Biometric Consortium Subj: BioAPI Consortium Releases Reference Implementation
Date: 9/13/00 8:58:16 AM Eastern Daylight Time
From: AOL News
BCC: Bigkid53
BioAPI Consortium Releases Reference Implementation
GAITHERSBURG, Md., Sept. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- The BioAPI Consortium today announced the public release of Version 1.0 Beta of the BioAPI Reference Implementation. This follows the publication earlier this year of Version 1.0 of the BioAPI Specification. The BioAPI Specification defines an open system standard application program interface (API) which allows software applications to communicate with a broad range of biometric technologies. The Reference Implementation is the software instantiation of the BioAPI framework. The announcement was made at the Biometric Consortium 2000 Conference hosted by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). The Reference Implementation is available royalty-free as open source software. It can be downloaded from the BioAPI website (http://www.bioapi.org) or via the Biometrics Consortium website (http://www.biometrics.org).
The BioAPI Framework will allow software applications to be written to access a wide variety of biometric technologies in a uniform manner. Version 1.0 of the Framework Reference Implementation supports Win-32 operating systems, such as Microsoft(R) Windows(R) NT, '95, '98, and Windows 2000. It is designed for easy porting to other operating systems, such as Linux(TM) or Unix(TM). Companies contributing resources to develop the Reference Implementation include Intel, SAFLINK, IriScan, and Mytec Technologies Inc.
Colin Soutar, Chief Technology Officer at Mytec Technologies Inc. and Chair of the BioAPI Reference Implementation Working Group, said that, "The release of the BioAPI Reference Implementation today means that there is now a platform available for the seamless integration of applications and biometric devices. This will serve as a catalyst for the biometrics industry, by providing assurance to customers that the biometrics industry has matured to the point that a standard could not only be defined, but is now implemented."
Following today's release, a 45-day beta testing period will commence. This will allow the many BioAPI adopters to exercise the software and provide feedback to the development team. Soon thereafter, Version 1.1 of the Specification and Reference Implementation is expected to be released.
The Reference Implementation software package includes the framework source code (written in "C") and executables, as well as a sample application, a sample "password" Biometric Service Provider (BSP) module, a module registry edit application, and installers.
The BioAPI is the result of several years of collaborative effort of the biometrics industry, government, and major information technology vendors. The 60+ members comprising the BioAPI Consortium cover a broad cross section of biometric technology manufacturers, integrators, OEMs, and end users. This organization is international in scope, with over one-third of its membership being non-U.S. based.
The BioAPI Specification is available in the public domain and is royalty-free to all interested parties. It is an "open systems" specification, intended for use across a broad spectrum of computing environments to insure cross-platform support. This includes the Windows operating system as well as other environments such as UNIX and Linux.
The BioAPI supports a wide range of biometric technologies including fingerprint imaging, speaker verification, facial recognition, iris recognition, dynamic signature, and hand geometry. It is designed for use in a wide range of applications, extending from embedded devices (such as in cell phones) to large scale identification systems (such as national ID systems), as well as user authentication applications associated with computer and network access.
A presentation on the BioAPI and its status will be given on Thursday afternoon, 14 September, at the BC2000 Conference (http://www.nist.gov/bc2000).
About the BioAPI Consortium
The BioAPI Consortium was founded to develop a multi-level biometric Application Programming Interface (API) that brings platform and device independence to application programmers and biometric service providers. The BioAPI architecture accommodates a broad range of biometrics technologies, including face, fingerprint, hand, iris, signature, and speaker recognition, and is designed to meet the diverse needs of security administrators, systems integrators, value-added resellers, application developers and end users. Additional information about the BioAPI Consortium can be found at bioapi.org.
Additional Contacts -- BioAPI Consortium Steering Committee
Catherine Tilton (Chair), SAFLINK Corporation, 703-708-9280, ctilton@saflink.com
John Wilson (Technical Editor), Intel Corporation, 503-264-2713, john.h.wilson@intel.com
Fred Herr (Secretary), Unisys Corporation, 215-986-5933, fred.herr@unisys.com
Jim Cambier (Treasurer), IriScan, Inc., 856-797-6890, jcambier@iriscan.com
Fernando Podio (Chair, External Liaisons Working Group), National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST), 301-975-2947, fernando.podio@nist.gov
Colin Soutar (Chair, Reference Implementation), Mytec Technologies Inc., 416-467-3307, csou@mytec.com
John Hurd, Compaq Computer Corporation, 603-884-3758, john.hurd@compaq.com
BioAPI Membership
American Biometric Company, Authentec, Inc., Barclays Bank PLC (NYSE: BCS), BERGDATA USA, Inc., BioLink Technologies International, Biometric Identification Inc., BioNetrix, BioPassword Security Systems, Inc., BITS, Inc., Compaq Computer Corporation (NYSE: CPQ), Dialog Communications Systems AG, Digital Persona, eCrypt, Inc., Fidelica Microsystems, Inc., Hewlett-Packard (HYSE: HWP), Identix (Amex: IDX), Identification Systems DERMALOG GMBH, Image Computing Inc., Infineon Technologies (NYSE: IFX), Intel Corporation (Nasdaq: INTC), I/O Software, Inc., IriScan, Inc., ISC/US Inc., ITT Industries (NYSE: IIN), Janus Associates, Inc., J. Markowitz, Consultants, Kaiser Permanente, Keyware Technologies, Inc., LCI-SmartPen NV, Leading Edge Security Ltd., Miros, Inc., Mytec Technologies Inc. (Toronto: MYT), Nanyang Technological University, National Biometric Test Center, National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), National Security Agency (NSA), NEC Technologies, Inc., OKI Electric Industry Co., Ltd., Precise Biometrics, Presideo, Inc., Recognition Systems, Inc., SAFLINK Corporation (Nasdaq: ESAF), Sagem-Morpho Inc., SecuGen Corporation, Sensar, Inc., Startek Engineering, ST Microelectronics, Inc., Systemneeds, Inc., TechGuard Security, Transaction Security, Inc., Transforming Technologies, TRW Inc. (NYSE: TRW), Unisoft Corporation, Unisys Corporation (NYSE: UIS), Veridicom Inc., Viatec Research, Visionics Corporation, Who?Vision Systems, Inc.
NOTE: BioAPI(TM) is a registered trademark of the BioAPI Consortium. All other brands and products referenced herein are acknowledged to be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.
SOURCE BioAPI Consortium
CO: BioAPI Consortium
ST: Maryland
IN: BIO
SU: PDT
09/13/2000 08:57 EDT prnewswire.com |
