Biometrics Security News and Information

Software as a Service

The Software as a Service Concept

How many of you out there have heard of this new buzz word???  Another name for it is “SaaS”.  Essentially, this is a service where “ . . . a provider licenses an application to customers for use as a service on demand.  SaaS software vendors may host the application on their own web servers or download the application to the consumer device, disabling it after use or after the on-demand contract expires.”  (SOURCE:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Software_as_a_service).

Most of the SaaS applications these days are hosted at the hundreds of Internet Service Providers. 

For example, with my ISP, Exchange Server is a hosted application, and thus it can be considered as a SaaS, because there are other communication functions associated with it (like IM, Wireless) which are not related to E-Mail.

The SaaS function is making its way into the Biometrics world.  This is exemplified by the fact of the strategic alliance just announced between the Communications Intelligence Corporation (CIC) and enTrust & Title Enterprise. 

The former is a Biometrics/Security Vendor, and provides Signature Recognition solutions.  The latter is an escrow and title based in Dubai, and is apparently the first of its kind there.

Under the statutes of this agreement,  Signature Recognition solutions will be provided on the enTrust & Title Enterprise software system, and together, this will be bundled as a SaaS offering.  Here are the details of it:  “Under the terms of the agreement, CIC is providing its industry proven electronic signature technology to perform biometric verification of handwritten signatures on enTrust's enTTE system, an enterprise system SaaS platform to eliminate misrepresentation and provide additional layers of security for title and escrow transactions. The combined offering will be available and support multiple hosts in multiple countries enabling real-time verification of biometric signatures and the binding of signatures to the documents with enTrust & Title documents.”  (SOURCE:  http://findbiometrics.com/industry-news/i/7626/).

Final Thoughts On Today’s Posting

Apart from user convenience, one of the biggest advantages of this type of SaaS offering is the increased and higher levels of Security and protection, both the for the service provider and the customer involved. 

In the application described in this Posting, all three sides of the real estate party are protected, namely the buyer, the seller, and the landlord/tenants (if this is a rental type of agreement).

For example, “ . . . The issues of legal ownership, authority to enter into contract, registration of deed, misrepresentation, financial disclosures, and non-availability of documents in time for a resale, are resolved when using the enTrust's Escrow Services.”  (SOURCE:  http://findbiometrics.com/industry-news/i/7626/). 

As I am writing this Posting, another new thought came to my mind.  I have been a proponent of hosted Biometric Solutions, very much like hosted e-Commerce and Web Hosting solutions. 

This offers great advantages, especially in terms of cost savings to small business owners who could not normally afford a Biometric Solution for their place of business or organization.

I have written a number of Postings about this this year, but instead, of offering Biometrics as 100% solution, why not make it SaaS offering, and bundle it with other packages which are already hosted???  

For example, earlier in this Posting I had written about Exchange Server in my hosting plan.  Why not bundle that with a Biometrics Solution to offer extra layers of protection???

This way, the customer will be more ept to choose a Biometrics Solution, rather than buying a hosted solution separately.  As a result, this will greatly enhance  the acceptance of Biometrics in the long term.

Software as a Service is the big and coming thing (along with Web 2.0), so why can’t Biometrics be a part of it and capitalize upon this trend???

Food for thought . . . .

Source for this Posting:  http://findbiometrics.com/industry-news/i/7626/

Checking Out

Tracking Your Keys Down

How many times have you lost or fumbled for your keys???  Are you always paranoid of getting your keys back after you have loaned them out???

Except for my passwords, I am next protective of my keys, even if I loan them out to my best friends.

Well, a hospital in Manchester, United Kingdom is a perfect case of keys being lost and misplaced by their employees.  In fact, the “ . . . Manchester NHS Trust hospital . . . [lost] . . . over £6,000 within a 2-year period in re-keying and replacement locks alone. Further costs were incurred in the tracking down of lost / mislaid keys and trying to identify which employee last had the particular key.”  (SOURCE:  http://www.biometricnewsportal.com/biometrics_news3.asp?articleid=264097&arttitle=Kalamazoo-Reynolds%20KeyTrak%20allows%20the%20pharmacy%20workers%20at%20Manchester%20hospital%20to%20remove%20keys%20without%20supervision). 

To help combat this problem, the hospital implemented a solution known as “KeyTrak”.  In other word, the employee or worker of the hospital has to sign out for the keys. 

But what is unique about this that rather than using the traditional password, Biometrics are used for Verification, in order to insure that right person is taking out the appropriate key.  In this case, Fingerprint Recognition is primarily used.

Final Thoughts On Today’s Posting

This system possesses a number of key benefits.  First, the keys can only be issued for a maximum period of eight and a half hours.  This is a Security measure to help insure that employees do not take the keys issued to them to unauthorized places, such as their home. 

And, if it does happen, an alarm is sounded, and the contact information of the employee whom has the overdue key will appear.

Second, this system, based upon the article I read, appears to be very easy to install and implement, with minimal amounts of effort needed.  Just like other Biometric Devices, the KeyTrak system can either operate as a standalone unit or in a networked environment.

Third, with this system, only the person who checked out the key can return it, and nobody else.  This is analagous to the problem of buddy punching in Time and Attendance applications.

I think this is the second type of Posting I have written about in which Biometrics are used to “check something out”.  The only other application I have written about which comes close to this is the use of Biometrics in subsidized school programs, in which children can use their Fingerprint to pay for a school lunch. 

The Fingerprint System Verifies the child, and after Verification, the money for the school lunch is then deducted from the appropriate account.

As Biometrics become cheaper and easier to implement, we will probably see much more of its use to “check out things.”  A perfect example of this would be your local library. 

Rather than using the traditional library card to check out your book, you can use your Fingerprint to check it out, or if it is a more sophisticated Biometric System, perhaps an Iris Scan or even a Facial Scan be used.

In my view, the “checking out application” could very well help with the public perception and acceptance of Biometrics.  Take for example once again, your local library. 

If Biometrics were implemented nationwide for such an application, the public will see how easy it is to use Biometrics, and the benefits and advantages it has (such as not having to wait in a long line to check out your book).

However, education to the public will be key here.  For example, some years ago, at my local grocery store, a Fingerprint System was used so people could pay for their groceries with their Fingerprint. 

The Fingerprint was associated with their respective Checking Account number, and the appropriate amount was then deducted a couple of days later.  But because of the lack of education to the customer, this  created a very luke warm demand for the new way to check out your groceries, this resulted in the Fingerprint System being discontinued months later.

So, here is a novel and old fashioned concept for Biometrics:  Checking out.

Source for this Posting:  http://www.biometricnewsportal.com/biometrics_news3.asp?articleid=264097&arttitle=Kalamazoo-Reynolds%20KeyTrak%20allows%20the%20pharmacy%20workers%20at%20Manchester%20hospital%20to%20remove%20keys%20without%20supervision

Remote Locations

Remote Access

Here is something I have not talked about or mentioned previously in other Postings:  The ability to carry out Verification and/or Identification tasks remotely.

Well, a Biometrics/Security Vendor known as “CEM Systems” has just announced it has launched a new type of Fingerprint Reader, which is portable, and can carry out transactions remotely.  This new product is called the “S3020f Portable Fingerprint Reader”.

Here are the details of it:  “Unlike comparable solutions that save fingerprint templates only to a smart card, the S3020f reader captures fingerprint templates on the central CEM AC2000 access control enrolment station. Fingerprints are read and encoded as numerical values on the AC2000 database, meaning that physical fingerprints cannot be stored or copied. All data is subsequently saved to the AC2000 server and uniquely distributed to the S3020f reader for local storage in its internal database. Verification is then carried out by comparing this number against the S3020f reader internal database.”  (SOURCE:  http://www.biometricnewsportal.com/biometrics_news3.asp?articleid=264059&arttitle=CEM%20S3020f%20Portable%20Fingerprint%20Reader%20allows%20random%20ID%20card%20and%20fingerprint%20security%20checks%20to%20be%20carried%20out%20at%20temporary%20entrances).

Final Thoughts On Today’s Posting

This new type of Fingerprint Reader has a rather massive database, compared to some of the other products I have mentioned recently in the past couple of months.  For example, up to 100,000 Biometric Fingerprint Templates can be stored, and up to 8,000 Verification and/or Identification transactions in an offline mode.

This product also supports a number of different types of Smart Card Technologies, including the HID iClass, MiFare Smart Card, etc. 

So what do I exactly mean by remote access??? 

It is mentioned in the quote above.  Like in all other types of Biometric devices (whether it is Facial Recognition, Fingerprint Recognition, Iris Recognition, etc.) all of the Enrollment and Verification Templates are stored within the database of that particular device, or the information and data is transmitted to a central server, in a client server topology. 

For purposes of this Posting, this can be considered to be the first place of storage.

But what is unique about this application is that this information and data is then transmitted to the various Fingerprint Readers, which are then stored in its local database.  Also for purposes of this Posting, this can be considered to the be the second place of storage.

Security is guaranteed, and one Security measure taken is to assign numerical values to the Biometric Templates which are contained at the first place of storage.  These values are then compared to the numerical values which are assigned to the Biometric Templates in the second place of storage.

In other words, multiple storage is allowed, and a redundant system is in place.  Because of this level of redundancy, a feature known as “Occupancy Mode.”  For example, this “ . . . allows a head count of individuals in a defined area. This prevents card sharing and provides the ability to do spot checks on a set group of people in a particular zone. For example, patrolling checks can be performed on workers coming into construction sites on buses to ensure that all passengers have authorised access.”  (SOURCE:  http://www.biometricnewsportal.com/biometrics_news3.asp?articleid=264059&arttitle=CEM%20S3020f%20Portable%20Fingerprint%20Reader%20allows%20random%20ID%20card%20and%20fingerprint%20security%20checks%20to%20be%20carried%20out%20at%20temporary%20entrances).

Probably the biggest advantage of this product is that it allows for the Verification and/or Identification of various workers and other types of employees at remote locations where there is no permanent office or business infrastructure, and where a constant source of power can be a big problem.

During the course of this year, I have written a couple of Postings as to how this remote type of application can be used for the Health Care industry, especially for those workers who are mobile and have to provide for care for people (especially the elderly) at their individual homes.

Keeping accurate hours worked, document verification, keeping track of the employee’s geographic location of work, etc., has always been a big problem. 

A recent solution adopted for this was the use of Cellular Phone technology.  But as I write this Posting, I think this new type of Fingerprint Reader could possibly work just as well.

Yesterday I wrote about Biometrics being used for the small business, and today it is about Biometrics for the temporary locations.  I think the latter will hold more promise in the coming year, as we have an even bigger remote and more mobile workforce worldwide.

Source for this Posting:  http://www.biometricnewsportal.com/biometrics_news3.asp?articleid=264059&arttitle=CEM%20S3020f%20Portable%20Fingerprint%20Reader%20allows%20random%20ID%20card%20and%20fingerprint%20security%20checks%20to%20be%20carried%20out%20at%20temporary%20entrances

The Small Business

The Family Business

Just a quick note to my subscribers:  My Postings this week will be shorter than normal, due to the fact that I am away for two weeks for the holidays.  However, I still want to keep all of you informed of what is happening in Biometrics worldwide, so here we go.

One of the most common applications for Biometrics, as I have written many times, has been about Time and Attendance Applications, especially here in the United States.  When one thinks about this type of application, one often thinks of the large factories and warehouses which use Biometrics to keep track of their employees.

However, Time and Attendance applications are now making their to the family business.  I just came across an article which profiles such an example.  The business is based out of the United Kingdom, and is called “Frostree, Ltd.”  They just opened a new factory in a location known as Stockton.

They just deployed a Fingerprint Scanner to record and monitor the various check in and check out times of their employees.

Here are the details of this implementation:  “The biometric time and attendance system was supplied and fitted by Blaydon based North East Time Recorders and will automatically calculate payroll, saving on administration costs. There is an added health and safety benefit since the system provides accurate information on exactly who is in the building in the event of emergency. The biometric system is the latest in a long line of attendance systems Frostree have commissioned from North East Time Recorders over two decades.”  (SOURCE:  http://www.biometricnewsportal.com/biometrics_news3.asp?articleid=264130&arttitle=Frostree%20deploys%20biometric%20fingerprint%20scanner%20to%20record%20time%20and%20attendance).

Final Thoughts On Today’s Posting

Biometrics will for sure play a very pivotal role in this company as they expand into the future.  According to the article, they are planning to increase their workforce from fifty employees to thirty employees in the coming year.

As the global recession hopefully eases its grip by next year as predicted, Biometric Time an Attendance Solutions will for sure be making their way from the large factories and warehouses to the smaller based businesses, such as the one described in this Posting.

With more money and capital to spend hopefully by next year, it could very well be the small business which leads the way for Biometrics into the coming decade.

Source for this Posting:  http://www.biometricnewsportal.com/biometrics_news3.asp?articleid=264130&arttitle=Frostree%20deploys%20biometric%20fingerprint%20scanner%20to%20record%20time%20and%20attendance

A Quicker Way To Do e-Commerce

New Patents Awarded

In my view, whenever a Patent is awarded to a Biometrics/Security Vendor, I consider that to be a “good news biometrics.”  To me, it shows active Research and Development taking place.  I think it is very important to note in Postings as to when Patents were awarded, and the details of them.

Well, today, I came across a Press Release in which a Biometrics/Security Vendor known as “ImageWare Systems, Inc.” was just recently awarded two major patents by the United States Trademark and Patent Office.

The first patent deals with the way Biometric information and data is extracted and managed, in Multimodal Security Solutions. 

Here are some of the details:  “The first new patent (# 7,596,246) details ImageWare's intellectual property as it relates to scalable, multimodal biometric data management by using multiple, disparate biometric matching technologies and a "router" by which this data can be created, managed and queried.”  (SOURCE:  http://findbiometrics.com/industry-news/i/7614/).

The second patent deals with the processing of the various Biometric Template in the Verification and/or Identification of the individual seeking authorization. 

 Here are some of the details:  “The second new patent (# 7,606,396) defines the process by which multiple biometric modalities can be combined to accurately identify one or more individuals.”  (SOURCE:  http://findbiometrics.com/industry-news/i/7614/).

Final Thoughts On Today’s Posting

So as one can see, these Patents awarded deal primarily with the use of way or another of Multimodal Biometric Solutions.

In the past couple of weeks, I have described the results of surveys and findings conducted by various types of organizations in which they discovered that the respondents to these studies highly favored some newer and more sophisticated method of authentication rather than using the traditional password.

In fact, see yesterday’s Posting about the use of Voice Recognition, and the strong advantages it possesses for password resets.

These studies also indicated that respondents had a much more favorable view of Biometrics, if it is used in regards to replacing the password once and for all.

I think 2010 could prove to be a great year and boon for the Biometrics Industry in this regard. 

Hopefully as the global recession starts to ease its grip and people have much more purchasing power than they have currently, e-Commerce and other types of online shopping hopefully will pick up.

And with these types of activities picking up, the demand for quick and easy authentication to online e-Commerce resources will be in greater demand, translating into a stronger demand for Multimodal Biometric Solutions. 

Take for example, you find a product you want to buy online.  You try to login into your account, and you cannot remember your password, or for some reason it does not go through the authentication process. 

You have to call tech support, have a new password issued, go through the authentication process all over again, and finally purchase your item which many no longer even be there.

I am not saying that Multimodal Biometric Solutions will have all the answers, and it certainly has its fair share of flaws just like any other piece of technology or Security. 

But just picture this in your mind:  Imagine the above scenario versus being able to log into your e-Commerce account with just a swipe of your Fingeprint or your Iris, or perhaps even both. 

Not only will you be able to make your purchase you wanted to very quickly and easily, but the e-Commerce Vendor will have one happy customer, who with a much higher probability of coming back for repeat business, rather than the frustrated customer who could not login properly the first time with just a password.

Who knows, perhaps this could be the theme for Biometrics in 2010:  “A quicker way to do e-Commerce”.

Only time will tell.

Source for this Posting:  http://findbiometrics.com/industry-news/i/7614/

A Win-Win-Win Situation

Those Annoying Passwords

Usernames and passwords have been for the longest time the de facto standard for logging into a network, your computer (whether work or personal), and for e-Commerce.  But how many Passwords do you have? 

I think when I first started in the IT field, I only had one.  I was doing my MBA back then, and the Internet was just starting to make its way.  We still relied on the good ole mainframes for data access and communications. 

The worst part was, since nobody was chained to their e-mail frequently as it is now, professors would often pop in a sneak homework assignment on the mainframe e-mail.  And, if you did not check, ARGHH!!!!

Well, as the Internet and e-Commerce grew, so did the need for multiple passwords.  People tried to keep this easy, by using the same password for multiple applications, but as Identity Theft and Phishing became the Security Threat trend, password entropy became a critical issue. 

As a result, people had to not only create multiple passwords, but design them in such a way that they are almost impossible to remember, unless you are supporter of the “Post It Syndrome”, which is essentially sticking your multiple number of passwords on a Post It Note, and attaching it to your computer monitor.

Well, then came Biometrics, and this has offered (and continues to do so) a much needed relief to the use passwords, in which you can log into and/or be verified with a single scan of your Fingerprint or Iris. 

However, the use of Biometrics has not done away with passwords entirely yet, as it is mostly used a Multimodal Security Solution in these types of applications.

So while the nemesis of passwords still linger with us, so do the headaches for the IT department who has to maintain and enforce the Security policies associated with usernames and passwords. 

Probably the biggest headache is that of password resets.  Every time you forget your password, you have to call IT support and have them reset it for you.

Well, there could be a possible solution to this, which will result in a win-win for all sides involved. 

A Biometrics/Security Vendor known as “PerSay” has just announced that one of its customers, an e-Banking site, is using its Voice Biometrics Solution in a way that customers can reset their own passwords, without the need of the IT Department.

Here are some details:  “This deployment marks a new era in the utilization of Voice Biometrics technology by financial services - enhancing the security of web sites and web-based transactions, enabling convenient multi-factor authentication. While current authentication processes mostly rely on information provided by customers ("something you know") that can be easily stolen, guessed, or retrieved, the new process combines biometrics ("something you are") as an additional factor, delivering higher security, which is in-line with emerging financial regulations . . . This is a new innovative self-service application, enabling customers to reset their eBanking password 24/7. It also replaces a costly and inconvenient manual questioning routine and eliminates the need to wait for a live agent.”  (SOURCE:  http://findbiometrics.com/industry-news/i/7619/).

Final Thoughts On Today’s Posting

To be honest, this is the first time I have seen Voice Biometrics being used not only for Verification and/or Identification, but also for password resets.  In my view, this holds great promise, as the need for eliminating passwords will be an immediate, booming market trend.

I think what I like about this the most is that you, the customer, has entire control over your own password.  In theory, yes, most applications do give this freedom, but in reality, it hardly ever happens.  The financial sector will see immediate gains from this, as it is evident from this Posting. 

For example, if a customer, wants to place an overnight trade, and if they cannot remember their password, they can immediately reset any time of day or night, and continue with their trade.  Under traditional methods, the customer would have to wait until the next business day, contact IT Support, have their password reset, then place their trade. 

This lag time could mean lost profits for the customer.

Apart from the customer, the IT Department has a lot to be gained as well from this type of Biometrics Solution.  Their efforts and attention can be more focused on the critical Security tasks rather than the mundane and overburdening tasks of password resets for their users.

Finally, the place of business or organization, will stand to receive great benefits as well, primarily in terms of cost savings.  It costs an average of $250 to reset a password for one person per year.  If it is a large business, these costs can add up substantially, and very quickly. 

This type of Voice Biometrics Solution can be a great winner for all types of organizations and businesses, especially in today’s economic climate.

So, in the end, yes, it is a win-win-win for all parties involved:  The end user, the IT Department, and the place of business or organization.

Source for this Posting:  http://findbiometrics.com/industry-news/i/7619/

To Our Politicians

Border Control

Here in the United States, to some degree or another, we are always hearing about our border we share to the south with Mexico.  Every day, we hear of illegals crossing into the border and back, etc. 

Keeping track of who enters and exits the United States has always been a big task for the Federal Government, since there are millions upon millions of people who are not accounted for.  In other words, these people become illegal immigrants.

There has been serious consequences because of illegal immigrants, or so it is claimed.  These claims range the gamut from job loss to infringement of Federal Government benefits intended for US Citizens. 

Border Control and Border Security is one of the biggest headaches we have, and there have been many attempts at Legislations to help alleviate the problem, but to of no significant avail yet.

Border Control and Border Protection is not just a problem here in the United States, it is worldwide (although we seem to get most of the attention).  And because of this , it is going to be a growing market for all types of Security and Biometrics Vendors.

Let’s take the case of Europe.  According to an analysis conducted by “Frost and Sullivan” (I have written about their research and findings in previous Postings), the European Border Control market is expected to reach revenues of close to $287 Million by the year 2015.

It is expected that Biometrics will be at the forefront of this expansion, especially Multimodal Biometric Solutions (although the Press Release did not exactly specify which ones, a lot of attention has been given to Facial Recognition and Iris Recognition).

Final Thoughts On Today’s Posting

Among other things, this analysis stressed the need for the Biometrics Vendors worldwide to address Privacy Rights Issues, and to find ways to gain public acceptance for the use of Biometrics in Border Control applications. 

Funny thing, haven’t I been talking about this all year???

However, the implementation of hi tech Border Control Systems, especially the use of Biometrics, has been slow, partly because of the global recession, and greatly increased competition amongst all of the Security/Biometrics Vendors.

As I write this Posting, I am taking a pause here to reflect as to why there have been no significant results in the deployment of Border Control systems at least here, in the United States ??? (I have not been to Europe for a long time, so I cannot speak from that vantage point).

Just don’t blame the current economic conditions.

I mean we have the technology and the people, but why is it such a problem???  I find a lot of fault to be on the politicians.  I recognize the fact that Security/Biometrics Vendors simply cannot go the border with Mexico and simply install things, because these are international borders, and approval from the Federal Government is obviously required.

To me, it seems that the politicians can never agree on anything and there is always bickering and arguing as to how a hi tech Border Control system will look like.  There needs to be some sort of plan put together, and how this thing will evolve and be implemented. 

But of course, bickering and arguing happen at all levels of Federal Legislation, the best, recent example with that is of healthcare reform.

Also, once a plan is achieved (if ever), there also needs to be a quick selection process of the Security/Biometrics Vendors whom will be providing the Security technology, on part of the politicians also. 

I mean, we live in a capitalistic society, so the bids should be put in, and the best will be selected.  Why is this such a time consuming process???

So, to our politicians, yes, there are other critical issues, but Border Control is at the top of them.  Stop the bickering and arguing, get the required Legislations passed, and let’s start implementing and protect our borders. 

It’s about time.  I mean if other countries around the world can have a better grasp on their Border Control issues, why can’t we???

And finally, think of the side benefit:  Job creation and economic stimulus. 

With quick passing of Legislation with regards to Border Control, more jobs will be created, there will be more spending on the side of the private sector, and above, all American jobs will stay in America.

Source for this Posting:  http://findbiometrics.com/industry-news/i/7618/

One Day At A Time

More Predictions

Well, as I have predicted, this month, being the last of 2009, will see predictions of the future Biometrics blossoming.  Just last week I wrote about Biometrics/Security Vendor coming out with their predictions, and today, I came across a Press Release from a different organization with projections on a more macro level than the Posting from last week.

The organization is a Market Research firm known as “Frost and Sullivan”.  They just released a news analysis, with predictions about Biometrics.  Some of the predictions include:

*Europe, Africa, and the Middle East will be among the fastest growing markets;

*By the year 2015, the Biometrics market in these geographic regions will be as much as 25.5% from last year (2008);

*The Biometric Technologies gaining the most attention will be Hand Geometry Recognition, Iris Recognition, Facial Recognition, Voice Recognition, and Signature Recognition;

*Physical Access Entry, Single Sign On Solutions, Identity Management, Border Control/Border Protection,  Security Documents, and Time and Attendance will be big market drivers;

*Smart Cards will be of prime importance, especially those with Fingerprint Biometric templates implemented into them.

Final Thoughts On Today’s Posting

This analysis also discovered some other trends in the Biometrics market, of which I have been discussing throughout this year.  First, it appears that the consumer still views Biometrics as a viable solution, in addition to other Security measures being taken. 

However, will this translate into purchasing power for Biometrics???  Who knows, given the state of the global recession.

Second, as eluded in the last sentence, this global recession has taken a severe toll on IT/Security Budgets, which in turn has affected the Biometrics market, without a doubt. 

But I would not say Biometrics in the red like other industries, it is still in the black, still achieving slow and steady growth, as I have hypothesized previously.

Third, it appears that the various Governments in these countries will probably continue to be primary driver for Biometrics. 

For example, the various International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO for short) and European Legislations and Mandates have been the primary push for the National ID Card and e-Passport infrastructures in Europe.

Fourth, it will be of prime importance for Biometric Vendors of all types and sizes to hone in conveying the benefits of Biometrics to their customers, as well as potential customers. 

Also, people will want to see a quick Rate of Return on their investment with Biometric Products and Solutions they purchase.

In my views, I actually agree with most of the findings of this analysis.  However, I am not sure if I agree, with the predicted rate of growth by 2015.  Who knows what is going to happen next year, let alone five  years from now, in this volatile economy.

I strongly agree that the various Governments will be the primary market driver for Biometrics, and that Smart Cards with a Biometric Template implemented into them, and the need to convey to customers the perceived benefits of Biometrics will be amongst the key issues and trends next year, in 2010. 

I think Smart Cards could very well be the number one emerging Security technology.  I think it’s hard to specify exactly what type of Biometric Technology will be the key ingredient to go with them, especially given the great advances we have seen with Iris Recognition. 

As I see these projections, it’s great to forecast what will be happening five years from now or even ten years from now, but as a technical writer about Biometrics, personally,  I am much more interested in what is going to happen in 2010 rather than 2015.

In my view, we should have projections that are not so far out into the future.  Let’s just focus on the present, and how that will impact the immediate future, like how the trends in 2009 will lend itself and affect the Biometrics market in 2010.

 I guess I tend to be more of a realist.  In other words, one day at a time.

Source for this Posting:  http://findbiometrics.com/industry-news/i/7611/

The New Embracing The Old

Airport Security

Airports, in my opinion, are probably one of the most secured places in the world.  Of course, this is a very broad and subjective hypothesis, and it depends on which airport you are talking about. 

For instance, the international airport in Israel, is undoubtedly one of the best secured in the world.  And, if you look at some airports here in the United States, they are probably among the most unsecured in the world.

But overall, when one talks about Security, airports and airlines are always among the first to come to mind.  There have been many programs instituted to greatly increase that level of Security, from the e-Passport to the US VISIT Program, which both involve Biometrics.

Well today, I came across a Press Release which announces the strategic partnership between two Biometrics/Security Vendors in an effort to revive what is known as the “Registered Traveler” Program. 

Apparently, this program was held in place (or suspended) as of June, 2009.  The Vendors are known as “FLO Corporation” and “Cogent Systems”.

The former will work with the latter to help leverage the power of Biometrics in the Registered Traveler Program, and to get the frequent flier enrolled into it.  Here are some of the details of this:  “FLO Corporation, the nation’s leading Registered Traveler (RT) services provider today announced an agreement with Cogent Systems, a global biometric identification solutions provider to governments, law enforcement agencies and commercial enterprises. Under the terms of the agreement the companies will work together to leverage Cogent’s national network of over 1,000 biometric enrollment locations for frequent travelers to enroll in the TSA-sponsored RT program. Additionally, Cogent and FLO are working together with airports to restore RT services and develop next-generation solutions for travelers.”  (SOURCE:  http://findbiometrics.com/industry-news/i/7596/).

Final Thoughts On Today’s Posting

Well, I look at this as just another avenue to increase Security.  It seems like after 9/11, the Federal Government has poured tons of money into improving the Security at airports here in the United States. 

But, where are the results???  I guess, on a different plane, this can be compared to all of the bailout and stimulus packages.  Lots of money spent, but unemployment keeps rising.

We have introduced a lot of Legislations and Mandates into Security here in the United States, with a lot of fancy terminology and buzzwords.  But seriously, where are the results???  Do you feel safer travelling through airports???

I for one am certainly not.  Although it has been about six months since I have last travelled by airplane, the Security was a total joke.  The same thing, x-ray your belt, x-ray your shoes, walk through a metal detector, put all fluids into a zip lock bag, etc.  To me, this is all hollow Security. 

There is no substance behind it.

What I mean by substance is that the employees and the Security guards who are supposed to be doing their job, in my opinion, were not.  When they were inspecting the people in front of me, I took notice of the lackadaisical approach the Security personnel had about their job. 

It seemed to me they were just there to collect their paycheck, and the passion for protecting the airport and the passengers was not even there.  They were looking at the X-Ray machines as if it were some old black and white movie.

To have true Security, we need to go back to the old fashioned ways.  We seriously need to train our airport Security personnel to become much more proactive and vigilant in the people they examine.  In other words, they need to have a passion as well as a strong level of motivation to do their job. 

We need to have our Security personnel look like real Security personnel, and not just some person off the street. 

In other words, when a passenger makes eye contact with a Security personnel at the airport, and vice versa, their needs to be a certain level of fear instilled so the passenger knows that they will be thoroughly examined.

What’s it going to take to improve the level of vigilance and motivation???

 I have argued about this subject before, and while there are a lot of factors which go into it, some of the key variables will be extensive training, a much higher salary (I think airport Security personnel, for the most part are paid here in the United States, a very meager hourly wage).  Hopefully this will instill a sense of self worth and pride about the job they are doing.

I have travelled extensively overseas, and I have seen Security personnel at airports in the Middle East, Mumbai (India), Bangkok (Thailand), as well as Hong Kong. 

In my view, they are much more proactive and passionate about Security and in comparison to us, by leaps and bounds.  I mean if places around the world can do it, how come we can’t??? I just don’t get it.

Yea, yea, we can keep pouring tons and tons of money and have a lot of fancy buzzwords, and have the latest and greatest technology, but it all means nothing in the long run until the new meets the old.

Source for this Posting:  http://findbiometrics.com/industry-news/i/7596/

Retail Shopping

In The Backroom

To all of my subscribers out there, how many of you worked part time in a retail store as you were going to school???

Well, I did, and one of main tasks was to work in the backroom of the retail store, and help manage and organize the shipping, inventory, and deliver processes so the customer could buy the product easily and readily without any hassle.

Backroom operations, in whatever type of business it is in, especially in retail, can be quite a frantic and very tedious task.  Well, a Biometrics/Security Vendor known as “Zetes” has just announced that it has a implemented a Voice Recognition System in a retail store outfit known as “Argos”.

This has been deployed in some 130+ retail stores of Argos, in an effort to make such backroom tasks much more efficient and effective.  In fact, Argos has already noticed significant improvements.  For example, “Since introducing the voice solution, Argos has seen significant process improvements through reduced time to the final sale point . . . Working in this innovative way has been proven to improve Argos' put-away process efficiency by up to 24 percent.”  (SOURCE:  http://findbiometrics.com/industry-news/i/7600/).

The Voice Recognition Solution is used to notify the workers of the retail store where to put the product, and has also allowed for the efficient placement of product in the backroom so that it can be delivered on the shelf to customers, and on demand and in a quick manner should the product run out on the sales floor. 

As a result, this means that the smaller retail stores can hold more and varied types of products in their inventory, because everything is much more organized in the backroom than what was once before.

Final Thoughts On Today’s Posting

Apparently, from the Press Release from which I got this story, this is the first time this type of Biometric Solution has been implemented in either the United Kingdom or even in the entire European Union.

This Biometrics solution obviously has far reaching advantages other than just making the customer very happy (which is obviously the most important one). 

By having the backroom streamlined in such a manner as described in this Posting, product can be put away without any mistakes, thus greatly reducing any costs to the retailer because of any errors made in placing the product on the shelf.

Also, when people are hired and trained to become assistant managers, there will be less time needed to move them from a “training state” to a “productive state”, because much less time will be needed to train the new recruits on where product actually has to be placed.

For example, when I was being trained as an Assistant Manager for a retail outfit here in Chicago, three months were literally spent in training me where product was to be placed.  It was overall a four month training program, and if this type of Biometrics Solution had been in place when I was working in retail, I could have been productive, in terms of payroll, just after one month.

It will be interesting to see of this Biometrics solution will hit the retail stores here in the United States.  My guess it will be awhile, primarily because of the recession and the lack of buying power on the consumer.

It would sure be nice to see this kind of Biometrics solution rolled out during the Christmas Holidays and especially, on Black Friday when shopping happens the most here in the United States.

 It would also be great  for the back to school season, especially for the office supply stores, as this is their prime buying season.

Source for this Posting:  http://findbiometrics.com/industry-news/i/7600/