Biometrics

Viisage and Identix complete $770 million merger
New company is L-1 Identity Solutions (ID); purchase suggests LaPenta’s appetite for biometrics companies is not yet sated
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New passport holder claims to beat RFID security risks
Paraben claims its metal mesh, velcro-closing passport holder reduces signals by an average of 85db
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Single-factor identification insufficient for licit opiate industry
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As HSPD-12 compliance deadline looms, federal agencies rush to order identification cards
Labor, SSA, EPA, and HHS among agencies trying to get their HSPD-12 houses in order; to assist, Alternative Technology announces formation of HSPD-12/FIPS-201 Convergence Team; effort similar to HSPD-12 Interoperability Consortium
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Two African countries use finger-biometrics to improve voting and refugee registration systems
Zambia tries to shore up democracy after marred 2001 election; South Africa to use BIO-Key and Biometric Technologies systems to register 100,000 refugees
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Missouri mathematicians make progress on 'cocktail party problem'
Ability to distinguish between voices in crowded room a boon for criminal surveillance; science now needs practical application
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BearingPoint in $104 million HSPD-12 contract
Company will provide end-to-end services; smaller agencies seen to benefit from scale; 30 August deadline to order HSPD-related services through Fedral Acquisition Service looms
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Utility and telecom industries press government for national identification cards
Industries want immediate access to emergency sites; interoperability with FIPS-201-1 a critical issue
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DHS announces delay in TWIC implementation for maritime and port workers
Problem caused by compliance with FIPS 201 standard; required card-swipe readers vulnerable to saltwater corrosion; delay to last at least six months
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Lockheed wins proof-of-contract to implement biometric identification system at Health and Human Services
The BioUnique Identity Management System will enroll 1,000 employees at four locations; fully encrypted system relies on Automatic Fingerprint Identification System developed for the FBI; HHS moves toward HSPD-12 compliance
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Innovative chip architecture allows fast, automatic voice recognition
Government security agencies are engaged in ever-more-expansive data mining operations; as more voice and video digital media goes online, there is a growing challenge of how to search these live streams effectively; the audio mining problem is especially acute in homeland security applications which need to expedite translations of huge streams of incoming data, sifting for a few critical words or phrases
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BioPassword's innovative keystoke technology solution offers another level of security
There are many biometric products out there, but this innovative technology is different; it requires no biological information and no hardware to install, rather it is all about how you behave
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DHS launches information-sharing program with states
More information should lead to more effective law enforcement, and DHS next month will begin to share some of the information in its files with the states; first will be the personal and biometric information collected from travelers in the US-VISIT program; DHS also said that the number of illegal aliens in the U.S. reached 11 million
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Probaris helps SSA to come into HSPD-12 compliance
Federal agencies and contractors working with these agencies have until 27 October to comply with various HSPD-12 mandates, chief among them FIPS-201; the SSA is no exception, and it is relying on Probaris for help
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Low-power wireless intelligent sensor technology
Two companies combine their specialties in a NASA-sponsored project to produce low-power wireless intelligent sensor technology capable of delivering remote fingerprint authentication, intrusion detection, light, temperature, and vibration sensors over satellite communication
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