Biometric technologies

Hirsch Electronics biometric station wins award
The Verification Station from the Santa Ana, California-based company wins Buildings Magazine 2008 award; “Finally…a high-end, cost-effective biometric system for more stringent security needs,” the magazine’s editors explain
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Precise Biometrics in SEK12 million Chinese deal
Swedish fingerprint specialist expands its presence in China with a SEK12 million (about GBP1 million) order
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Federal money for identity programs boost biometrics market
A slew of U.S. government programs — US VISIT, the Real ID Act, TWIC, the FBI’s next-generation database, and many more — depend on biometric technology; the estimated value of potential contracts to implement federal identity-solutions programs has more than doubled since 2006, rising from $890 million to $2 billion this year; biometric companies fiercely compete — and lobby — for contracts
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The big biometric hitters
Five companies are in the lead in the competition for a share of the U.S. government biometric market; they have plowed money — a lot of money — into their lobbying activities, and some hope to strengthen their hand by hiring former administration officials
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Malaysia renwes Unisys contract
The Malaysian government has renewed its contract with Unisys Malaysia to continue work on the national ID card (MyKad)
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An HS Daily Wire conversation with Walter Hamilton of the International Biometrics Industry Association (IBIA)
Walter Hamilton, chairman of the Board of Directors of IBIA, talks about different biometric technologies, new and innovative biometric approaches, the role of biometric in security and commerce, biometrics in the theater of battle, and more
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Biometric technology helps Coalition forces in iraq
Gen. David Petraeus: “[Biometric] systems and databases and the dedicated people who run them are helping to eliminate the ability of insurgents and criminals to remain anonymous, hidden amongst an otherwise law-abiding, peace-desiring population”
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Biometrics to be used in fast-tracking trusted travellers through airports
The United States and the United Kingdom agree on using fingerprint, iris, and facial recognition technology to speed up frequent travellers’ journeys through immigration control
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L-1 Identity Solutions receives $4.9 million order for biometric devices
L-1 contracted to sell its hand-held detection device, identifying individuals via iris, finger, and face biometrics in a mobile situation, to unnamed U.S. government agencies
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Congress weighs in on Digimarc sale
Legislators uncomfortable with French company Safran acquiring U.S. ID maker Digimarc; they want CFIUS to take a very close look at the sale and its consequences for U.S. citizens’ security and privacy
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Growing opposition to fingerprinting foreign visitors to U.S.
Legislators support airline industry’s contention that forcing them to fingerprint foreign visitors to the United States would ruin them financially; airlines say that fingerprinting 33 million visitors a year would cost $12 billion over 10 years
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Fujitsu promotes palm vein biometrics in U.S.
Palm vein architecture biometric technology is wide-spread in Asia, especially in Japan, where many banks use it in their ATMs; one reason for the popularity of the system in Japan is the stronger association made in Japanese culture between fingerprinting and criminality; Fujitsu believes other reasons — the fact, for example, that fingerprinting is not suitable for about 8 percent of the population — offer opportunities in the U.S. for its technology
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£500,00 boost for hi-tech firm
Warwick Warp has developed innovative technology in biometrics which dramatically improves the accuracy and speed of recognition of fingerprints; VCs are intrigued
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Faking a fingerprint
A tech blogger argues there is no such thing as fingerprint reader that cannot be fooled; as proof, he offers several videos showing different techniques for faking readers
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U.K. identity card scheme will not mandate fingerprint readers
A proliferation of different fingerprint reading machines will be used in government programs, including the proposed biometric national identity card
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