- Email: [email protected]
Recognition Systems forays into fingerprint
NEWS verification system in a bid to improve existing security procedures and to enhance its privacy policies. The technology, supplied by DigitalPersona, is in the process of rolling out at 3,400 stores nationwide and will eventually be used daily by more than 30,000 pharmacists and pharmacy technicians. The technology will be used to sign on to Rite Aid’s new pharmacy dispensing system and the audit trail that is created will help the pharmacy chain meet the stringent HIPAA regulations now coming into force. According to the pharmacist’s CIO/senior vice president of Information Services, Don Davis: “Rite Aid has always been proud to offer its customers a state-of-the-art prescription fulfilment system, ensuring the highest level of customer privacy and prescription accuracy. Enhancing our system with DigitalPersona’s technology allows even greater speed, accuracy and security to better serve our customers.” A spokesman at DigitalPersona told Btt that the system uses standalone fingerprint readers, which plug into the pharmacy terminal via USB. Because there are typically a small number of employees in any given pharmacy, the system works in an identification mode, so eliminating the need for the employee to use an identifying token or username. Templates are stored in a central computer system, rather than in the terminal itself. Harvey Bondar, DigitalPersona’s VP of marketing told Btt: “From an IT perspective the industry is not exactly at the forefront, but it is starting to come around. We have been working on other similar deals but this is the first we have secured on this scale.” Contact: Harvey Bondar at DigitalPersona, Tel: +1 650 568 2344, email: [email protected]
iris recognition
Iris templates get squeezed A new compression technique that reduces the size of iris templates to an average of 205 bytes has been announced by Dutch security printing company Royal Joh. Enschedé. The algorithm will reduce storage size requirements in iris recognition applications and the company claims that the reduction in template size will not affect recognition performance. The new technique will enable cheap Mifare contactless smart cards to be used in applications where the storage of both left and right eye templates is desired. 2D barcodes will also be able to be used for data storage.
Biometric Technology Today • May 2004
An additional benefit will be a doubling in the speed of data transfer, which will help speed up the application when relatively slow card readers are used. Joh. Enschedé was responsible for the implementation of the biometric subsystem in the Privium project at Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport. Since then Joh. Enschedé and Schiphol International have founded the 50/50 joint venture Dartagnan. Since the beginning of the year, Dartagnan has integrated the new compression algorithm in Athens International Airport’s showcase software. Contact: Liesbeth Wieringa at Dartagnan, email: [email protected]
fingerprint
Recognition Systems forays into fingerprint Recognition Systems, the company that has been the biometrics industry’s main provider of hand geometry readers for almost 20 years, had added fingerprint recognition to its portfolio in a bid to provide alternatives in the access control market. The company said that fingerprintbased products are ideal for use with smaller populations and indoor environments and that hand geometry and fingerprint solutions are the top two biometric modalities used in access control scenarios. A number of years ago, the supplier had experimented by adding facial recognition to its hand geometry unit, but this alternative was soon dropped. This time round the addition of a new biometric – the FingerKey DX – comes as a separate device designed to be used when more appropriate than a hand geometry reader. According to IR Recognition Systems’ director of marketing Bill Spence: “Dealers and integrators will be able to objectively provide technology alternatives carrying the same trusted brand name, support and solutions, fitting the appropriate biometric technology to each and every access point.” The FingerKey DX reader includes a keypad and LCD display. An optional proximity reader, memory and Ethernet upgrades are also available. A user enters a PIN code or presents a proximity card, which calls up a template to scan. The user then places their finger on the FingerKey reader for verification against that local template. Verification takes less than two seconds, the supplier claims. Integration to access control systems has been made as simple as possible, according to
application news • London’s County Hall has installed a new fingerprintbased access control solution to secure locations within its historic building. The underlying technology comes from Bioscrypt, whose V-Smart readers are being supplied by Norbain SD. The systems integrator for the project is Vistec Systems, who also services County Hall’s CCTV system, which has over 110 digitally recorded cameras. Vistec commented that biometric systems have now become extremely dependable especially when used by employees to match their live fingerprint against a template stored on an employee card. • GTSI, a company providing IT solutions to government customers, has taken the decision to roll out fingerprint-based password management technology throughout its organisation. The technology is being supplied by DigitalPersona, whose Pro 3.0 product includes One Touch SignOn and password change management. One Touch SignOn simplifies a user’s access to password-protected networks, third-party software applications and web sites. The product’s Password Randomisation feature, automatically enters the current password and randomly selects a new one; one that even the enduser does not know. • Albany International Airport in the US has introduced an iris recognitionbased security system for airport employees. The system is being installed using a US$189,000 federal grant. Officials at the airport have collected iris images from more than 1450 airport workers, as well employees of restaurants, stores, airlines and others who need to pass into areas reserved for planes and baggage. To begin with just three areas are being equipped with the technology.
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NEWS
product news • Neven Vision, the company formed from facial technology company Eyematic in May last year, has upgraded its facial recognition and facial feature tracking software. Eyematic performed favourably in the US Government’s 2002 Facial Recognition Vendor Test (FRVT). One of the most significant developments is the efficiency improvement that has been achieved, which the company says will allow the software to run on embedded platforms – critical for the consumer electronics market. The company said it had also made significant strides in throughput. • Bioscrypt has announced the availability of its MV Lite module for original equipment manu-facturers (OEMs). The stand-alone fingerprint-based module is designed for use within a variety of low cost equipment, such as point-of-sale terminals and safes. The product has been designed as a low-cost alternative to the supplier’s existing MV1200 module, but still uses Bioscrypt’s core matching algorithm. The product also uses an advanced DSP from Texas Instruments, helping it to consume less power than the MV1200. • Datastrip has introduced a handheld ID card reader with an integrated fingerprint sensor for matching a live fingerprint to a stored biometric template. The DSVII-SC (smart card edition) weighs in at two pounds and can complete an identity verification in one second. The company says it supports contact and contactless smart cards, multiple biometric algorithms, and wired as well as 802.11 and Bluetooth wireless communication. • Smiths Heimann Biometrics has launched LITE-Xe and LITE-Ue, two new portable live scan devices. Deliveries were expected to commence in April.
4
Recognition Systems. Once a user has successfully verified their identity, the FingerKey outputs the ID number in a Wiegand format to an access control panel. Both standard and proprietary formats are supported. Two fingers per user can be scanned into the system, with 50 users being the standard configuration (although it could handle up to 100 users with an optional memory upgrade). The units can also be linked together via an RS485 network to share enrolment information. Spence commented: “Employing fingerprint scanning technology provides a huge increase in security over a ‘card only’ system. For low volume openings, cost is a key consideration and the FingerKey reader meets that need…For instance, it is ideal for a lab area and sensitive document and high value storage locations that may be accessed by 20 or 30 people. FingerKey readers also squeeze into small areas, like at the door to a medical dispensary.” Contact: Bill Spence at Recognition Systems, Tel: +1 408 341 4100, email: [email protected]
update
Gates provides security progress report Microsoft’s founder Bill Gates has published a progress report specifically focusing on security issues. It details a number of areas that Microsoft is working on in an attempt to combat the sophisticated threats that face users of computers in today’s increasingly networked world. Listing Microsoft’s efforts to tighten up security, Gates highlighted the significant role that technologies such as biometrics, smart cards and public key infrastructure (PKI) would have in improving authentication and access control. In particular, Gates mentioned the creation of biometric ID cards, saying: “Farther out, the Tamper-Resistant Biometric ID Card system will provide an innovative, simple and affordable solution for providing cryptographically secure photo-ID cards using a unique combination of public key cryptography, compression and barcode technologies.” The four main areas of activity that Microsoft is working on were highlighted as: •
isolation and resiliency – preventing malicious code from being able to exploit a vulnerability by isolating such code, providing more effective control over what computer processes can talk to or work with, and making systems more resilient so
•
•
•
they are able to identify and stop suspicious or bad behaviour in its tracks; updating – Microsoft says it is continuing to make significant upgrades to the quality of its updates and associated processes; quality – ensure the use of state-of-the-art engineering practices, standards and processes in the creation of software; authentication and access control – seen as a critical aspect of ensuring an organisation’s security. Microsoft is tightening up areas such as passwords and introducing new technology such as smart cards and biometrics.
company news
Viisage partners with Bosch and Oracle… In a bid to drive forward the use of its biometric technology in both government and commercial circles, Viisage has announced partnerships with Bosch, one of Europe’s largest technology companies, and Oracle Surveillance Systems, a security systems integration firm. Under the terms of the agreement, Oracle Surveillance Systems will market Viisage’s products and solutions specifically to government organisations, while Bosch has added the supplier’s face recognition products to its own portfolio of area and building security solutions. This official partnership announcement follows on from earlier collaborations between the companies. Bosch, for example, was responsible for the well-publicised biometric ticketing solution at Hanover Zoo in Germany, as well as for an access control system for DaimlerChrysler. Meanwhile, the company was also recently awarded a contract with Casino Wiesbaden to provide officials with an identification solution to satisfy German laws and regulations regarding the enforcement of house bans against gambling addicts. Oracle Surveillance Systems has also used Viisage’s facial recognition technology to good effect. One of Oracle’s unnamed customers, for example, has been using the supplier’s biometric technology to data mine large databases in an effort to produce secure credentials. According to Bernard Bailey, president and CEO of Viisage. “Through partnerships with companies such as Bosch and Oracle Surveillance Systems, Viisage has broadened the company’s service and solutions capabilities, and positioned itself to meet the increasing demands for advanced technology identity solutions within multiple markets.”
Biometric Technology Today • May 2004
iris recognition
Iris templates get squeezed A new compression technique that reduces the size of iris templates to an average of 205 bytes has been announced by Dutch security printing company Royal Joh. Enschedé. The algorithm will reduce storage size requirements in iris recognition applications and the company claims that the reduction in template size will not affect recognition performance. The new technique will enable cheap Mifare contactless smart cards to be used in applications where the storage of both left and right eye templates is desired. 2D barcodes will also be able to be used for data storage.
Biometric Technology Today • May 2004
An additional benefit will be a doubling in the speed of data transfer, which will help speed up the application when relatively slow card readers are used. Joh. Enschedé was responsible for the implementation of the biometric subsystem in the Privium project at Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport. Since then Joh. Enschedé and Schiphol International have founded the 50/50 joint venture Dartagnan. Since the beginning of the year, Dartagnan has integrated the new compression algorithm in Athens International Airport’s showcase software. Contact: Liesbeth Wieringa at Dartagnan, email: [email protected]
fingerprint
Recognition Systems forays into fingerprint Recognition Systems, the company that has been the biometrics industry’s main provider of hand geometry readers for almost 20 years, had added fingerprint recognition to its portfolio in a bid to provide alternatives in the access control market. The company said that fingerprintbased products are ideal for use with smaller populations and indoor environments and that hand geometry and fingerprint solutions are the top two biometric modalities used in access control scenarios. A number of years ago, the supplier had experimented by adding facial recognition to its hand geometry unit, but this alternative was soon dropped. This time round the addition of a new biometric – the FingerKey DX – comes as a separate device designed to be used when more appropriate than a hand geometry reader. According to IR Recognition Systems’ director of marketing Bill Spence: “Dealers and integrators will be able to objectively provide technology alternatives carrying the same trusted brand name, support and solutions, fitting the appropriate biometric technology to each and every access point.” The FingerKey DX reader includes a keypad and LCD display. An optional proximity reader, memory and Ethernet upgrades are also available. A user enters a PIN code or presents a proximity card, which calls up a template to scan. The user then places their finger on the FingerKey reader for verification against that local template. Verification takes less than two seconds, the supplier claims. Integration to access control systems has been made as simple as possible, according to
application news • London’s County Hall has installed a new fingerprintbased access control solution to secure locations within its historic building. The underlying technology comes from Bioscrypt, whose V-Smart readers are being supplied by Norbain SD. The systems integrator for the project is Vistec Systems, who also services County Hall’s CCTV system, which has over 110 digitally recorded cameras. Vistec commented that biometric systems have now become extremely dependable especially when used by employees to match their live fingerprint against a template stored on an employee card. • GTSI, a company providing IT solutions to government customers, has taken the decision to roll out fingerprint-based password management technology throughout its organisation. The technology is being supplied by DigitalPersona, whose Pro 3.0 product includes One Touch SignOn and password change management. One Touch SignOn simplifies a user’s access to password-protected networks, third-party software applications and web sites. The product’s Password Randomisation feature, automatically enters the current password and randomly selects a new one; one that even the enduser does not know. • Albany International Airport in the US has introduced an iris recognitionbased security system for airport employees. The system is being installed using a US$189,000 federal grant. Officials at the airport have collected iris images from more than 1450 airport workers, as well employees of restaurants, stores, airlines and others who need to pass into areas reserved for planes and baggage. To begin with just three areas are being equipped with the technology.
3
NEWS
product news • Neven Vision, the company formed from facial technology company Eyematic in May last year, has upgraded its facial recognition and facial feature tracking software. Eyematic performed favourably in the US Government’s 2002 Facial Recognition Vendor Test (FRVT). One of the most significant developments is the efficiency improvement that has been achieved, which the company says will allow the software to run on embedded platforms – critical for the consumer electronics market. The company said it had also made significant strides in throughput. • Bioscrypt has announced the availability of its MV Lite module for original equipment manu-facturers (OEMs). The stand-alone fingerprint-based module is designed for use within a variety of low cost equipment, such as point-of-sale terminals and safes. The product has been designed as a low-cost alternative to the supplier’s existing MV1200 module, but still uses Bioscrypt’s core matching algorithm. The product also uses an advanced DSP from Texas Instruments, helping it to consume less power than the MV1200. • Datastrip has introduced a handheld ID card reader with an integrated fingerprint sensor for matching a live fingerprint to a stored biometric template. The DSVII-SC (smart card edition) weighs in at two pounds and can complete an identity verification in one second. The company says it supports contact and contactless smart cards, multiple biometric algorithms, and wired as well as 802.11 and Bluetooth wireless communication. • Smiths Heimann Biometrics has launched LITE-Xe and LITE-Ue, two new portable live scan devices. Deliveries were expected to commence in April.
4
Recognition Systems. Once a user has successfully verified their identity, the FingerKey outputs the ID number in a Wiegand format to an access control panel. Both standard and proprietary formats are supported. Two fingers per user can be scanned into the system, with 50 users being the standard configuration (although it could handle up to 100 users with an optional memory upgrade). The units can also be linked together via an RS485 network to share enrolment information. Spence commented: “Employing fingerprint scanning technology provides a huge increase in security over a ‘card only’ system. For low volume openings, cost is a key consideration and the FingerKey reader meets that need…For instance, it is ideal for a lab area and sensitive document and high value storage locations that may be accessed by 20 or 30 people. FingerKey readers also squeeze into small areas, like at the door to a medical dispensary.” Contact: Bill Spence at Recognition Systems, Tel: +1 408 341 4100, email: [email protected]
update
Gates provides security progress report Microsoft’s founder Bill Gates has published a progress report specifically focusing on security issues. It details a number of areas that Microsoft is working on in an attempt to combat the sophisticated threats that face users of computers in today’s increasingly networked world. Listing Microsoft’s efforts to tighten up security, Gates highlighted the significant role that technologies such as biometrics, smart cards and public key infrastructure (PKI) would have in improving authentication and access control. In particular, Gates mentioned the creation of biometric ID cards, saying: “Farther out, the Tamper-Resistant Biometric ID Card system will provide an innovative, simple and affordable solution for providing cryptographically secure photo-ID cards using a unique combination of public key cryptography, compression and barcode technologies.” The four main areas of activity that Microsoft is working on were highlighted as: •
isolation and resiliency – preventing malicious code from being able to exploit a vulnerability by isolating such code, providing more effective control over what computer processes can talk to or work with, and making systems more resilient so
•
•
•
they are able to identify and stop suspicious or bad behaviour in its tracks; updating – Microsoft says it is continuing to make significant upgrades to the quality of its updates and associated processes; quality – ensure the use of state-of-the-art engineering practices, standards and processes in the creation of software; authentication and access control – seen as a critical aspect of ensuring an organisation’s security. Microsoft is tightening up areas such as passwords and introducing new technology such as smart cards and biometrics.
company news
Viisage partners with Bosch and Oracle… In a bid to drive forward the use of its biometric technology in both government and commercial circles, Viisage has announced partnerships with Bosch, one of Europe’s largest technology companies, and Oracle Surveillance Systems, a security systems integration firm. Under the terms of the agreement, Oracle Surveillance Systems will market Viisage’s products and solutions specifically to government organisations, while Bosch has added the supplier’s face recognition products to its own portfolio of area and building security solutions. This official partnership announcement follows on from earlier collaborations between the companies. Bosch, for example, was responsible for the well-publicised biometric ticketing solution at Hanover Zoo in Germany, as well as for an access control system for DaimlerChrysler. Meanwhile, the company was also recently awarded a contract with Casino Wiesbaden to provide officials with an identification solution to satisfy German laws and regulations regarding the enforcement of house bans against gambling addicts. Oracle Surveillance Systems has also used Viisage’s facial recognition technology to good effect. One of Oracle’s unnamed customers, for example, has been using the supplier’s biometric technology to data mine large databases in an effort to produce secure credentials. According to Bernard Bailey, president and CEO of Viisage. “Through partnerships with companies such as Bosch and Oracle Surveillance Systems, Viisage has broadened the company’s service and solutions capabilities, and positioned itself to meet the increasing demands for advanced technology identity solutions within multiple markets.”
Biometric Technology Today • May 2004