Biometrics

New technique reduces processing power needed for facial recognition

By Darren Quick

18:08 July 14, 2009 PDT

The human brain has an amazing capacity for recognizing patterns, particularly faces. While we are able to differentiate different faces with apparent ease, computer facial recognition systems have a much harder time of it, relying on powerful computers and complex models to accurately identify the majority of differences between faces. This has held facial recognition systems back from being widely adopted, but now researchers at Florida Atlantic University (FAU) have developed a technique that significantly reduces the amount of computer power required without compromising accuracy. Read More

Behavioral screening could boost airport security

By Darren Quick

20:08 December 10, 2008 PST

If terrorists aimed to frustrate millions of air travelers with time consuming pre-flight baggage searches they definitely seem to have made progress, but new technologies used to analyze human behavior could provide an alternative to the time consuming process of analyzing the content of passengers’ carry-on luggage. These systems would detect signs of emotional strain that could indicate that a passenger may intend to commit an act of terror. It might sound like science fiction, but such technology is much further advanced than most might think, and it’s not surprising that Israel, a country that faces constant security threats, has become a leader in developing such technologies. Read More

UPEK's fingerprint sensor to be incorporated on 2009 Notebook PCs

By Kyle Sherer

17:09 June 5, 2008 PDT

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

By Kyle Sherer

18:08 May 18, 2008 PDT

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

By Kyle Sherer

18:08 April 15, 2008 PDT

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

By Emily Clark

21:36 March 3, 2008 PST

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

By Kyle Sherer

18:39 February 18, 2008 PST

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. Read More

Eikon Fingerprint Reader now Mac compatible

By Noel McKeegan

22:32 January 14, 2008 PST

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

By Noel McKeegan

19:57 December 17, 2007 PST

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

By Emily Clark

18:35 December 3, 2007 PST

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

By Noel McKeegan

17:52 December 3, 2007 PST

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

By Noel McKeegan

04:41 November 1, 2007 PDT

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

By Noel McKeegan

23:24 October 10, 2007 PDT

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

By Emily Clark

18:15 October 8, 2007 PDT

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

By Gizmag Team

17:38 August 6, 2007 PDT

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

By Noel McKeegan

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

By Gizmag Team

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

By Mike Hanlon

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

By Mike Hanlon

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

By Mike Hanlon

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

By Mike Hanlon

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

By Mike Hanlon

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. Read More

North American Biometrics Market

By Mike Hanlon

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

By Mike Hanlon

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

By Mike Hanlon

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