• Businesses customizing ads with facial biometrics

    In a futuristic turn, some advertisers have already begun customizing their digital ads to whoever passes by using facial recognition software; so far the Venetian resort in Las Vegas, Nevada has been the first to adopt this technology in the United States; the resort has installed cameras with facial recognition technologies near their digital displays to customize restaurant and entertainment suggestions for individuals passing by

  • Expert warns facial biometrics could compromise privacy

    As facial biometric technology becomes increasingly ubiquitous, IT experts warn that these systems can easily be abused and therefore require stringent privacy policies and data encryption

  • Face-mapping app for smartphone searching

    A new app, when combined with a centralized server, combs people’s cell phones looking to find photos that have a face in them that match what someone is looking for; the app could be used to look for an abducted child, or a criminal hiding in crowds

  • Bio-Key acquires S.I.C., hopes to tap mobile phone fingerprint market

    On Monday Bio-Key International, Inc. announced that it had signed a letter of intent to acquire S.I.C. Biometrics Inc., a manufacturer of a plug-in biometric fingerprint scanner for mobile phones; the acquisition leaves Bio-Key International in position to tap into the lucrative mobile biometric market, especially for Apple products

  • Face recognition software may reveal one’s social security number

    Researchers demonstrate ability to predict social security numbers from people’s faces; “When we share tagged photos of ourselves online, it becomes possible for others to link our face to our names in situations where we would normally expect anonymity,” one of the researchers said

  • FBI approves Neurotechnology's latest biometric algorithms

    Last week Neurotechnology, a developer of sophisticated biometric identification solutions, announced that two of its newest fingerprint compression algorithms received WSQ Certification; the certification means that the FBI has verified that these two algorithms meet the accuracy requirements in its latest standard for exchange of fingerprint images within the biometrics and law enforcement community

  • Google acquires facial biometric company

    Following Facebook’s decision to implement biometric facial recognition software, Google has acquired a company to boost its facial recognition capabilities; the search giant recently purchasd Pittsburgh Pattern Recognition (PittPatt), which develops technology that can search images and videos for a specific face

  • Safran completes L-1 acquisition, becomes world’s biometric leader

    In the latest series of purchases by traditional defense firms seeking to diversify their portfolios, French defense company Safran recently completed its $1 billion acquisition of biometric solution provider L-1 Identity Solutions making it the world’s market leader in biometrics

  • Biometrics for Indian cabs

    Officials at India’s New Delhi International Airport will soon begin using biometrics to monitor taxi drivers; the move comes after a Saudi businessman was abducted and murdered by two cab drivers in 2008

  • L-1 Identity, Safran merger given green light

    The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) recently gave the go ahead to French defense firm Safran SA to close its bid for L-1 Identity for $1.6 billion

  • Better than SecurID?

    The man who invented the two-factor authentication SecurID token has just unveiled a more secure authentication system using voice biometrics; Kenneth Weiss, the founder of Universal Secure Registry, says his latest invention is more flexible and secure than SecurID tokens as they can be used to authenticate individuals on mobile phones, payments, and cloud computing; by adding a voice biometric component, the new device offers three-factor authentication

  • Smarter speech technology to enable smooth-talking gadgets

    Voice-activated devices that can interact with people in a natural, intelligent way could soon be available, thanks to a major new project involving researchers at the Universities of Sheffield, Edinburgh, and Cambridge

  • New Android facial biometric app available

    A new app for Android smartphones allows users to secure their phones using facial biometrics; the Visidon Applock application, which is currently available for free, locks a user’s apps until their identity is verified using facial biometrics

  • Biometrics for mobile phone market to grow 500 percent by 2015

    A recently released report projects that the market for biometric security devices on mobile phones will reach $161 million by 2015, an increase of $30 million; the analysis found that embedded fingerprint sensors in mobile phones will primarily drive growth in this market as more firms seek additional security measures for mobile phones; voice biometrics is also expected to be another large driver of growth

  • Brazilian bank explores online biometric ID

    Bradesco, one of Brazil’s largest banking and insurance companies, is studying if it can identify account holders online using biometrics to ensure the safest transactions possible; the bank is currently working with Fujitsu to develop a device that is capable of identifying customers at home; the bank currently uses Fujitsu’s PalmSecure biometric palm reader in its ATMs