a-Stick is the world's first bootable USB flash drive - the OS and all Desktop Software applications come preinstalled and occupy as little as 200Mb of flash memory. The device also features Atmel's FingerChip sensor for convenient and accurate one-swipe secure data access, and a large font LCD display for the ultimate user-friendly experience. Read More
Biometrics eliminates ''Buddy Punching'' and provides enhanced self-service functionality
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July 19, 2005 The benefits of biometric employee ID terminals may not be entirely obvious in terms of ROI, but some interesting results came through recently from Nucleus Research, an independent research organization, that has been studying the benefits and ROI of biometric Kronos 4500 Touch ID terminals. Nucleus found that these kiosk-like terminals help organizations save, on average, 2.2 percent of gross payroll annually, by using biometric technology to eliminate "buddy punching". With the use of employee self-service through the terminals' unique Smart View transactions, they also are able to help organizations save as much as $210 per employee per year. Read More
Contactless Palm Vein Authentication Technology targets de facto standard in biometric security markets
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June 30, 2005 Fujitsu Limited today announced the global launch of its contactless palm vein authentication device for biometric authentication security. Fujitsu aims to establish a de facto standard in the area of high security biometric authentication with its palm vein authentication technology, and from July this year will collaborate with its group companies in North America, Europe, and Asia to aggressively drive its palm vein authentication business in these regions. The technology has a number of advantages over most biometric authentication technolgoies in that it is fast, hygenic, contactless, secure and cost-efficient. Read More
Advancements in vein scanning biometrics brings added security
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Biometrics is a rapidly evolving technology which offers an effective means of dealing with these kinds of verification and identification concerns. One such provider of biometric and security services, Biometrics and Security, has developed a high-end vein scanning identification system that looks set to astound the biometrics community. Read More
