Biometrics

DHS selects RFID for PASS Card program
Despite privacy concerns, DHS believes RFID will expedite border crossing by allowing agents to identify passengers before they arrive at the guardhouse; trend shows RFID a government favorite for border crossing initiatives, but RF contactless has the upper hand for government IDs and e-passports
- Read more
Gemalto wins another European e-passport contract
Dutch company will provide Denmark with 250,000 e-passports by the end of the year, and 800,000 annually; Russia, United States, Poland, and Singapore among current national customers for the contactless technology
- Read more

India steps up IT security after major breach
Hacking is an emerging problem in this increasingly tech-happy country; laptops and Bluetooth-enabled phones are now banned from sensitive government offices; biometric authentication now mandatory for all classified computers
- Read more
West Virginia looks to expand local biometrics industry
Statewide initiative will develop a three-year development plan; FBI and WVU already state leaders in research and development, and I-79 science corridor is ripe for expansion
- Read more

IBM wins $41 million Department of Interior HSPD-12 contract
Support contract with National Business Center will provide 400,000 cards across a range of agencies; cost per card estimated at $100 to $120 depending on volume
- Read more
XTEC wins National Science Foundation HSPD-12 contract
Deal follows recent contract with Department of Labor; XTEC will integrate its AuthentX card management system with NSF’s physical access control system; success for a company recently aggrieved by GSA and BearingPoint
- Read more

IBG certifies three new biometric technologies
Fujitsu, Hitachi, and IrisGuard impress the International Biometric Group; results show a promising future for vascular recognition systems due to lower false match and false non-match rates; IBG says technology “a serious competitor” to fingerprint scanners
- Read more
ALIVE Tech buys 3D facial biometrics pioneer Geometrix
Acquisition gives ALIVE Tech a strong hold on a cutting-edge biometrics approach; company looks to the future and sees covert enrollment as the next big thing
- Read more

Cogneto offers "cognometric" two-level authentication software
Approach identifies users by their point and click speed; fun and nostalgic system asks users to recall specific incidents in their lives, then measures how fast they can answer pertinent questions
- Read more
3VR video management system tracks faces with low bandwidth costs
By turning images into metadata, system cuts down on transmission and storage fees while giving security officials a fast way to sort through footage; 3VR approach takes individual snapshots as it records, allowing for easy searches later on
- Read more

Researchers discover alghorithmic method of identifying naked bodies
Innovative image analysis approach is designed to combat pornography in the workplace, but creative security personnel may find inspiration for video analytics
- Read more
LaserCard receives new DHS order for ID cards
Cards will be deployed as part of the permanent resident and green card programs; contract follows success with ID cards for Canada, Costa Rica, and an unnamed Middle Eastern nation
- Read more

Fujitsu, Softex offer enhanced palm vein architecture biometric device
The vein architecture in one’s palm is as unique as one’s fingerprints, and it is more accurate (fingerprint readers have difficulties, for example, in authenticating surgeons, guitarists, or brick-layers based ion their fingerprints); Fujitsu is enhancing its palm reading biometric device by incorporating Softex’s software
- Read more
ID cards into business market
More and more companies producing access control systems are receiving FIPS 201 compliance certification from the government, leading to a steady decline in the cost of such products; soon, private sector companies, not only government agencies and contractors who work with them, will adopt FIPS 201-compliant products
- Read more
Real ID market set to explode, but federal planners are holding the fuse
The need to exchange 245 million cards and verify their users’ identities presents a prime market opportunity for card manufacturers and computer and authentication systems providers; biometrics firms need not apply
- Read more

More headlines