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It's alive!

Whaddya know, the smart gun works. They tested the gun they were working on at NJIT, and it's going as planned. Dynamic grip recognition is like hand geometry, except when you grip something, it will identify you, and there's no extra step in-between that needs to be added. They hope to deploy the technology in other places, like for steering wheels.

Shots fired at Bayonne range prove smart gun technology works.

Biometric Digest monthly newsletter

There's a freeview of Biometric Digest's December newsletter that is available. A lot of the articles have already been addressed here in previous posts, but there are some things you might find interesting, such as:

• Password overload syndrome
• 15th CardTech/SecureTech Conference
• Startup says it can merge RFID payment with biometrics
• Recent biometric signings
• Biometric calendar
• Financial reports
• Biometrics2000 enters Japanese market
• White Castle adopts fingerprint

Get the PDF

You are how you walk.

Wondering what's happening with gait biometrics? This is the technology that can use regular video cameras, and identify you based on how you walk. It's not talked about as much because there are more privacy issues relating to a technology that can label you without even knowing it. Unlike fingerprint, you don't have to consciously do something in order to have it identify you. Therefore research and advancements have been hindered because of protests that use of such recognition could be invasive. But for those exact reasons is why we should consider its applications. At times that may become necessary.

Nixon has conducted extensive research on the use of gait as a biometric. Its advantage is that it is effective at a distance or where only low image resolution footage is available, as with CCTV cameras. Nixon worked with other researchers in the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency's HumanID at a Distance project until the scheme was canned "because of US privacy concerns".

Gait advances in emerging biometrics.

US Consumers say: Bring it on!

A survey sponsored by AuthenTec found out something. Imagine that. No really, based on 2,000 responses - from adults no less - U.S. consumers appear to be willing to pay for the security that fingerprint biometrics can offer. Specifically, 63% said they would use biometrics for their PCs and laptops, and 71% would use the feature in their cell phones.

What's interesting is that in Asia 4 million biometric cell phones are already in use, and here we are posting about every new fingerprint enabled phone that comes our way like it's breaking news. The US definitely needs to step up. The people have spoken!

Albeit, it is a survey sponsored by a manufacturer, which to me always lessens the validity of it. AuthenTec is a great brand, but they did this to promote their products. When vendors/manufacturers have their hand in research surveys, it could always be a little biased.

Here are the survey findings yanked directly from the article.

In the PC and notebook computer segment, the survey shows that:

Younger consumers (18-44) are the most interested and are willing to pay the highest price for a biometrically-enabled device. 

Parents also showed a higher interest than non parents in adding the feature to PCs than non-parents - at 75 percent versus 58 percent.

43 percent are most interested in using fingerprint sensors to replace their computer or internet passwords

Navigating the cursor and automatically starting favorite programs were other key capabilities consumers were interested in using.

Three in ten (29 percent) said they would be willing to pay more than $25 for the additional feature.

In the wireless segment, the survey shows that:

71 percent are interested in adding fingerprint sensors to protect their sensitive and personal information stored on their cellular phone.

Overall, 32 percent would be willing to spend more than $25 to have the feature added to their cell phones, while nearly half (45 percent) of young adults (18-24) indicated they are willing to pay more than $25.

60 percent said they would like to use biometrically-enabled cellular phones as a replacement for their wallets - debit cards or credit cards -- to conduct purchases or online banking. Nearly half of those said they would be interested in using a biometric cell phone to purchase items from a store, while 30 percent for wireless banking, 27 percent to gain access to mass transit, and 25 percent for wireless shopping.

Parents, younger adults, and men are the most interested in using the cell phones as a replacement for their wallets.

While you're there...

A workshop will be held in Belgium late January by the BioSec consortium. This is their second workshop, to be themed 'Biometrics in everyday applications'.

More news on it here.

A refresher course - Biometrics 101

Once again, if you are new to this weblog and your knowledge on biometrics is a little fuzzy, take the time to read this article that will kinda catch you up. It relates to biometrics in the workplace, and what types and in what instances they are used.

You could, of course, just visit our 'About Biometrics' section on our corporate site, but if you want something super fresh (i.e. published yesterday), read this.

Biometrics: From science fiction to business reality.

A little less talk and a lot more action

Sure there have been some passive efforts to curb privacy abuse concerns when it comes to collecting biometric information. Promises made, articles breaking down mythes and the logistics of it.

But now we have the possibility of a law drafted in January that could begin the forward motion of many other initiatives to combat and dismiss the chances of privacy abuse or feature creap. This would open up doors for the technology, letting it be a viable consideration for environments that may not have wanted to deal with the issue of convincing users that the government wouldn't just come along and snatch up information to be used against them in something completely irrelevant to its orginal purpose.

It's definitely worth keeping an eye on.

New Jersey drafts bill for use of biometrics.

Cough up your identity. No pun intended.

Just when  you thought we have categorized, extracted, and identified  just about every human characteristic and behavioral trait possible, we might have found another in which to identify you with. Researchers have discovered that the cough is distinguishable among people, and can be recognized correctly just as easy as fingerprint or vein patters are.
It might seem silly to cough for security purposes, and sure will add to the alarming amount of bacteria in the air, but it might be practical in very specific instances, where medical reasons are a factor.

Coughing up who you are.

Well if BILL GATES says it, it HAS to be true.

The great leader speaks.
Let there be biometrics.

Bill Gates says smart cards are the future.

New DoD newsletter

The DoD has available its first issue of their newsletter. Instead of just paraphrasing what the Director said, I'll just post it here:

Welcome to the first edition of the DoD Biometric Bulletin. As part of its public outreach mission, DoD Biometrics is pleased to publish this bimonthly newsletter to help educate the national security community and the general public about biometric technologies and how they are being used by the Department.

Each edition of the DoD Biometric Bulletin will focus on a particular theme. The stories in this edition report on the Department's biometric standards development. The January 2005 newsletter will feature the work of the Biometrics Fusion Center.

This web-based publication also includes an Update section, with news of interest, and a Technology Spotlight, which highlights a DoD organization employing the latest biometric technology. I hope you find the Biometric Bulletin interesting and informative. Comments are always welcome. Thank you for your interest in DoD Biometrics.

Read the newsletter.