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CNN Ranks Biometrics #16 on Technology Breakthrough

On Saturday, April 9th, 2005 CNN reviewed breakthrough in technologies.  Internet was ranked #1 and the source or basis that allowed innovation and inventions of other technologies.  From mobility technologies such as cell phones and PDA's to Satellite programming and Guided War tools, CNN covered it all.  Among the list was our cherished biometrics technology ranked at #16 as a technology that will change how people are authenticated and identified.  Analyst believed that biometrics identification is going to become basis of authentication and identification, but suggested some work is required in the field for mass uses.  Below is a list ranked by CNN:

1) Wireless world
2) Defense technology
3) Alternative fuel vehicles
4) Biotechnology
5) Computers
6) Lasers
7) Genomics
8) Global finance
9) Processors
10) Digital storage
11) Space
12) Fiber optics
13) Satellite TV & radio
14) DNA testing
15) Video games
16) Biometrics
17) Energy and water savers
18) Scanning tunneling microscopes
19) Batteries
20) E-baggage
21) Remote controls
22) Animal cloning
23) Manufacturing technology
24) The big picture
25) Weather technology

You may read the full article @ CNN Top 25 Technology Breakthrough

Biometrics - Not a Silver Bullet?

Cutter Consortium is an IT advisory firm, comprising a group of more than 100 internationally recognized experts who have come together to delive top-level, critical, and objective advice. In their recent analysis of biometrics based authentication and security, including fingerprints, they look at pros & cons of this latest technology and align it with practical business situations.  If you ever wanted to know or were asked questions about biometrics, security and how your company can benefit from it.  This a a must read study.  Full Article

Let fingers do the walking into world of biometrics

Eric Gwin, a Chicago Tribune staff writer finally catches up with the world of biometrics.  In his interview with Authentec's President, Scott Moody, Eric discovers the world and convinience of fingerprint biometrics...full atricle

Japan banks to use fingerprint authentication for ATM widthdrawls

As financial institutions struggle to fight financial related crimes such as identity theft, Japan financial industry is taking first steps towards fighting such crimtes.  Banks in Japan are installing fingerprint embedded ATM machines to fight against counterfit ATM cards.  Full story...

Mitsubishi introduces worlds first touchless fingerprint sensor.

New fingerprint reader scans prints without touching skin. The world's first scanning device that reads fingerprints without touching the skin will hit the market this autumn, Mitsubishi Electric said.

The device could be used to enhance security measures at financial institutions and airports.

The new scanner uses light from a red light-emitting diode (LED) to read fingerprint patterns under the surface of the skin. Red LEDs are typically used in a wide variety of industrial uses, such as in automotive electronics or medical instruments.

Ordinary fingerprint sensors take prints using physical contact between the finger and a glass plate.

In some cases, however, such physical fingerprint readers are unable to take an accurate print when the subject's skin is rough, wrinkled or covered in perspiration.

In the new LED device, the user places a finger in the reader with the nail facing up. A light scans through the finger and analyzes the convex and concave patterns of the skin layer below the surface.

Financial institutions, eager to find ways to circumvent thefts of personal data and cash, are anxious to find devices like the Mitsubishi Electric reader to provide better identification at ATMs

Bofa - Goofed!

Bank of America said Friday that it lost Tapes containing info of 1.2 million government card-holders including senators.  This is another example of increasing threat of financial risks and identity theft because of lack of physical and access security within financial institutions.  Let's see how fast BofA learns. Click here for a complete story.

Show Finger if you are 18!

Access, Identification and now Age Verification! A leading security company is employing new technology in the field of biometrics to verify if a computer user is an adult or a child.  The age distinction is made by analyzing a bone in the person's finger.  With ever growing social issues of pornography and online gambling, this company has our vote!

Standardization Issues in biometrics

Governments and businesses alike are seeking ways to standardize biometrics processes.  Here is a good article that tackles and addresses the challenges related to biometrics starndardization.

http://www.it-analysis.com/article.php?articleid=12568&SESSID=49efc394b87f2fea9bd38173237af3a9

Hazmat followup

That program to take biometric information from hazmat truckers I mentioned earlier, isn't for Canadian drivers. It doesn't apply to them, however they have been working towards their own security card as well, and they are talking to the US to get Canadian drivers up to speed.

Hazmat fingerprint rule doesn't include Canadian drivers - for now.

Another positive influence of biometrics

Amber Alert is getting into the high tech action with AmberView, a 3D image of the missing child to view for better accuracy. The computer can detail every feature of the child's face, and the viewer can rotate and resize and manipulate the image to see exactly what the child looks like.

It makes for a better way of recognizing a child while they are still alive, rather than wait to verify fingerprints after a death.

Amber alerts going high-tech

Keep on truckin'... to the fingerprint site.

As part of the USA Patriot Act Monday, truckers have begun getting fingerprinted and have criminal background checks performed on them. These are truckers who haul hazardous materials around the US, because those trucks could be used as weapons by terrorists.

The problem affecting this project is that there are very few and far between fingerprint stations, and some truckers may have to make a detour. Hopefully that is just temporary.

Fingerprinting of hazmat truckers begins.

It's a success!

You've heard about the Registered Traveler Program right? -  The one where they launched the pilot in 5 major airports to test the effectiveness of a quick way through security checkpoints for frequent flyers.

Well it was supposed to end by now but it's still going strong. It's getting good reviews, and seems to be beneficial to the airport and the flyers.

I know if I was a frequent flyer, I would have wanted to get in on that action too.

Registered traveler program expedites airport screening with biometrics and smart cards.

US VISIT update

Looks like the US-VISIT Exit program is starting to bang on all 4 cyclinders. It was the last phase to be implemented, and after several months of 'checking out' at particular airports, they've added on a few more.

Statistics to date: 407 criminals or immigration violators have been identified.

Department of Homeland Security to begin US-VISIT biometric exit pilot at Detroit metropolitan Wayne County Airport.

Look to a venus flytrap...

...to see the one of many applied biometrics. In fact, the way it determines if an insect is nearby, it could almost be called, Insect Recognition.

Venus flytrap - leader in biometrics?

Fighting the good fight

UK citizens who believe in a national ID should be glad they have MP Martin Salter on their side. He believes a properly functioning ID card will be beneficial for the UK, especially when it's loaded up with three biometrics!

Key role for MP in cards scheme.

Another biometric resource

Don't forget to sign up for Acuity's BMI eUpdate. It's a free email about the industry, with no vendor or technology bias. Because well... you get that here. This is a fingerprint biometric company's weblog, there's no way around that! So at least here you might learn some new things...

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Tonight on TV....

Looking for something to watch tonight? Try to catch ABC's Primetime Live. There's a segment called 'No Place to Hide'. Sounds lovely.

Peter Jennings examines the government's effort to harness technology in the name of security, and the price we might pay if we fail to balance security and freedom in the digital age.

No doubt they will talk about biometrics in some part.

ABC news.

Free viewing of CSI sessions

The conference sessions held at CSI's annual conference back in November are available online. You can view them free after registering. They're all about information security. Whether any of the speakers brush on biometrics, I'm not too sure about.

View the sessions.

Biometrics not infantile. Who knew.

Here's another generic article about the biometric industry, with a little emphasis about voice biometrics halfway through. In many instances, such as in call centers, voice recognition is ideal.

Enterprise Fertile area for voice biometrics.

Out with the old, in with the new.

The OLD US Secretary of Homeland Security said that we needed an international standard for biometric technology as it pertains to travel. Hasn't this already been said? Well, maybe not by him, but somewhere... and they're already making efforts towards that by way of their actions.

Anyways, he's not gonna be around much longer. Judge Michael Chertoff is the most recent nomination by the President - we'll see if he actually qualifies this time.

Wanted: international biometric technology standards -- Ridge.