Other INS biometric projects . . .
I'm aware of two other INS biometric projects that aren't using fingerscans. The SENTRI project will use face scans for commuters along the US-Mexican border. The technology will be supplied by Visionics of Metuchen, NJ. The database will hold up to 50,000 files for a one to many match.
The more interesting project, mentioned earlier on the thread, is INSPASS, which has been run for four years in pilot. It's at JFK airport in NY, Newark (NJ) airport, and Pearson International Airport in Toronto. About 70,000 users -- frequent flyer types. So far, it hasn't worked out all that well, for several reasons:
(1) It's been inconvenient to reach the sign-up stations at the airports.
(2) "The original system was designed in a hurry. The software code was wrong. The hardware did not work, and the fingerprinting device that is now replaced with hand geometry failed abysmally," according to Tracy Day, the INS' project manager. [Per Government Computer News September 1997].
(3) INS has not publicized this system while the kinks were very slowly being worked out.
Presently, EDS is the contractor. It developed the INSPASS software. Recognition Systems Inc. supplies an optical scanner under the name Handkey. Handkey relies upon infrared light and digital cameras. [Per Access Control & Security Systems Integration Sept 1997].The user has to get registered with the INS, and gets a card. To use, the traveller goes to an automated kiosk tied into a mainframe and presents the card. Then the user gets the hand scan. [Per Crains NY Business Sept 8 1997].
More to come . . . |
