Putting your finger on biometrics

Emergency access and evacuation

2011-04-13T04:13:00.000-07:00

We are still coming to terms with the terrible natural and potentially man-made disasters that have struck Japan and one of the problems is finding missing people and working out their last known location.

One can imagine that fingerprint biometrics will have helped some organisations, businesses, schools and hospitals to locate where people were when the huge earthquake and tsunami waves stuck. We know they can produce valuable evacuation reports and pinpoint where exactly individuals were when an incident occurs.

Have they also helped in evacuation procedures and restricting access to areas threatened by explosion and contamination issues?

Nature has always made humble some of the most sophisticated and resilient technologies, but it also shows that we can use solutions like fingerprint biometrics and CCTV to protect human life and learn lessons from these tragedies. What are your views?

The kids are all right with technology

2011-03-01T03:04:00.000-08:00

It’s strange that many parents are surprised, shocked and scared that their children are so comfortable with information technology, and communication innovations from iPad’s to ebook readers and from Android apps to biometrics. Is it the case we feel we have lost control of them?

Yes there are real dangers when youngsters can be preyed on by evil adults through internet grooming, making presents of the latest gadgets etc. But if we teach them the boundaries and open their eyes to the risks and keep a not too intrusive eye on them are the benefits to them and society worth considering?

A UK study of three thousand children aged nine through to 16 suggested that using technology increases their core literacy skills. Research also suggests a direct connection to the use of technology and wealth in a society. Maybe it’s not a case of kids ‘dumbing down’, but actually moving ahead of many of their parents and teachers when it comes to embracing and using information technology.

Schools and childcare facilities all over the world are using fingerprint biometrics to create cashless lunch breaks, access library books, track attendance and stop unauthorised access to premises. The only people who seem to complain about this are the adults with most concerned about the intrusion into their kids’ lives and the possibility of copying the fingerprint. Perhaps they don’t know that no real scan of a full fingerprint is taken and that encryption technology means that the data is securely held?

Fingerprints for Drinks?

2011-02-14T07:12:00.000-08:00

Pubs, clubs and bars across the world are starting to use biometric fingerprint technology in cloakroom and lost property management systems, entrance systems and to combat underage drinking, violence and antisocial behaviour.

The Baha Beach Club in Barcelona is asking customers to pay $160 to insert a microchip in their arm and use the chip for payment and identification. Although to some people, possibly after a few drinks, this may seem a good idea there are many less intrusive forms of biometric technology! A simple biometric fingerprint scanner can do the same job for less money, less pain and no risk of infection.

Is the era of queuing in the cold waiting for intimidating door-people to verify IDs over? Is fingerprint biometrics the solution for stopping underage drinking, cutting theft and curtailing violence in nightclubs and bars?

Across the globe a number of bars and entertainment groups are already embracing the new technology employing biometric systems for cloakrooms and lost property management systems. Bakers Lounge Bar and Nightclub in Southend-On-Sea is one example. When a customer hands over their coats and personal items their fingerprint is taken and matched to their belongings and at the same time a still image is taken of the transaction for additional security purposes. The club’s manager said, “Even in the height of the summer, we had at least one customer per night with a lost coat receipt. Our policy is that the customer must wait until the end of the night to recover their item. You can imagine how agitated and frustrated some customers can become. Since installing the system we have not had a single incident. Plus revenue has gone up as customers are more confident about leaving their valuable items in the cloakroom.”

It has to be simpler and safer to scan your fingerprint at the bar when it can validate your age and well as allowing you to pay for your drinks without carrying cash?

What’s your take on introducing fingerprint biometrics to nightclubs and bars to make them safer, more enjoyable and better businesses?

A Lesson Or Two On Fingerprint Biometrics

2011-01-31T03:37:00.000-08:00

In recent years we have seen national news stories about biometrics being introduced in schools, but why are people, particularly parents, protesting against schools introducing biometrics to do everything from check out library books to checking attendance rolls.

Some of the arguments suggest that the parents are unaware of the fingerprint readers being installed in the schools and haven’t been asked to give consent for their child/children to hand over their identity, leaving their fingerprints and biometric information in the hands of the school.

In a paper published by the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) and in consultation with the Information Commissioners Office (ICO) schools are guided, under the Data Protection Act 1998, that parents should be contacted asking permission to store their children’s fingerprint. The Data Protection Act of 1998 doesn’t state an exact age of where there should be parental permission. But the pupil or parent has to be provided with a Fair Processing Notice which contains information such as: the name of the school, the purpose for which the data is going to be held and any information required to make the processing fair, including details on any third parties to whom the data may be passed. The British Educational Communications and Technology Agency (BECTA) also stresses that any school using biometric technology must destroy any records of the pupils biometric information after they have completed their education at the school. But does all this actually happen in practice?

Fingerprint reading biometric technology is being applied by schools across the UK and around the world in many ways; the most popular in the UK has been for ‘cashless catering’. This is a system where parents pay in advance for student’s school lunches, crediting student accounts with a daily lunch allowance. Students then use this credit to pay for their lunches by registering their fingerprint at the till. The systems are said to allow quicker service in school lunch halls, provide money security and also give anonymity to those who have free school meals. The latter may contribute to a reduction in bullying as children from poorer families are less obvious. Surely this a safer, more efficient environment for our children during school hours?

Another way that fingerprint biometric technology is being used in schools is for automated attendance systems. Students are asked to scan their fingerprint on arrival into school and when they depart for the day, and in cases as they go from class to class. This is for security as well as to try and reduce truancy. Some schools have gone the extra mile and have replaced the registration system at the beginning of each class. With fingerprint registration there is no possibility that someone else is registering for them, and that’s possible when using smart cards. The school also has very accurate and easily managed data to measure pupil absence and truancy.

Fingerprint biometrics are mainly being used in schools as they as the least intrusive form of taking biometric information. Not only do they provide extra security for our children, reduce bullying and theft in schools and also provide accurate information on your child’s attendance and time management, but they also reduce costs for schools. Although the systems can be expensive they do not need any additional items such as smart cards which are often lost and cost to replace.

With all this in mind can fingerprint biometrics teach us all a lesson or two about their effective use by schools, colleges and universities?

Auto biotica – is there any sense in biometrics for cars?

2011-01-19T02:47:00.000-08:00

Several popular car blogs suggest that Ferrari is working towards bringing out a car that is more or less controlled by human biometrics. The car will be fitted with a range of sensors to monitor the driver’s respiration, perspiration, blink rate, blood pressure and cranial activity, as well as many others. It will free up more relaxed and capable drivers to drive without the car’s stability and traction control systems intervening.

Other car manufacturers have been adopting biometric technology into their security systems for the past few years but have any of them been proven secure enough? There’s the horrible story about the Malaysian business man who had his finger chopped off with a machete so four men could steal his Mercedes fitted with a biometric fingerprint reader without having to bring him along to start it. These stories make consumers naturally apprehensive about biometrics and take their minds of the real issues which are about the quality, reliability and pricing of biometric technologies.

Global Bio Tec, with support from industry professionals and academics, has set up the Global Biometric Centre of Excellence, with the purpose of establishing recognised international standards for biometric technology and boosting the flow of information on the practical application of biometric solutions. As you know a lot of awareness and insights into biometrics comes from the media including newspapers and the movies!

The Lexus 2054 concept car was designed for the 2002 movie Minority Report. It hasn’t made it to the road but it has highlighted the use of fuel cells and biometric security systems. Although the Lexus 2054 is not available to buy there are cars coming into showrooms with a range of biometric control and security systems. It tends to be the higher end models which have them fitted.

Do you think that biometrics in cars is a good way to establish that the human/technology interaction is effective, non-invasive and adds value to control, safety and security?

Online security pointing at fingerprints

2011-01-11T01:35:00.000-08:00

In just one year almost ten million American adults were victims of identity fraud/theft. Over 12 months this activity cost the US $52.6 billion. With hackers and fraudsters becoming more aggressive and sophisticated isn’t it about time that banks and financial institutions consider how biometrics really can help in the war against identity theft fraud?

When signing into online banking you are asked for a series of unique codes created by you or the bank. Each organisation has different ways in which they will ask for this information – whether it be the whole code or just several random digits from it. A customer is usually asked for their date of birth or a memorable word they have chosen. Once this information is given the customer has full access to their account details, balance and many other things as well as the option to transfer funds. Although the information may be unique to the person it is not hard for other people to find these questions out and simply have full access to your account details. Banks know that their customers’ account login information can be vulnerable and they seek to improve security, but can they do more now?

UK and international banks have added additional security measures for their online banking customers. For example HSBC gives all of their customers the choice of downloading Rapport, their personal anti-virus software which authenticates websites and their security certificates and warns you if they are unsafe before you submit your password. Barclays, NatWest and Lloyds have given all internet banking customers ‘card readers’ meaning that the card being used to transfer money has to be entered into this and the customer has to enter their pin number before any money can be transferred. Many customers see these as an inconvenience but agree to use them because they believe they are using their personal details more securely.

With all these security measures in place why are there still high levels of identity theft and fraudulent activities happening? It’s simple because pin numbers, card readers, secret answers and unique codes can all be stolen. Thieves will continue to find ways around even the strongest of security measures except the only thing that can’t be stolen, you. By finding the genuine article of authentication there will be no need for pins, codes and questions – only your fingerprint.

Which of these seems the likeliest to protect your information securely?

· Something you may know – a pin code, a sequence of numbers and letters, a password?

· Something you may have – an ID card, a token, a passport?

· Something you are – a fingerprint, your voice, your signature?

A fingerprint, a voice, a signature can be copied, but with effective sensor and reading technology forged copies can be detected and rejected. The Connective Touch range of fingerprint reading solutions from Global Bio Tec can identify a forged or fake fingerprint and will deny access to fraudsters and thieves.

The logical application linked to governmental imperatives to minimise welfare benefit fraud is to consider introducing fingerprint biometrics to make sure that welfare payments are paid to those who are entitled to them. The savings on fraud and administration costs could be immense!

Could biometrics help protect the old and isolated during big freezes?

2010-12-21T01:42:00.001-08:00

As ice, snow and sub-zero temperatures continue to grip the UK one important question raises its head again, could we being doing more to protect the elderly and vulnerable in their homes?

Death rates amongst the elderly and vulnerable have shot up rapidly as some succumb to the effects of cold on their health, worries of using heating due to rising costs and lack of contact with family, friends, neighbours and carers. Would a simple to use fingerprint biometric system help to support their safety and security by allowing them to show they have gotten up, are active during the day and gone to bed safely?

A long held dream of Devi Sohanta is to help the elderly and vulnerable to live fuller and safer lives by applying biometrics to help keep contact, maintain security and give these people peace of mind. Devi set up Global Bio Tec to develop technology that could easily go into homes, residential care settings and sheltered housing projects etc. and be simply used by people. After thorough testing and approval by the Secure By Design accreditation programme the Connective Touch range of biometric fingerprint access and communication systems are on the market.

Could a web-enabled biometric fingerprint pad help to connect old people and those who need monitoring by carers in a cheap and effective way that will bring them help promptly if needed and add extra security for their lives?

Fingerprint biometrics, crime or punishment?

2010-12-16T03:04:00.000-08:00

Dr. Peter Waggett, project leader for IBM’s Emerging Technology Programme and chairman of the BSI Biometrics Group spoke at a recent Christmas lunch for Global Bio Tec partners, stakeholders and management in Leamington Spa.

The key question during open discussion with Dr. Wagget was do potential buyers and the public hesitate to install and accept fingerprint biometrics because of the historic and cultural links of taking fingerprints with criminality? What do you think?

Dr. Waggett was there in his capacity as a mentor who has helped advise GBT on setting up and developing their Connective Touch range of biometric access control systems.

Helping the market to understand and adopt biometric solutions is a key goal of the Biometric Centre of Excellence that GBT has helped to found. Dr Waggett was supportive of its aims and said, “The centre of excellence can spread the message on how successful biometric solutions can be developed, following research and development, design and production that will fulfil the market’s need for solutions that deliver on their promise.”

After acknowledging the dedication and determination of GBT founder Devi Sohanta to develop fingerprint verified access control systems that can be used with confidence across a wide range of sectors Dr. Waggett discussed the growing acceptance of fingerprint biometrics. Fingerprint biometric solutions currently account for around 40 per cent of current applications. He predicts that this can only grow as other countries follow the US example of requiring all entrants into the country to provide a fingerprint and as the UK progresses to adopting biometric passports.

One of the issues for biometric technology and fingerprint biometrics has been the fact that there have been few standards for solution developers and manufacturers to follow. Dr Waggett noted the work that the BSI group has been doing in this area with the launch of a PAS for Biometrics anticipated in 2011.

Are Biometric ATM Machines The Answer To Identity Theft?

2010-12-13T07:14:00.000-08:00

Skimming involves the use of devices that fit on the ATM card slot and read information off a card’s magnetic strip. A small camera on or around the ATM records PINs as customers press the keypad.

Skimming is the latest threat in the identity theft war. Two men in Chicago have recently been arrested for rigging bank ATMs. ATM’s that usually have a fake cover or card slot put into them are more often found more commonly in stand-alone ATM’s or ATM’s in convenience stores. In an article on tampabay.com John Joyce, special agent in charge of the US Secret Service Tampa field office advises, “Use legitimate bank ATMs. If possible go inside the bank and use the one inside the bank.”

But should we take after Poland’s BPS SA bank who set a European, and Western milestone, by installing a biometric ATM in Warsaw? Given the financial situations in Greece, Spain and Portugal in recent weeks the Euro Zone has plenty of reasons to be down on itself but Poland is showing a financial-sector first this week, becoming the first European country to install a biometric ATM.

The machine reads your fingerprint as opposed to the magnetic strip on a cash card. All that is needed to withdraw money and access personal information is your fingerprint and your pin number. Is this the answer to identity fraud involving ATMs?

The biometric ATM has been designed to only accept the fingerprint of a living human being. This makes it impossible for people to use a copy. As shown in many movies and often mentioned in tests of biometric devices a copy of a fingerprint, fake hand containing the fingerprint of someone else, or in extreme cases the hand or finger of a dead person cannot be used. Not only do these machines take a copy of the fingerprint they also detect the pulse from the finger which is recorded with the image.

The sensor technology employed by Global Bio Tec in its Connective Touch range of fingerprint

reading access control systems can't be fooled as it takes a scan several layers underneath the skin. The fingerprint often associated with criminality is turned the tables on those engaged in identity theft.

Biometrics preventing child trafficking in India?

2010-12-06T05:54:00.000-08:00

The theft of new-born babies and children in India has been a problem for many years now but biometric technology may be about to change this.

The Yashwantrao Chavan Memorial Hospital managed by the Pimpri Chinchwas Municipal Corporation, based in Pimpri in the Pune district of India, near to Mumbai has taken new security steps to prevent the theft of new-borns and children from the hospital.

Child trafficking in India has been ignored and overlooked by police and government officials for many years now with children being stolen to be sold, for adoption to other countries, prostitution and begging. Children have been stolen from hospitals, kidnapped from the street whilst they were playing, taken in their sleep and some gullible parents have even given their child away on the back of promises of education and private boarding schools.

The Yashwantrao Chavan Memorial Hospital is hoping to prevent this from happening on their premises by installing CCTV cameras and introducing a biometric identification system which will provide matching number tokens to the parent and the child. The steps have been taken to meet with the Bombay high court guidelines on the issue which were recently received by the hospital.

Along with the suggested security installations the hospital has also employed extra security staff for 24 hour surveillance and employed female guards. Within two hours of the birth the biometric information is taken as well as a print of the footprint of the baby.

Will biometric technology prove successful in India’s quest to prevent child theft?

Do the eyes have it? – maybe not on their own

2010-11-18T04:49:00.000-08:00

Manchester Airport has announced a trial of retinal scanning for ‘volunteer’ passengers checking in. The retinal scanning technology is proven and is difficult to fool, although eye diseases can change the retina over time. The issues up for discussion are is it too intrusive, having a light beam shone into your eyes for ten seconds or so could be for some people, is it too expensive and what other systems should be in place to work with retinal scanning?

Fingerprint biometrics are being used in airport security and access control applications all over the world and could be a useful compliment to retinal scanning and other biometric human recognition checks. But, you may believe that fingerprint biometric systems are too easily duped? Perhaps in the past they have been ‘fooled’ as a story from Japan in early 2009 suggested. In that case some ‘special tape’ had been used by a woman with a false passport and a track record of illegal entry to the country to get through immigration controls which included a fingerprint scanner. This may suggest the sensor technology in the Japanese system was not up to scratch.

The new Connective Touch range of fingerprint scanning solutions offer a capacitive sensor that will pinpoint the ridges and valleys of the skin which it reads and then verifies down to four layers below the skin. The company believes that it will still produce a reliable fingerprint scan even if the fingerprint has outer damage from burn scarring etc. Its sensor contains tens of thousands of small capacitive plates, measuring extremely weak electrical charges that are created by the finger. This non-optical measurement generates and stores a 3D fingerprint template which has to be exactly matched by the person who created it. It can’t be fooled by fake fingerprints according to Connective Touch developers Global Bio Tec.

Shopping with Biometrics for France & Germany.

2010-11-12T07:23:00.000-08:00

In France the high-street bank ‘Accord’ has been granted permission by the French data Protection Authorities to start a six-month trial into the new biometric payment system. The bank, owned by ‘Auchan’ will offer the service to a number of its current account holders and biometric readers will be installed into a number of French ‘hypermarkets’. Customers start the process by registering their finger data securely with their bank. Once they have ended their shopping they simply touch the finger scanner at the check-out which confirms the buyer’s identity and they amount is then debited from their account. German supermarket Edeka has also been using biometric technology since 2007. (Source: www.connexionfrance.com)

With this technology in place all over the world there would be no problems of lost payment cards, identity theft or fraud, cards being blocked when you’ve forgotten to warn your bank you are travelling abroad etc. Could biometric technology be the answer?

Could biometric technology could put an end to the frantic searching for keys whilst stood outside in the pouring rain? Could it be the answer to “Did I leave the door unlocked?” “Where did I leave my purse?” “How did I spend that much this month?”

New age biometrics for old age.

2010-11-04T04:07:00.000-07:00

As we all know, biometrics applications are moving into many facets our daily lives. Joanne Perry, Alvolution Demonstrator, has been demonstrating the new secure biometric entry device ‘Flexi’ from Global Bio Tec to healthcare professionals, social care professionals and care home managers.

Reading the headline New Biometric Technology Can Change Lives for the Elderly made me consider how it could really change the lives of older folk. I’m unsure whether my almost 90 year old grandparents would be able to cope with this technology? After thinking about it I realised that maybe it maybe wouldn’t be so complicated for them, they are rather ‘tech-savvy’ for their age. They have their own computer, wireless internet and use Skype to talk to relations abroad.

Living near Croydon for most of their lives they are aware of the high local crime rate and fear of crime really concerns them. Maybe the Flexi could help them feel safer in their own home?

Looking further into it biometrics are being used to help aid the elderly with a range of issues from identity fraud through to much simpler things like ‘Where have I put my keys?’

Care homes and sheltered housing are perfect examples of how biometrics can be safer and support residents to combat fraud and theft. With each room/apartment fitted with a biometric finger print scanner there would be little chance of any personal belongings going missing or people wondering into the wrong rooms when doors have been left unlocked.

Should we be doing more to help the elderly improve their quality of life through biometrics?

Detection deterrent?

2010-11-02T05:41:00.000-07:00

Why at a time when terrorists around the world are exploiting the latest technology to conceal their bombs and identities are we still debating about bringing in the full array of biometric scanning technology? Is it cost, the erosion of personal freedoms, or the poor track record of fingerprint, retinal and facial scanning systems? The answer could be a combination of all three points - what do you think?

The first fingerprint bureau was established in Calcutta, India, in 1897, to help classify and organise criminal records and police and security forces have used finger prints extensively to track and capture undesirables ever since. The essential element to a practical and accurate finger print recognition system, according to Devi Sohanta founder of the Biometric Centre of Excellence and MD of British fingerprint biometric pioneers Global Bio Tec, is the quality of the sensor used in the device. It needs to take an accurate and deep penetrating scan of the finger to be as accurate as possible and prevent attempts to fool it.

Economies, major companies and millions of us rely on air travel and transport for wealth generation and our daily bread. We know the consequences of aircraft being hijacked, blown up or deliberately crashed have global and very personal consequences. Can we afford to sit on our hands when we should be holding them up for scanning to make airports, air travel and air cargo more secure?

The track record of biometrics systems for fingerprint identification has been blotted by cheap products that have failed to deliver on their promise. The Promise for airport, air travel and air cargo security from fingerprint biometrics is significant from uncovering the false identities of terrorists, deterring their attempts to travel right through to controlling the access of airport employees from land-side to air-side secure areas. Our finger prints provide a confirmation of our identity which is unique and can't be copied or destroyed. It really is elementary!
www.globalbtec.com

It's elementary my dear...

2010-11-01T07:50:00.001-07:00

It's easy to understand the 'criminal' damage done to the reputation of finger print biometric entry solutions over the last few years. There has been no guiding authority to set a benchmark on how the systems should perform, where they should be applied etc. The result has been a market flooded with cheap, and not very cheerful options, imported by distributors, and then sold on as the 'perfect' solution for secure entry to education facilities, clubs, hotels, warehouses and any number of application which may seek to control people entering restricted areas or just regulate the flow and 'clocking-on/off' of staff.

Yes the reputation of finger print technology for door entry systems has been smudged by poor quality products, sensors that can be fooled and hardware that wares out far too quickly, but the situation is changing. That's thanks to the forensic, and some may say obsessive, mission to develop reliable, proven and internationally endorsed finger print activated door entry systems by Devi Sohanta. Things are becoming clearer for the market in finger print biometrics.

Through Global Bio Tec and the development of the Connective Touch brand of finger print entry systems Devi has built a convincing case to buy British for individuals who need reliable restricted access to their super yacht through to multi-nationals and governments that want to advance their door entry security, improve facilities management efficiency and/or gather workforce data.

Connective Touch Flexi and Flexi Smart are manufactured in Rugby by Stadium Electronics and are approved by ACPO's Secure By Design Scheme, The Master Locksmiths Association and comply to DIN standards. The software for Connective Touch to manage and provide valuable data is Accredit UK approved.

Investigate for yourself and go to www.globalbtec.com