Biometrics

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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Sagem Défense Sécurité wins French visa contract
Ten-print capture the underlying technology; system will connect to the coming European Visa Information System; software provided by Atos Origin Intégration
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Skype offers telephone-based lie detector
320,000 have already downloaded the free application; system is first VoIP adaptation of a technology well known to law enforcement; philanderers quake in their boots
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UK Biometrics installs Britain's first law firm access system
Comprehensive approach covers building access and payroll matters; American law firms, because of their unique billing structures, present a special challenge to the biometrics industry
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DATEL installs Jordanian immigration control system
Jordan Electronic Gate matches passenger fingerprints against a smart card; self-monitoring system constantly updates databases; planners hope to expand program to non-Jordanian citizens
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Corestreet's PIVMAN breaks into the muncipal market
Los Angeles is planning its own ID initiative but wants to be able to identify federal employees as well; deal shows an expanding FIPS-201 market segment, at least in areas where federal and city employees work closely together
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ImageWare signs $1.2 million federal contract
San Diego based company will leverage its IWS Biometric Engine to assist in the development of a protype multi-biometric scanner; engine is technology neutral and extremely flexible; vein, palm, iris, voice, and signature modalities are all available
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California Hilton installs Ingersoll Rand's Hand Punch system
In an attempt to thwart buddy-punching, hotel installs hand geometry unit; system also monitors employee meals for tax purposes; early interest in finger scanning shot down by nervous workers
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CellMax to introduce voice biometrics to the cafeteria line
Company overcomes technological hurdles to offer alternative to lunchtime fingerprinting; loud noise and puberty among challenges; PCS Revenue Control teams up to provide point-of-sale services
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CrossMatch expands its casino presence
All German casinos now use the company’s FaceSnap/FaceCheck facial recognition system; technology identifies cheats and known troublemakers; Casino Esplanade in Hamburg the latest to beef up its operations
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Digimarc signs $4.6 million extension contract with Idaho
State will follow twenty others in adopting Digimarc’s digital watermarking technology for its identification cards; REAL ID Act prompts upgrade; company has a twenty-year history with the state
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Heathrow begins new biometric tracking pilot
Passengers will scan their fingerprints at self-service kiosks or ticket counters; some will receive iris and face scans; only Emirites and Cathay Pacific flights to Dubai and Hong King effected; Accenture, IER, Raytheon, Sagem Defense Securite, and Sita provided the technology
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Smartrac to ship millions more inlays
Dutch company a major player in the ePassport market; deal with Infineon follows strong financial reports; company set to build two new factories, one in the United States, to expand capacity to 4 million units per month
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Australian social service agency first to take up access smartcards
Centrelink says winning bidders will lay a foundation for a FIPS 201-type program across the Australian government; Vasco token on their way out
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