Friday, February 4, 2000
Canadian company helping Smith & Wesson develop 'smart' gun
By TOM COHEN -- The Associated Press
TORONTO (AP) -- A Canadian company has developed the technology for a handgun that requires fingerprint identification before it can be fired.
Mytec Technologies of Toronto is working with U.S. gun maker Smith & Wesson on the so-called "smart gun" intended to prevent anyone other than authorized users from shooting the weapon, officials of both companies said Friday.
The idea of a handgun that can be programmed to prevent accidental shootings is part of the weapons' industry response to gun control efforts in the United States and Canada.
Last week, President Clinton proposed $10 million in grants for gun makers to work on "smart gun" technology. Smith & Wesson has applied for such a grant, said Frank Chen, executive vice president of business development at Mytec.
Chen said the technology involves a scanner on the gun handle that reads the fingerprint, converting it into a digital representation.
Within milliseconds, the scanner checks the fingerprint against an authorized one stored inside. If it matches, the gun unlocks and can be fired.
"We have to miniaturize the scanning device and make it more user-friendly," Chen said, adding that further development depends on Smith & Wesson getting the U.S. grant.
Ken Jorgensen, director of public and media relations at Smith & Wesson, said the company was seeking about $3 million in grant money.
Jorgensen said a "smart" gun could reach the market by 2002. He declined to speculate how much it would sell for, but said it would cost more than conventional guns.
Critics question whether the fingerprint technology can effectively prevent unauthorized people, such as children who find their parents' gun or a robber who grabs a homeowner's weapon, from firing off shots. |
