Biometrics
UK Schools Fast To Adopt Biometrics: 1M+ Pupils Registered
New research has been published that shows more than one million children in England have had their fingerprints taken by their school, demonstrating a high demand for the technology despite possible privacy concerns. The figures come from a Big Brother Watch report " Biometrics in Schools " which calculated that over 1.28 million students had been fingerprinted in secondary schools and academies (based on data from the 2012-13 academic year). The research, gathered from Freedom of Information Requests to more than 3,000 schools, shows that at the start of the academic year 2012-13 an estimated 40% of schools in England are using biometric technology. Laws governing the enrolling of biometrics in schools were enshrined in the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012. Before that Act came into force, Big Brother Watch estimates that 31% of schools did not consult parents before enrolling children. Under the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012, the rules for schools and colleges that use biometric recognition systems, such as fingerprint identification and facial scanning, now state: For all pupils in schools and colleges under 18, they must obtain the written consent of a parent before they take and process their child’s biometric data. They must treat the data with appropriate care and must comply with data protection principles as set out in the Data Protection Act 1998. They must provide alternative means for accessing services where a parent or pupil has refused consent. A spokesman at the Association of School and College Leaders – which represents secondary […]
Source www.planetbiometrics.com
Biometrics: A Field That?s More Than Meets The Eye
biometrics By Maryalene LaPonsie, OnlineDegrees.com Cellphone passwords are so passé. With the launch of the iPhone 5s, the new way to unlock your cellphone is with a fingerprint. It is one of the latest — and most visible — ways biometrics is going from the realm of sci-fi fantasy to mainstream reality. Biometrics holds the potential to do everything from enhance national security to improve marketing displays in stores. It’s a hot field that isn’t going to be replaced anytime soon, meaning there should be plenty of jobs in the biometric field for years to come. Biometric basics According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation , biometrics are biological or behavioral characteristics that can be measured. In other words, biometrics is what allows Facebook to suggest you tag your roommate in that photo on your newsfeed. It also includes voice recognition, optical scans and even the keystroke dynamics of how someone types on the computer. Despite the recent hype around biometrics with the iPhone launch, it is nothing new. The granddaddy of biometrics is fingerprinting, and the FBI has been amassing a collection of fingerprints since 1924. Even the more high tech biometric applications aren’t all that new. Consider that more than 20 years ago, Robert Redford was fumbling to convince a security system “My voice is my passport” as he worked to bypass a biometric system in 1992′s minor cult classic “Sneakers.” What is new is the price. While biometric systems were previously so expensive that their applications […]
Source www.theworkbuzz.com
Namibia Unveils Biometric Machine For Voter Registration
namibia flag December 20, 2013 – Namibia is planning to use a biometric voter registration system for its upcoming election and the country’s electoral commission has just launched the machine it will be using to enroll voters. According to a report in The Namibian , the machines were manufactured in South Africa, and consist of a laptop, fingerprint scanner, camera and signature and barcode scanner. Voter registration starts on January 15 and ends on March 2 next year. Altogether there are 904 machines as well as generators and back-up kits for emergencies. “All systems are ready and in place but it is important to note that the success of any electoral process depends on how the electoral and stakeholders are educated about the process,” Electoral Commission chairperson, Notemba Tjipueja said in The Namibian report. In December, 2012, Ghana held an election using biometric verification devices as the world watched with bated breath. Now, a year after the country’s election, results are still being contested , following much confusion over the status of verification machines during and after the election in Ghana. This isn’t the first time the biometric system used to verify voters has been called into question after-the-fact. Reported previously , Henrique Capriles Radonski, leader of the opposition in Venezuela, has demanded an audit of the entire election including fingerprints stored in the election registry, following his party’s loss by less than 2 percent in the country’s recent presidential elections. Also, following an election in Kenya using biometric verification, […]
Source www.biometricupdate.com
Gotcha! FBI Launches New Biometric Systems To Nail Criminals
Computerworld – Nearly 80 years after it began collecting fingerprints on index cards as a way to identify criminals, the Federal Bureau of Investigation is moving to a new system that improves the accuracy and performance of its existing setup while adding more biometrics. By adding palm print, face and iris image search capabilities, the FBI’s Criminal Justice Information Services Division (CJIS) hopes to improve the accuracy of identity searches, make it easier to positively identify and track criminals as they move through the criminal justice system and provide a wider range of tools for crime scene investigators. To take full advantage of all of the new capabilities, however, federal, state and local law enforcement agencies may need to update their own systems to be able to capture the data, forward it to the FBI and search against the nationwide database. "Most booking stations are starting to gather all of the modalities — fingerprints, palm, and face and iris," says Jon Kevin Reid, assistant section chief in the CJIS division. But many regional and local law enforcement systems don’t yet capture all of that information, and will need to upgrade their own systems to reap the benefits from the new system. The current database, the FBI’s Integrated Automated Fingerprint ID System (IAFIS), includes information on 135 million criminals and terrorists, as well as civil servants and other citizens who work in "positions of trust." Since its launch in 2008, the $1.2 billion Next Generation Identification (NGI) project has been […]
Source www.computerworld.com
NFC-Enabled Multi-Function Payment Card Debuts In Sri Lanka
Home / MAIN IMAGE / NFC-enabled multi-function payment card debuts in Sri Lanka Groundbreaking initiative spearheaded by HNB with Visa, Airtel and market leader in NFC-enabled payment card technologies Sony Felica By Shabiya Ali Ahlam Sri Lanka yesterday saw the debut of its first-ever Near Field Communication (NFC)-enabled multifunction payment card via a groundbreaking initiative by HNB with Visa, Airtel and two other leading partners. Branded HNB One, and approved by the Central Bank, the product is a Visa Debit Card upgraded to have a prepaid component. As the unique feature makes it a ‘combo’ card, the objective of HNB One is to facilitate speed in transactions. While the debit card feature will function in the regular manner, the NFC-enabled prepaid component will allow transactions to be simple and quick with its ‘tap and go’ functionality. The multiple applications include toll payments in the transport industry, drive-through areas of fast food outlets and fuel stations, to name a few. Aimed at enhancing customer convenience, the solution is powered by Sony Felica, the market leader in NFC-enabled payment card technologies, and Smart Metro, which is providing the NFC-enabled terminals. The solution was unveiled to the media yesterday at a conference attended by HNB Chief Executive Officer Jonathan Alles, Bharti Airtel Lanka CEO Suren Goonewardene and Smart Metro Director Chandana Wijesooriya. In addition to providing access to HNB savings and current accounts, customers can also access their prepaid account with HNB One, where fund transfers can be made between accounts through HNB’s extensive ATM and […]
Source www.ft.lk
Armenia: Only Biometric Passports And ID Cards To Be Issued From January 2014
Karen Ghazaryan Public Radio of Armenia The biometric passports and ID cards were implemented in Armenia on June 1, 2012. The system has proved successful, and the advantage of biometric passports is obvious. Therefore, starting from January 2014 citizens will get only biometric passports and ID cards. The documents will be given for the term of 10 years. According to Norayr Muradkhanyan, Head of the Visa and Passport Department of RA Police, the biometric passports and ID cards are better protected. “Families receiving poverty benefits and 16-year-old citizens will be provided ID cards free of charge,” he said. The old passports will remain in use until their validity term expires, Muradkhanyan said. Biometric passports are necessary for traveling abroad, while ID cards can be used on the territory of the Republic of Armenia. Comments comments
Source www.armradio.am
Gatwick Airport Unveils New Generation Biometric Gates
London Gatwick has officially opened the its new generation of ePassport gates using facial recognition. UK Immigration Minister Mark Harper said ePassport gates have proved popular with travellers. More than 10 million passengers have used them across the UK in the past year with numbers now operating at 1 million a month. London Gatwick now has the largest single bank of ePassport gates at any port in the UK. The latest installation totalled 15 gates , according to supplier Vision-Box, of Portugal. Harper said: "Keeping the UK’s border secure is our priority. At the same time we want to welcome legitimate visitors and trade which contributes to the UK economy. Using the latest technology helps us to do both and is popular with passengers. The e-Passport gates here at London Gatwick Airport provide both a fast and convenient way for tourists, business visitors and Britons returning home to pass through the border securely." The launch was also attended by Stewart Wingate, CEO of Gatwick Airport Ltd. He said: "Gatwick is delighted to be the first airport in the UK to offer this innovative new technology. It will make the journey of arriving passengers with chipped passports much more efficient." ePassport gates first went live in UK airports at Manchester Airport in 2008. This bank of gates replaces the first generation which were opened at London Gatwick South in June 2011. The gates which can be used by anyone with a UK or European ‘chipped’ passport who is aged 18 […]
Source www.planetbiometrics.com
Russian Upper House Approves Law On Biometric Passports With Fingerprints
Russian Federation passport 15:05 18/12/2013 MOSCOW, December 18 (RAPSI) – Russia’s Federation Council on Wednesday approved the law on issuing biometric foreign passports with fingerprints starting January 1, 2015. The law gives the federal executive authorities and their territorial branches, as well as diplomatic and consular missions, the right to collect and process additional biometric information of passport holders. Currently, Russian biometric foreign passports only contain one biometric parameter, a 3D photo. It is planned to collect fingerprints of all Russian nationals aged above 12 years. This information will be stored in the chip embedded in the passport to ensure maximum protection, reads the explanatory note to the bill. The goal is to simplify the authentication of passport data and to prevent, expose and preclude the use of passports for criminal purposes. The law is to become effective in Russia on January 1, 2015 and for diplomatic and consular missions outside Russia, as soon as they are equipped to issue the new passports, but no later than January 1, 2016.
Source rapsinews.com
Global Biometrics Market To Reach $8.7B In 2013, $11.2B By 2014
dhs-biometrics December 16, 2013 – According to new research from BCC Research , the global biometric technologies market is expected to reach $8.7 billion in 2013 and will increase to nearly $11.2 billion next year. In addition, BCC projects the market to grow to nearly $27.5 billion by 2019 and to register a five-year CAGR of 19.8% from 2014 to 2019. According to the report, Biometrics: Technologies and Global Markets , technological advances, consumer and commercial acceptance as well as demand of the technology and cost reductions will drive the growth of the market for the foreseeable future. BCC says the new report gives an overview of global and regional markets for biometric technologies and dvices, as well as analyses of market trends from 2013 and estimates for 2014. The report also studies the product life cycle and technology life cycle of various types of biometric devices and the methods employed by different manufacturers and users in maintaining ecological balance. Everyone is in agreement that the market is set for profound growth. The Biometrics Research Group has projected that the global biometrics market will grow to $15 billion by 2015, from its 2012 estimated value of $7 billion. Leave a Comment comments
Source www.biometricupdate.com
Aware Deploys Biometrics Software In Saudi Arabia For Visa Issuance
aware logo December 4, 2013 – Aware has announced that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has begun the deployment of several of the company’s COTS biometrics software as a component of the Kingdom’s update to its visa issuance management process. Specifically, the new system makes use of Aware’s Biometric Services Platform (BioSP) as well as its Universal Registration Client (URC) and its related APIs. According to the company, BioSP is a modular service-oriented application to implement workflows and to manage data exchange between government departments. URC is a biometric enrollment application that will operate on hundreds of workstations at consulates and visa service centers globally to collect biometric data from potential visitors to Saudi Arabia. For this project, Aware serves as the principal subcontractor to Fujitsu Arabia. Reported previously , Aware also recently announced that it had supplied products and services to Fujitsu for a similarly-scoped biometric visa applicant screening system in Canada. “The new system in Saudi Arabia highlights the scalability of Aware’s biometric services platform, designed to handle as many as sixteen thousand biometric enrollments in a single hour,” Rob Mungovan, VP at Aware said. “This deployment serves as yet another example of Aware’s COTS products and subcontracted services being used by an integrator to successfully field an advanced, biometrics-enabled visa issuance solution. Leave a Comment comments
Source www.biometricupdate.com
Zwipe Launches Biometric Access Card With Fingerprint Cards Sensor
zwipe logo December 2, 2013 – Zwipe has just launched a biometric access card, with fingerprint touch sensors from Fingerprint Cards . According to the company, the new card is multi-functional and is ISO 14443 compliant. Fingerprint data is stored on the card itself. “Providing secure personal ID authentication in an easy-to-use portable device has been our goal,” Kim Kristian Humborstad, CEO of Zwipe said. “Together with FPC’s touch sensor, we have achieved this in our Zwipe Access biometric card. The card provides a secure environment, protecting user data while still being able to communicate easily with access control systems using standard interfaces. FPC’s fingerprint sensors deliver the performance and functionality that our card product requires in an application where low power consumption and compact size are crucial.” “The access control market using cards and tokens is expanding constantly and the challenge is to combine security with user convenience,” Thomas Rex, EVP Sales & Marketing of Fingerprint Cards said. “Zwipe’s biometric card is the solution to this and is a state-of-the-art product that really pushes the limits to what is possible to do on a card today. The use of a touch sensor provides an enhanced user experience and is in line with the worldwide trend of integrating touch sensors into portable devices.” Reported previously , Fingerprint Cards also recently launched a capacitive fingerprint touch sensor for Android and Windows that had a major effect on the company’s share price almost instantly. According to a recently-published report, the overall electronic […]
Source www.biometricupdate.com
Global Biometric Standards-Setting Body Formed
News analysis: Global biometric standards-setting body formed The Natural Security Alliance, a French-based international open source biometric standards-setting body that counts BNP Paribas, MasterCard and Carrefour Banque among its members, has launched what it claims is the world’s first association grouping, the Open Alliance, dedicated to propagating shared wireless biometric authentication to protect transactions. Up until now, the French-based organisation has not tried to corner the international standards market, reports Neil Ainger , but with the launch of the Natural Security Alliance’s open source group that is now changing. Jean-Pierre Viboud, group chief executive of Oney Banque Accord in France has been appointed as the open group Alliance’s first chairman, overseeing a collection of banks, card schemes, retailers and vendors all dedicated to developing and encouraging a global open source wireless biometric authentication standard. The shared protocol will be freely available to all and can protect transactions around the world. According to Viboud all open Alliance members, with the initial founding board including AS 24 (TOTAL oil group), Crédit Agricole, Paycert, SIX Payment Services and Swiss Capital International among many others, share a strategic commitment to delivering mission-critical authentication and payment solutions based upon biometric technology. “The Alliance was formed to provide a collaborative space for all professionals who are interested in biometrics and new payment systems to share and develop ideas for an open standard,” he said. “We believe that this information sharing and access to the specifications is one of the main benefits for our members. As […]
Source www.bobsguide.com
‘Soft’ Biometric Cameras Are Watching: Govt. Intelligence Hopes To Use Cameras To Recognize People By The Shape Of Their Ears
Facial Recognition Research Intensifies Research on facial recognition technology is being stepped up to include ‘soft’ biometrics, such as using ears as a unique element of identificaiton. (Photo: Igor Stevanovic / Rhonda J. Miller) Facial recognition has become an increasingly common element in security surveillance, enabling identification of faces in images taken from a distance and in a crowd. But facial recognition is just a step along the way to more and better identification techniques being sought by the U.S. government’s Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity (IARPA). The agency has challenged top research teams to revolutionize how machines recognize people with a competition announced Nov. 8, according to New Scientist magazine. Like Us on Facebook The announcement on the IARPA website, dated Nov. 8 said, “Intelligence analysts often rely on facial images to assist in establishing the identity of an individual, but the sheer volume of possibly relevant video and photographs can be daunting. While automated face recognition tools can assist analysts in this task, current tools perform best on well-posed, frontal facial photos taken for identification purposes…IARPA seeks dramatic improvements in unconstrained face recognition by funding rigorous, high-quality research drawing on a variety of fields to develop novel representations to encode the shape, texture, and dynamics of a face and new ways to use these techniques for faster and more accurate search and retrieval.” The typical approach requires sorting through frame after frame of camera footage to find ones that offer a good chance for identification, then to […]
Source www.isciencetimes.com
Bank Robber Apprehended Using Fixed License Plate Recognition Cameras From Vigilant Solutions
LIVERMORE, Calif., Nov. 25, 2013 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ — Vigilant Solutions announces today that its fixed license plate recognition (LPR) cameras were credited in the apprehension of a man wanted for a recent bank robbery in Great Neck, New York. Commissioner John “Jack” Miller explains, “A Chase bank branch in Great Neck was robbed on September 27th, and a woman witnessing the robbery provided information on the subject involved. Using video surveillance from nearby businesses, we were able to locate a vehicle and subject matching the woman’s description. This information coupled with our Village Camera system yielded a license plate number. The license plate number was then entered into our license plate recognition system to provide notification to the department when the vehicle was seen by one of our fixed LPR cameras, provided by Vigilant Solutions. We implemented our LPR program almost five (5) years ago, and it will soon consist of around fifty (50) fixed cameras, along with several mobile systems.” “Roughly one week later,” continues Commissioner Miller, “the vehicle passed one of the fixed LPR cameras, generating an alert that the suspect vehicle had entered the village. We notified other area police departments on the peninsula who helped to locate the vehicle. Within about 45 minutes we had the suspect in custody, and he was charged with first degree robbery and first degree use of a criminal firearm.” Commissioner Miller concludes, “The system will soon cover all entrances to our village. While it is typically used to […]
Source www.marketwatch.com
Fujitsu And PulseWallet Team Up For Biometric Payments
pulsewallet November 20, 2013 – Fujitsu Frontech North America and PulseWallet have announced a new relationship utilizing Fujitsu’s PalmSecure biometric technology for biometric payments. According to the companies, PulseWallet is paperless, storing transactions, transaction history, membership cards as well as promotions in a virtual customer profile. Now, under this new partnership, PulseWallet terminals aim to replace consumer credit and debit cards with palm-scanning technology. “From the very beginning, we were looking for an extremely secure and highly accurate form of strong biometric authentication technology to integrate with our solution. Customer registration has to work smoothly for all consumers and verification at POS must occur quickly,” Aimann Rasheed, co-founder and CEO of PulseWallet said. “We evaluated other forms of biometric authentication and we were most impressed with Fujitsu’s PalmSecure technology because of its speed, accuracy and flexibility.” PalmSecure sensors use near-infrared light to capture a user’s palm vein pattern without the need for contact with the sensor. “We are very proud to be partnering with PulseWallet and that they have chosen PalmSecure technology as a value-added benefit to their solution,” Randy Fox, senior director, currency handling and identification product solutions at Fujitsu Frontech North America said. “We are also extremely supportive of their green initiative. Fujitsu has been an eco-friendly company for over 30-years, with a true commitment to developing and delivering solutions that limit impact on the environment.” Payment systems are widely regarded to be the next big wave of biometric integrations, and many biometric wallet applications and solutions are […]
Source www.biometricupdate.com
Google Disallows Facial Recognition in Glass Apps
Worried about so-called “Glassholes” automatically identifying the faces of people around them? Google says it doesn’t want that to happen, either. The company tonight posted an update to developer policies […]
US Researchers Working On Biometric System To Completely Replace Passwords
by CBR Staff Writer | 14 November 2013 Researchers claim the use of biometric technology to eliminate the requirement of passwords would is a likely next step. Researchers at Purdue University are developing new biometrics technology, which would allow users to log into computers using iris and fingerprint scans rather than typing passwords. Being developed at the university’s International Center for Biometrics Research, the technology will enable logging into a computer or activate a smartphone by swiping their fingerprint over a sensor which will not require frequently changing passwords. International Center for Biometrics Research director Stephen Elliott was cited by Associated Press as saying that iris and fingerprint scans, as well as facial and voice recognition, are just a few of the tools that can boost security while making lives easier. “I think the average person would tell you they have too many passwords and it’s a hassle to change them all the time, and therefore they use the same password for lots of things, which inherently makes that easier to break,” Elliott added. According to researchers, soldiers in Iraq carry handheld devices that enable scanning fingerprints, retinas and faces and evaluate them with identities in the database Researchers noted that the use of biometric technology to eliminate the requirement of passwords would be a natural next step.
Source www.cbronline.com
Bank of America Looks To Biometric ATMs In New Patent Application
biometric-atm November 15, 2013 – The Bank of America has pushed through a patent application, which describes a biometric ATM system. Reported in ATM Marketplace , the patent was submitted to the USPTO in 2012, and published recently in 2013. Specifically, this patent application outlines a system for authenticating users with a combination of a pin-code and fingerprint biometrics. The design of a biometric ATM and the patent application certainly isn’t very specific, and at this point it looks like the BofA is staking out some territory for development, and doesn’t want to leave much room for competition. “[A] fingerprint scanner for use in the systems and methods of the invention may use optical fingerprint imaging, ultrasonic sensors, capacitance sensors (passive or active) and/or any other suitable method to capture the digital image of a fingerprint,” is just an example of some of the unspecific language contained in this application. “Any suitable method for PIN validation and fingerprint validation may be used to validate the input PIN and fingerprints.” It’s been widely acknowledged that payment systems and ATMs are a coming wave for biometric integrations, and it’s interesting to see the BofA making a move. There are a few places where biometric ATMs are already a reality. Reported previously , the Central Bank of Nigeria has teamed up with Dermalog for biometric POS systems as well as for biometric ATMs. Likewise, in Kenya, Tracom Services has launched a new line of fingerprint ATMs in Nairobi. Leave a Comment comments […]
Source www.biometricupdate.com
Voice Biometric Startup InCights Mobile Raises Angel Funding
Voice Biometric Startup InCights Mobile Raises Angel Funding InCights Mobile Solutions, a provider of voice biometrics software and delivery systems has raised R1 Cr angel funding led by a group of investors including Anand Lunia of India Quotient, Iamwire states. The company plans to use the funds to expand outside India and it is also looking to shift to US. The fund will also be utilized launch new services in the gaming and entertainment sector. Hyderabad-based Incights Mobile Solution was launched in 2010. It offers a voice biometrics engine and associated services, where it uses a person’s voice as the unique identifier, enabling real-time identity verification. Its voice Bio-metrics service can be used to provide protection against identity theft, protected access to information, secure login for remote workers, secure automated authentication, call center transactions or mobile commerce connections. The company was among the 30 startups accelerated by Nasscom.. The startup is supported by Microsoft BizSpark, IAN and IIIT-H. The current applications of the startups includes Contact center caller verification, IVR Caller verification, Mobile app authentication, Web transaction validation. According to the survey conducted, smartphone users have grown frustrated with current authentication methods and 90% of them are eager to use voice biometrics in place of existing methods. The overall market for voice and face biometrics is expected to reach nearly $3 billion by the end of 2018. Like the various biometric options, voice-based identity authentication can be used in tracking attendance, financial transactions and a host of others where […]
Source www.dealcurry.com
BIO-key To Integrate Biometric Platform Into AMD Security Solutions
bio-key logo November 12, 2013 – BIO-key International has announced that the company is working with AMD to ensure compatibility of its WEB-key biometric management platform with AMD’s upcoming security solutions. As a result of this work, the company says device manufacturers will be able to use the BIO-key algorithm to match fingerprints on compatible AMD devices, with or without a server, or in the network or cloud. Specifically, AMD customers will be using BIO-key’s scanner independent algorithm. “BIO-key is honored to be working with AMD toward this uniquely valuable TrustZone integration,” said Jim Sullivan, BIO-key’s VP of Strategy and Business Development said. “With this solution, OEMs will be insulated from the rapidly changing fingerprint scanner marketplace by having a single best-of-breed, interoperable platform to interface with. Online service providers and enterprises will benefit from a standardized, securely configured WEB-key client on their users’ devices, made available by device manufacturers or through the ARM TrustZone technology ecosystem. This will allow enhanced security for online transactions and BYOD security. Fingerprint scanner manufacturers benefit by being part of a secure cloud infrastructure allowing remote and cloud authentication, which significantly enhances the core value proposition of fingerprint authentication beyond unlocking the phone or other device. Our existing patents on securing biometric data and keys using Trusted Execution Environments (TEE) make this a natural evolution of our product strategy.” Tomorrow, November 13, 2013, BIO-key will present at the 2013 AMD Developer Summit with its presentation titled, “Leveraging fingerprint biometric authentication to streamline secure access.” […]
Source www.biometricupdate.com