Biometrics

3M, Authentix and others launch International Authentication Association
Industry group will serve as a spokesman and lobbyist with media and government; eighteen companies band together to raise awareness of new anti-counterfeiting techniques; Johnson and Johnson’s David Howard is named chairman
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Reliability continues to plague TWIC
Lockheed wins a major $70 million contract, but low bidding may hide quality issues; “bait and switch” says one critic; cards said to suffer 50 percent error rates with unacceptable processing times; flimsy card stock at issue
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London Olympics to sport photometric stereo facial recognition technology
Intriguing approach uses a single camera and multiple sequential flashes to develop a “facial skin signature”; software uses slightly differing shadows to generate a 3D image of higher quality than conventional facial recognition systems; skin color and tone can both be identified
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Lockheed wins $70 million TWIC port worker contract
Company will supply 850,000 with biometric I.D. cards; technical challenges appear to have been overcome; BearingPoint loses out again on a major biometrics project; TSA to officially announce award soon
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Bioscrypt snatches up A4Vision in stock swap
Deal brings together Bioscrypt’s strength in fingerprint algorithims with A4Visions’s 3D facial recognition technology; company will now offer off-the-shelf finished readers for both finger and 3D face biometrics; investors add another $8 million to the venture
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Northrop Grumman anounces $95 million in new U.S. biometric deals
One day after announcing a $75 million contract to provide DoD with an integrated biometrics system, company announces three other deals owrth $20 million
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Digital fingerprints, with roots in WWII, attract attention
Identifying a users “fist” permits stronger password protection; even Web surfing habits can be used to detect on-line fraud; writeprints offer a method of identifying bulletin board users by their grammar and syntax; privacy experts express concern
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NIST discovers ideal height for fingerscanning machines
Improper installation can lead to slower enrollment times and higher error rates; 26 inches causes better image quality, but 36 inches makes the process go smoother
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Zombie masters move into the 21st century
Oak Ridge scientists identify thirty distinct compounds emitted from rotting bodies; data will help train dogs, but cunning investors may see opportunities for handheld sensor devices; report recalls a fingerscanning device intended for the deceased
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Somark's inkless RFID tattoos could keep troops safe
Yesterday’s attack in Iraq proves uniforms may not be the best way to distinguish friend from foe; technology intended for tracking cattle could prove a lifesaver for humans; passive RFID is perfectly harmless and does not require line of sight to be read
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Cross Match scanner wins German ePassport approval
Florida-based company’s L Scan 100 is the first to meet 500 pixel per inch requirements; Cross Match is known for beating competitors to the punch; approval opens up a fertile market
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British researchers marry lip-reading to video analytics
Government hopes that software will enable them to solve crimes based on conversations gleaned from CCTV; tracking the head and lip remain a challenge, but progress is being made; Asian and African languages present difficulties
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L-1 receives $1.7 million to bring image analytics to FAMS
Air marshals look to improve their database system; L-1 takes a break from efforts to acquire ComnetiX; company also reports strong sales of its Identix touchprint readers
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UPDATE: BIO-Key tops L-1's bid for ComnetiX
Bidding war for the Canadian biometrics company heats up; BIO-Key offer $1.29 per share, a $.24 increase over L-1 offer; ComnetiX responds by cancelling a shareholders meeting set to vote on L-1’s offer; new meeting scheduled for 2 February
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Gemalto promises acquisitions and partnerships in the new year
Company prepares to take on the e-commerce industry with a series of job cuts, but smartcard sector remains strong; Gemalto sees an industry ripe for consolidation and sees itself as the acquisitor, not the acquired
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