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Knightscope uses face ID to cut workplace violence
NEWS/COMMENT ...Continued from page 11 that the lighting should be adjusted according to the skin tone of the subject in order to obtain the best images for each person, and that subjectdependent lighting adjustment is currently generally not done at image acquisition.” In terms of how equal image quality could be obtained at the time of image acquisition, they suggest: “SDKs that automatically check for ICAO compliance are readily available. They can indicate specific issues, such as image too dark, subject not looking at camera, subject wearing glasses, etc. In scenarios where image acquisition is supervised, it should be possible to acquire an ICAO-compliant face image.”
law enforcement
German police get ‘tenprint’ fingerprint scanners
T
he German Federal Police have adopted ‘ten-print’ fingerprint scanners from JENETRIC as they beef up their border controls. JENETRIC has secured a multi-year deal to provide 1,700 of its LIVETOUCH QUATTRO scanners to the German police, with more than 900 units due to be delivered by the end of this year. The devices are now being used at all airports in Germany. The German Police decided to expand their ability to collect fingerprint data as part of a drive to modernise their biometric-based border control systems, in readiness for the European Entry and Exit system. JENETRIC explained: “The widespread use of ten-print scanners at the external borders of the European Union is a compelling technical prerequisite for the future European Entry and Exit system. It is crucial that the fingerprinting of nonEU citizens does not delay border controls.” LIVETOUCH QUATTRO includes an integrated display that provides feedback to the user before and during fingerprint capture, to help them capture prints more quickly and accurately. JENETRIC co-founder Roberto Wolfer said: “The acceptance of biometric applications is highly determined by the user-friendliness of the systems. In our case, the user is told, in a very simple manner, where, how long and which fingers to place and when the process is finished. We are pleased that the German Federal Police has taken this aspect into account.” Founded in Jena, Germany in 2014, JENETRIC has offices in Germany and the US. • The US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) law enforcement agency has announced it is deploying Kojak ten-fingerprint scanners from Integrated Biometrics on more than 5,000 workstations across various US ports of entry. 12
Biometric Technology Today
The light emitting sensor (LES) scanners will help CBP process the nearly 1 million individuals who enter the US each day. Many of the devices are already in operation at major US airports including Atlanta, Chicago, Dulles, LAX and Miami. Thousands more will be installed in other CBP facilities in the next few months, replacing existing outdated glass-prism devices. Integrated Biometrics said: “The highly competitive contract award was completed only after extensive research and testing by the CBP.” Its biometric scanners are now used in over 50 countries.
workplace safety
Knightscope uses face ID to cut workplace violence
U
S security robot vendor Knightscope is applying facial recognition technology to the problem of workplace violence, which affects 2 million people every year in the US alone. Knightscope has announced that it has intro-
duced deep learning-based facial recognition software, in beta format, on its K1 security robot. It says the facial ID system enables K1 users to ingest images of known threats and persons of interest, to provide an additional layer of protection in the workplace. Quoting figures from the US Government’s OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) agency, Knightscope says that 58% of senior managers have been threatened by an employee, and about 2 million employees report some type of workplace violence each year in the US. Its face checking system has been successfully trialled at the Pechanga Resort and Casino in California, a Knightscope customer and one of the biggest casinos in the US. Robert Krauss, Pechanga’s VP of public safety, said: “We began working with Knightscope and their security robots over a year ago. Pechanga knew the technology would be another tool for the resort-casino’s 350-person public safety team in maintaining well-being for our guests and team members. Knightscope’s enhanced capabilities provide Pechanga with added levels of security that were not possible before.”
COMMENT For two years or more, the continuing controversy over the mass surveillance threat and racial and gender bias shown by facial recognition systems has catapulted that form of biometrics to the top of the news agenda. So it’s refreshing to report that this month’s BTT covers a string of announcements and innovations by fingerprinting system suppliers that show this biometric mode emerging from the shadows. ‘Ten-print’ scanners in particular are headlining. JENETRIC has secured a prestigious deal with the German Federal Police who are installing hundreds of its ten-print LIVETOUCH QUATTRO scanners for border control (see story left). Likewise, ‘Kojak’ ten-fingerprint scanners from Integrated Biometrics are being deployed by the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agency to help process the nearly 1 million individuals who enter the US each day. Then there’s the news that South Korean supplier eWBM’s Goldengate print scanner has become the world’s first device to achieve the FIDO2 Level 2 authenticator security certification standard. Meanwhile, Fingerprints’ T-shape sensor has won orders from startup companies BeamU and MobyLabs, and its sensors have been embedded in the recently launched NatWest Bank trial of fingerprint-
based authentication. Among other innovations, HID Global has produced a new access control print scanner that uses Lumidigm multispectral imaging technology to significantly improve image capture performance – so tackling the longrunning issue of high levels of false fingerprint rejections forcing users to apply reduced security thresholds. And even more striking is IDEX Biometrics’ confirmation that it has won a multi-million dollar contract for its SmartFinger IDX 3200 print sensors with a leading provider of global financial news and IT services. IDEX is clear about the significance: “This breakthrough agreement represents a watershed moment for IDEX,” it said. “It is the largest single customer commitment to date.” But the last word has to go to Integrated Biometrics, who pulled no punches in its announcement of its CBP deal, and what its print scanners offer that many facial recognition biometric systems still don’t. As the company said: “Kojak scanners are easy to use, do not require costly silicon membranes or complex, time-consuming maintenance. In addition, light emitting sensor fingerprint technology avoids racial bias found in facial recognition software. With Integrated Biometrics’ LES technology, ‘every finger is blue’.” Fighting talk. Now over to the facial recognition vendor community for their response. Tim Ring
May 2019
law enforcement
German police get ‘tenprint’ fingerprint scanners
T
he German Federal Police have adopted ‘ten-print’ fingerprint scanners from JENETRIC as they beef up their border controls. JENETRIC has secured a multi-year deal to provide 1,700 of its LIVETOUCH QUATTRO scanners to the German police, with more than 900 units due to be delivered by the end of this year. The devices are now being used at all airports in Germany. The German Police decided to expand their ability to collect fingerprint data as part of a drive to modernise their biometric-based border control systems, in readiness for the European Entry and Exit system. JENETRIC explained: “The widespread use of ten-print scanners at the external borders of the European Union is a compelling technical prerequisite for the future European Entry and Exit system. It is crucial that the fingerprinting of nonEU citizens does not delay border controls.” LIVETOUCH QUATTRO includes an integrated display that provides feedback to the user before and during fingerprint capture, to help them capture prints more quickly and accurately. JENETRIC co-founder Roberto Wolfer said: “The acceptance of biometric applications is highly determined by the user-friendliness of the systems. In our case, the user is told, in a very simple manner, where, how long and which fingers to place and when the process is finished. We are pleased that the German Federal Police has taken this aspect into account.” Founded in Jena, Germany in 2014, JENETRIC has offices in Germany and the US. • The US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) law enforcement agency has announced it is deploying Kojak ten-fingerprint scanners from Integrated Biometrics on more than 5,000 workstations across various US ports of entry. 12
Biometric Technology Today
The light emitting sensor (LES) scanners will help CBP process the nearly 1 million individuals who enter the US each day. Many of the devices are already in operation at major US airports including Atlanta, Chicago, Dulles, LAX and Miami. Thousands more will be installed in other CBP facilities in the next few months, replacing existing outdated glass-prism devices. Integrated Biometrics said: “The highly competitive contract award was completed only after extensive research and testing by the CBP.” Its biometric scanners are now used in over 50 countries.
workplace safety
Knightscope uses face ID to cut workplace violence
U
S security robot vendor Knightscope is applying facial recognition technology to the problem of workplace violence, which affects 2 million people every year in the US alone. Knightscope has announced that it has intro-
duced deep learning-based facial recognition software, in beta format, on its K1 security robot. It says the facial ID system enables K1 users to ingest images of known threats and persons of interest, to provide an additional layer of protection in the workplace. Quoting figures from the US Government’s OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) agency, Knightscope says that 58% of senior managers have been threatened by an employee, and about 2 million employees report some type of workplace violence each year in the US. Its face checking system has been successfully trialled at the Pechanga Resort and Casino in California, a Knightscope customer and one of the biggest casinos in the US. Robert Krauss, Pechanga’s VP of public safety, said: “We began working with Knightscope and their security robots over a year ago. Pechanga knew the technology would be another tool for the resort-casino’s 350-person public safety team in maintaining well-being for our guests and team members. Knightscope’s enhanced capabilities provide Pechanga with added levels of security that were not possible before.”
COMMENT For two years or more, the continuing controversy over the mass surveillance threat and racial and gender bias shown by facial recognition systems has catapulted that form of biometrics to the top of the news agenda. So it’s refreshing to report that this month’s BTT covers a string of announcements and innovations by fingerprinting system suppliers that show this biometric mode emerging from the shadows. ‘Ten-print’ scanners in particular are headlining. JENETRIC has secured a prestigious deal with the German Federal Police who are installing hundreds of its ten-print LIVETOUCH QUATTRO scanners for border control (see story left). Likewise, ‘Kojak’ ten-fingerprint scanners from Integrated Biometrics are being deployed by the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agency to help process the nearly 1 million individuals who enter the US each day. Then there’s the news that South Korean supplier eWBM’s Goldengate print scanner has become the world’s first device to achieve the FIDO2 Level 2 authenticator security certification standard. Meanwhile, Fingerprints’ T-shape sensor has won orders from startup companies BeamU and MobyLabs, and its sensors have been embedded in the recently launched NatWest Bank trial of fingerprint-
based authentication. Among other innovations, HID Global has produced a new access control print scanner that uses Lumidigm multispectral imaging technology to significantly improve image capture performance – so tackling the longrunning issue of high levels of false fingerprint rejections forcing users to apply reduced security thresholds. And even more striking is IDEX Biometrics’ confirmation that it has won a multi-million dollar contract for its SmartFinger IDX 3200 print sensors with a leading provider of global financial news and IT services. IDEX is clear about the significance: “This breakthrough agreement represents a watershed moment for IDEX,” it said. “It is the largest single customer commitment to date.” But the last word has to go to Integrated Biometrics, who pulled no punches in its announcement of its CBP deal, and what its print scanners offer that many facial recognition biometric systems still don’t. As the company said: “Kojak scanners are easy to use, do not require costly silicon membranes or complex, time-consuming maintenance. In addition, light emitting sensor fingerprint technology avoids racial bias found in facial recognition software. With Integrated Biometrics’ LES technology, ‘every finger is blue’.” Fighting talk. Now over to the facial recognition vendor community for their response. Tim Ring
May 2019