Biometrics

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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Ingersoll Rand card readers earn FIPS 201 certification
Three different models receive cerification; though late in the game, Ingersoll believes its multitechnology approach provides a strong market advantage
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GSA puts HSPD-12 cards out to bid (again)
Following the cancellation of BearingPoint’s $104 million contract, GSA asks eighteen companies to consider picking up the slack; 420,000 government employees to need cards; award expected in the second quarter of 2007, and winning company will have 90 days to begin production
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Greek scientists develop brain scanning biometrics
Electroencephalography reveals unique neural pathways that could be used for identification; as with iris scans,some question whether users will cooperate; Polish team says a similar system achieved 88 percent accuracy
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DHS considers private integrator to manage REAL ID
Draft regulations sent to OMB supposedly ask for a private company to take a leading role in managing nationwide implementation
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Survey shows Americans highly receptive to biometric IDs
Truste and TNS poll shows a public willingness to trade privacy for heightened security; 82 percent support use in passports, with only slightly fewer wanting them for driver’s licenses and Social Security cards
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L-1 renews its offer for ComnetiX
After competition from BIO-Key, L-1 offers $1.05 per outstanding share, bringing the total price to $16 million; ComnetiXa leader in law enforcement-related identity solutions; shareholders approve the deal but have to wait to finalize it on Friday
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Smartrac and Assa Abloy settle patent dispute
Conflict over antenna inlay production process ends with Assa Abloy giving up seventy patents in exchange for licenses; deal paves the way for a possible Smartrac IPO
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Cogneto, critical of facial recognition authentication, adopts it anyway
Seattle-based company is known for its cognitive authentication approach; although facial recognition is immature for on-line banking, company decides to use it as a small factor among many; outside analysts see banks under pressure to deploy the latest technology, even as costs vastly outweigh the benefits
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Pakistan deploys biometrics to stop terrorist traffic into Afghanistan
System allows a choice of fingerprint, iris, or facial scan; preventing Taliban movement a major Afghani goal, but some doubt Pakistan’s willingness to follow through
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