Testing reveals ongoing improvements by suppliers

than 1000 pupils at Camden CommunitySchool have been scanned to enable them to usecomputer resources at Camden City LearningCentre. Over 220 keyboards have been equippedwith fingerprint readers supplied by InformerSystems Limited.

There are often concerns surrounding thetechnical ability of biometrics to deal withyounger people. This was certainly true atCamden Community School, where the student’sages ranged from 11 to 18. Initially the sensorscould not read a small proportion of youngstudents’ fingerprints because of the narrownessof their fingers. However, this problem was solvedonce ISL re-calibrated the system. According toISL the algorithm used by its software,SentriNET, measures the distance between fixedpoints on the fingerprint. Although a child’sfinger might grow, the ratios between the pointswill remain the same, so the sensor will continueto recognise the fingerprint.

hand geometry

UK airport gets a helpinghand to maximise securityStaff at Manchester Airport in the UK will betesting a new hand geometry reader instead ofswipe cards and door codes to accessadministrative areas on the airport site. The aimis to gauge the effectiveness of biometricsecurity measures and is part of the airport’songoing commitment to maximise security forstaff and passengers, while also providing amore convenient means of access by eliminatingswipe cards and the need to remembernumerous different door codes.

The trial, using Recognition Systems’technology, is being run in conjunction withHuman Recognition Systems, a UK-basedcompany specialising in a range of biometrictechnologies. Just over 60 staff members –including Manchester Airport chairmancouncillor Brian Harrison – will trial thetechnology until 14 February 2003.

Harrison said: “This trial is a very exciting stepforward for us, although there are a number ofissues to consider before introducing suchmeasures on a permanent basis or rolling themout across the airport. We will be listening verycarefully to our staff ’s views on the matter whileassessing the results of the trial.”

Manchester Airport is the UK’s busiest regionalairport, with direct flights to 170 destinationsworldwide.

Meanwhile, WHSmith, the best-known UKstationer and bookseller, has chosen HRSSecurity Solutions, a division of Human

Recognition Systems, to biometrically secure itsserver, telecommunications and IT stock room atthe head office in Swindon.

HRS Security Solutions are to install HandKeyII hand readers to enhance the physical accesscontrol procedures on the site.

Contact: Neil Norman at Human Recognition Systems,Tel: +44 151 254 2888, Fax: +44 151 254 2999,email: neil.norman@hrsltd.com

testing

Testing reveals ongoingimprovements by suppliersThe latest round of biometric testing by theInternational Biometric Group (IBG) hasshown that the technology continues itsdramatic year-on-year performance improve-ment, but that there is still a variance in perfor-mance metrics at different security thresholds.

According to IBG, the data underscores the factthat while biometric technology is a highlyeffective security tool, end users need tounderstand in detail the differences betweenproducts and also the impact of thresholds andenrollment procedures. The test results showedthat:

• failure-to-enroll rates ranged from 0% to nearly12%;

• false match rates ranged from 0% to nearly1.5%;

• initial false non-match rates ranged from 0% tomore than 7%;

• six weeks later, false non-match rates rangedfrom less than 1% to more than 30%.

The testing began in August 2002 and includedtechnology from: Bioscrypt, DigitalPersona,Fujitsu, Identix, Indivos, Iridian, Nuance,Recognition Systems, Siemens, STMicroelec-tronics and Ultra-Scan.

Samir Nanvati, partner at IBG told Btt: “Goingback to 1998, when our tests began, there hasbeen a dramatic year-on-year improvement in thetechnologies we’ve tested in our annual tests. Thisholds true for all the metrics, including FAR,FRR and FTE. For those who deemed biometricsas not ready for deployment in their applicationsin the past, the technology now meritsreconsideration.”

IBG could not give more detailed resultsinformation as the report costs US$37,000 topurchase. Assuming the report is purchased inadvance of the tests, this price allows the buyer tonominate a technology to be tested. This round oftests was sponsored by Microsoft, AmericanAirlines, Wells Fargo, Financial Services

NEWS

Biometric Technology Today • February 2003

P r o d u c tn e w s

• Sony has announced that itsFIU600 fingerprint identifi-cation unit will support theMac OS X 10.2 operatingsystem and higher. MeanwhileApple has introduced a numberof authentication features inthe operating system, making itsuitable for the solution. TheUSB hardware portion of thesolution is complete, while thesoftware is being developedwith a beta version alreadyavailable. The hardware device,rather than the operatingsystem, will perform finger-print template storage andmatching.

• DigitalPersona has announ-ced its new fingerprint scanner– the Model 4000. According tothe supplier, the lightweightdevice measures 3 inches inlength, 2 inches in width and is5/8 inches thick. The devicesare now shipping with all of itsU.are.U Pro enterprise prod-ucts – including U.are.U Pro forActive Directory. The typicalprice for the scanner togetherwith the U.are.U Pro work-station packages is US$149 perdesktop, although the scanneris also available separately todevelopers of biometrics solu-tions.

• Biometric Security Card hasannounced the general availa-bility of BioProtect Release 2.0.This second release includesperformance enhancements(through accommodation of awider range of finger position-ing) and BioAPI compatibility.The new release will also includesupport for encryption/decryp-tion of the biometric templateand biometric image logging.The supplier says its BioProtectalgorithms can process mostbiometric images includingfingerprint, iris and retina andcan record fingerprint biometricsin a 64 byte biometric template.

• ActivCard has launchedTrinity, a sign-on solution thatintegrates most authenticationmethods including biometrics.

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Technology Consortium (a consortium ofleading North American financial institutions)and Star Systems. Sponsorship is many timesmore expensive than the price of the report, but itdoes allow the sponsors to input into how thetests are operated. The tests usually cost IBG inthe region of US$1.5 million to run.

Contact: Trevor Prout at International BiometricGroup,Tel: +1 212 809 9491, email:tprout@biometricgroup.com

middleware

Corrections departmentkeeps tabs on its workersThe Minnesota Department of Corrections(MDOC) in the USA has ordered a 3,000 userlicense for a biometric system that will be usedto authenticate the identity of its employeesentering and exiting facilities throughout thestate, and provide detailed attendance records inthe event of an emergency.

The system will be supplied by NuFocus, avalue-added reseller of biometric middlewaresupplier Saflink. The software, Saflink’s SAFmodulesecurity solution for Novell Modular AuthenticationService, will integrate into MDOC’s identitymanagement platform.

MDOC was reportedly looking for a solutionthat would extend its existing security system,

rather than being forced to adopt a new one. TheMDOC is expected to add an additional 1,000users to the contract in early 2003.

Contact: Thomas Doggett at Saflink,Tel: +1 800 762 9595, email: tdoggett@saflink.com

alternative biometric

A sound biometric?A research project at the University ofSouthampton is examining whether hearingcould be a viable biometric for development inthe future.

A person’s ear emits a signal when it hears asound. The theory behind the biometric is thatthe characteristics of this signal might be used as away of verifying identity. Research is underway toexamine the reliability of using this as adistinguishing feature.

Although the technology may be years in thedevelopment, professor Andrew Brown at theUniversity of Southampton’s Electronic SystemsDesign Group says that a listening check might bemore consumer-friendly than other forms ofbiometric.

The research will extend development of thehearing test carried out on new-born babies, whichassesses whether a baby can hear a sound or not.

Contact: Andrew Brown at the University ofSouthampton,Tel: +44 23 8059 3374, email: adb@ecs.soton.ac.uk

NEWS

Biometric Technology Today • February 20034

26–27 February 2003Miami, USASpring 2003 Biometrics SummitThis conference is a general biometric show and has anoptional workshop day on 28 February.Contact: Terri Albert at Ali Conferences,Tel: +1 312 362 9100,email: terri@aliconferences.com

12–19 March 2003 Hannover, GermanyCeBITThis gigantic exhibition has had an increasing number ofbiometric companies in recent years.Contact: Susann Manowsky,Tel: +49 511 893 1011, +49 511 893 6694Web: www.cebit.de

29 April–1 May 2003London, UKInfosecurity EuropeThis is one of the UK’s biggest dedicated IT security forumsand includes an exhibition and education programme.There is usually a selection of biometric exhibits at theshow that make the show well worth a visit.

Contact: Claire Sellick at Reed Exhibitions,Tel: +44 20 8910 7718,Fax: +44 20 8910 7763,email: sellick@reedexpo.co.uk

5–6 May 2003Dubai, UAEBiometrex 2003This is the second running of this event, which focuses on thegrowing market for biometric technology in the Middle East.The conference and seminar programme runs in parallel witha technology showcase.Contact: Bighat,Tel: +971 50 6513905,www.bighat.net/biometrex.htm

12–15 May 2003Orlando, USACardTech/SecurTech 2003This annual exhibition and conference will be focusing onbuilding foundations for trust. Although there were aseemingly lower number of attendees last year, this is stillone of the major events in the calendar for the biometricsexecutive.Contact: Thomson Media,www.ctst.com

Events Calendar

I n b r i e f

• A4Vision, a supplier ofidentification software and 3Dfacial imaging technology, haslaunched its face targeting andtracking software in combina-tion with Logitech, a player inthe PC peripheral productsmarket. A4Vision’s softwarealgorithms will enable Logitechwebcams to target andautomatically track a person’sface, keeping it centered withinthe camera’s field of view.Logitech Face Tracking will beginshipping globally in February asa standard feature with all mid tohigh-end Logitech webcams thatfeature digital zoom.

• Hunno Technologies hasannounced a significant order forits MagicPass 6500 Fingerprint IDDoorlock from Daelim Industrial,a large South Korean const-ruction firm. Deployment willstart at Daelim’s new 795-unitapartment complex in theSungsan-Dong redevelopmentarea. Until now, MagicPass 6500had been installed only in luxuryapartments, but in this instance itis being deployed to all house-holds in the area. MagicPass 6500can be programmed to authorizeup to 99 people biometrically,but also supports PIN codeauthorization.

• Sense Holdings has installed itsBioClock terminals and Check-Print T/A time and attendancesoftware at Signature Companies’corporate headquarters in FortMill, USA. Signature Companiesinstalled the biometrically securedemployee management terminalsand time and attendance softwareat four remote locations. Thesystem will manage around 500employees. Meanwhile, SignatureCompanies will also market andsell the solution to its diverseclientele of companies, whichincludes Belk Department stores,Lance Snacks and WeyerhaeuserPaper.

• San Diego Police chose not touse facial recognition technologyat the recent Super Bowl. This isdespite its use at Tampa and NewOrleans over the last two years.

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