Biometrics

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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Cogent signs tech-sharing deal with Symwave
South Pasadena-based company will supply image reconstruction technology for Symwave’s “sweeper sensor” USB and PC access systems; deal another feather in the cap for this impressive biometrics company; recent success with U.K. visa program shows flexible market strategy
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Passfaces adds four partners, expands to Europe
Company’s unique “reverse biometrics” approach finds eager resellers; Bavelle Technologies, Coast to Coast Financial Services, Data Compliance Solutions, and Ergosis take the plunge
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Daon to provide software for €157m European visa system
Irish company joins Sagem and Accenture to develop the Biometric Matching System; deal is said to be Daon’s largest to date; 70 million Europeans will submit fingerprints
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AuthenTec signs deal with HP's consumer division
Award-winning TruePrint finger scanners will be incorporated into a new line of consumer notebooks; deal shows company a leader in bringing biometrics into the home market; last year’s arrangement with Kwikset/Sequiam just one example
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Latvians select Giesecke & Devrient for new ePassports
Munich-based company has a long relationship with this emerging Baltic state; 1.1 ePassports to be produced; Austria and Macedonia also use G&D technology; roll-out scheduled for late 2007
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UPDATE: Italian IDs to retain LaserCard's optical stripe
An analyst who warned that the Italian government might drop the technology changes his mind; switch would have carried a high cost but would have ensured compatibility with other European national ID systems; announcement good news for LaserCard, but the technology’s future remains in doubt
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Polar Rose offers facial recognition search engine
Technology turns a 2D image into a 3D face print; search can be used to locate additional photographs of or identify an unknown person; privacy concerns an issue
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UK national ID plans unveiled
Government will issue 60 million cards over the next decade; technology will be compatible with ePassports and banking smart cards; total cost estimated at $10.5 billion
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