Newsletter cont'd
Toronto, ON. - Mytec Technologies Inc. announced that it will be displaying its portable biometric technology, MPAD (Mytec Portable Authentication Device), in the
Infineon booth at the upcoming CardTech SecureTech exhibition at the Miami Convention Center from May 2nd to May 4th. A number of different implementations of the
MPAD technology will be displayed, including a cellular telephone and a PDA (personal digital assistant). MPAD provides the same features of operation as the biometric
module developed by Mytec last year for the Smith and Wesson "smart gun" program.
mytec.com
Southborough, MA. - Network World Inc., hosted a week-long Web debate on www.nwfusion.com about the controversial use of biometrics for security purposes. Barry
Steinhardt, Associate Director of the ACLU, argued that biometric technology--the use of fingerprints and other personal attributes to identify individuals--robs us of our
right to live our daily lives without being scrutinized and may be tantamount to a "Big Brother" assault on personal liberties. Samir Nanavati, a partner with International
Biometric Group, argued that biometrics provide the safest way for companies to protect their networks and that, in fact, there are several inherent characteristics of
biometric technology that preclude the types of abuses privacy advocates fear. For example, biometric technologies do not store or replicate pictures of fingerprints or iris
patterns, and therefore cannot be used for secondary purposes. The Face-off is just one part of an in-depth special issue on security and Biometrics in the workplace that
Network World will publish on May 8. The issue will also appear online at www.nwfusion.com . Included in the issue will be:
-- A feature titled "The Enemy Within," a look at how companies should be concerned about threats from inside their corporate halls.
-- A look at how biometrics can be used in the enterprise.
-- Reviews of biometric products like fingerprint scanners, face recognition scanners, etc.
-- Highlights from a survey on the issue of security in corporate nets.
During the week of May 8, visitors to the Network World Fusion site at www.nwfusion.com were invited to join the debate to learn more about the controversy
surrounding biometrics. Visitors were able to post their questions in the online forum at www.nwfusion.com , and received timely responses from both Steinhardt and
Nanavati.
The International Biometric Industry Association (IBIA) published Volume II, Number 8 of its online newsletter, "Biometrics Advocacy Report." The newsletter is available at
ibia.org . The article in this issue is ?Application by Application, IBIA Sets Forth How Biometric Technologies Can Meet New Statutory Mandates
to Safeguard Financial Privacy.?
In the May 2000 issue of Government Computer News, (State & Local) be sure to check out the GCN Lab reviews of three speech recognition software programs that
deliver voice recognition applications.
gcn.com
Burlington, VT. - Applied Biometrics Products, Inc. announced at the International Security Conference and Exposition held in March, their Kryptic Entry(TM) product
which provides fingerprint identification security and convenience to any existing home and commercial alarm system with an arm/disarm input. Kryptic Entry(TM) can be
used with any manufacturer's alarm system that has an arm/disarm input. It can be used in place of, or together with, standard keypads at any exit and control locations.
Kryptic Entry(TM) is totally standalone, requiring no connection to the existing keypad or the alarm system's data communication lines. Low power requirements allow it
to be operated from the existing alarm system's power supply, so there's no AC transformer or additional power supply required. The company reports that the device will
cost under $109 in distributor quantities.
appliedbiometrics.net
Sherman Oaks, CA. - Biometric Identification, Inc. announced that their advanced Veriprox readers are being used to secure access to E*TRADE's facilities. The
integrated reader used by E*TRADE leverages fingerprint verification and HID proximity card reader technology to hinder unauthorized access via lost or stolen proximity
cards by requiring that the fingerprint of the person seeking entry match the identity of the cardholder. The Veriprox incorporates Biometric ID's business card-sized
fingerprint verification module (MV1100), a proximity card reader and communication interfaces in a small modern case that easily fits on a standard door frame. Key
features include: One-second verification: When a person seeks entry, the Veriprox unit reads the identifying number on the proximity card and retrieves the
corresponding fingerprint template. The user then places his or her fingertip on the reader. The Veriprox calculates a score, which is compared to an
administrator-defined threshold to determine whether to let the candidate pass. The entire process takes about one second.
hidcorp.com
biometricid.com
Woburn, MA. - Keyware Technologies, a provider of biometric identification solutions, today announced the LBV Internet Toolkit(R), the first thin client toolkit to enable
software vendors to add advanced layered biometric (fingerprint and/or voice) authentication to Internet security applications. The LBV Internet Toolkit helps software
vendors and VARs enhance traditional data security solutions geared toward protecting web site servers from unauthorized employees or hackers. Since the technology
does not have to be installed at an individual's computer, end-users can identify themselves via biometrics while on the road or at another person's computer, ensuring that
the end-user is only viewing and manipulating authorized documents and files.
securant.com
keyware.com
Redwood Shores, CA. - Communication Intelligence Corporation ("CIC"), a supplier of natural input and electronic signature solutions, today announced that it began
shipping Sign-On for the Windows-powered Pocket PC. Sign-On is an electronic security application that uses dynamic signature verification to ensure the identity of a
user before allowing them to log-on to a device. CIC reports that Sign-On is the first security application for Pocket PC organizers that utilizes biometric signature
verification to help protect the user's data from tampering or theft. Unlike alpha-numeric passwords, that can be guessed or forgotten, Sign-On provides a natural way to
log-on to your organizer with something that is specific to you - your signature. The CIC press release indicates that they have licensed these products to key strategic
partners including; Chase Manhattan Bank, Symbol Technologies, Fujitsu Personal Systems and Ericsson.
cic.com
Tamarac, FL - SENSE Holdings, Inc. DBA/SENSE Technologies, Inc. a provider of biometric identification systems, announced today the implementation of its
CheckPrint T/A (time and attendance) system at Timothy's World Coffee Headquarters in Toronto, Canada. Timothy's will use the CheckPrint T/A system to manage
employee time and attendance in their Toronto roasting plant. The press release indicates that Timothy's is a 'signature' installation in response to the company?s
requirement for more control over its personnel costs and and need for additional security.
senseme.com
New York, NY. - The International Biometric Group announced the availability of its Biometric Market Report 2000, a comprehensive analysis to date of the size, growth,
and future trends of the biometric industry. The company indicates that this forty page report will be of value to companies or agencies considering biometric solutions,
information security professionals, investment researchers, corporate purchasers, and anyone looking for top-level information on the dynamic biometric market. The press
release indicates that the total 1999 revenue for non-AFIS biometric vendors was $58.4 million. By 2003, that number is expected to increase to $594 million.
biometricgroup.com
Jersey City, NJ. -- Visionics Corporation announced that its facial recognition technology, will be featured prominently in a worldwide traveling interactive scientific exhibit
developed in Denmark, called Future Body. Over 350,000 people are expected to visit the exhibit over the next year alone. In the exhibit, FaceIt© represents the
increasingly integral part that identification is becoming to our everyday lives and our society, e.g. in connection with electronic forms of payment or access to confidential
functions. Future Body gives the public an opportunity to experience and to explore how the future technologies can improve life, replace body parts and ultimate alter our
everyday lives. The exhibit will be comprised of three components, Virtual Man, Natural Man and Robot Man. In Virtual Man, the visitor deals with identification and
identity, specifically how information technology will help us, recognize us and keep an eye on us.
experimentarium.dk
visionics.com
Dallas, TX. - DrugEmporium.com, an online drugstore, and BioNetrix(TM), announced today that DrugEmporium.com has selected BioNetrix to help the company
authenticate the identities of doctors ordering prescriptions for their patients over the Internet from DrugEmporium.com online pharmacy. Using the BioNetrix software, a
doctor ordering a prescription online will be prompted for a single "biometric," or combination of them, to directly authenticate his/her identity and verify that he/she can
access a patient's record. The biometric could be a fingerprint, retinal or facial scan, or signature. The DrugEmporium.com will have a conclusive record of the identity of
the person who placed the prescription, thus increasing accuracy and helping to prevent fraudulent submissions. At the heart of the BioNetrix/DrugEmporium.com solution
is the BioNetrix Authentication Suite(TM), a software infrastructure that works with any authentication technology (such as passwords, smart cards, tokens and
biometrics). The software supports multiple applications and provides flexible role-based security policies that are easy to use and administer. From one console, it
manages all authentication tools, enabling DrugEmporium.com to better facilitate physician access, regardless of location, and, more importantly, provide direct personal
assurance that the doctor's identity is verified. The company press release indicates that legislators in California and Ohio will soon require that physicians who send
prescriptions to pharmacies over the Internet be authenticated using some combination of biometrics, which goes beyond the use of a password.
bionetrix.com
The International Biometric Industry Association (IBIA) published Volume II, Number 6 of its online newsletter, "Biometrics Advocacy Report." The newsletter is available at
ibia.org . This issue deals with industry efforts to ensure that the regulations implementing the sweeping Financial Services Reform Law clearly
accommodate the use of biometrics to help safeguard financial data, and that they do not categorize biometrics as "personal data." The newsletter also contains an
important update on U.S.-European Union negotiations on data privacy. The accord reached two weeks ago adopts U.S. "Safe Harbor" principles that place no restriction
on the transmission of biometric data across national borders.
Geneva, Switzerland - STMicroelectronics announced with Lernout & Hauspie, Altec Lansing and Keyware Technologies the joint development of a highly integrated
solution for hands-free car cellphone kits that enhances road safety by replacing distracting keypads and displays with a voice interface. Already selected by telecom
companies such as Telit, it will be used in end products that will reach consumers this year. Based on ST's Euterpe(TM) digital voice processor chip, the new solution
performs voice activated dialing, text-to-speech conversion of incoming text messages, noise/echo cancellation and biometric verification of the speaker's identity.
st.com
lhsl.com
keyware.com
American Fork, UT. - International Automated Systems, Inc., announced that the company has reached an agreement with Schematics Inc. (Pittsburgh, Pa.), a privately
held enterprise that will construct, own and operate an initial 10 U-Check Supermarkets in the eastern United States. The contract, which has an estimated value of $35
million attributable to its first phase, provides for new supermarket design and construction, as well as the installation of 240 (IAS patented) self-cashiering check-out
lanes. The U-Check store is the first fully automated retail point-of-sale to rely solely upon IAS's proprietary automated fingerprint identification machine (AFIM)
technology. AFIM-authorized payments are processed through the system using personal banking data encoded on a "magstripe" card, cross-referenced to the
individual's real-time three-dimensional fingerprint. Upon processing the transaction, by providing a positive identification and allocating funds -- which funds are credited to
the supermarket's account -- the system assigns an identification number to the real-time fingerprint image that becomes embedded in the transaction information. In so
doing, the IAS system virtually eliminates credit/debit card fraud and charge backs and prevents duplicate transaction postings.
iaus.com
Littleton, MA. - Viisage Technology, Inc., a provider of facial recognition biometrics technology, announced that they showcased a family of five new facial recognition
products at the CardTech/SecurTech Conference in Miami, May 1-4, 2000.
The new products are:
FaceCheck(TM) - Viisage's patented real-time video technology scans crowds of people and matches individuals to selected faces previously stored in an image
database. The application will identify suspects either from long distance or large crowds.
FaceExplorer(TM) - Viisage's FaceExplorer(TM) is an Enterprise application that will allow customers the capability to verify identities and reduce fraud by effectively
retrieving, managing and analyzing their image databases. When fully deployed the system will contain up to 20 million images with the ability to retrieve images within
seconds.
FacePass(TM) - A physical access control product replaces PINs with a reliable and sanitary solution. No longer is it necessary to carry something that can be lost,
remember something that can be forgotten or touch something handled by an entire community.
FacePIN(TM) - FacePIN(TM) provides both security and convenience for consumers and merchants. Consumers are currently accustomed to being recognized by their
face at retail locations by providing merchants with a driver's license or other form of photo ID verification. In banking FacePIN(TM) uses already installed ATM cameras to
recognize and verify customer identities so the financial transaction can be quickly and effortlessly conducted.
FaceNet(TM) - Both B2C and B2B financial transactions require secure authenticity between parties. Currently, solutions include a combination of public/private key
encryption and digital ID certificates. These solutions include encryption technology, such as 128-bit SSL and the reliance on trusted certification authorities. These are
necessary elements, but they do not provide a comprehensive solution. Facial Recognition enables a convenient, easy to use and remember security solution.
FaceNet(TM) can be used across numerous communication devices, including PCs, laptops, PDAs, cell phones and other new network appliance.
viisage.com
Redmond, WA. - SAFLink Corporation, a biometric software provider, announced that it is in the final phase of delivering its SAFtyLock(TM) biometric security solution to
the U. S. Strategic Command (STRATCOM) at Offutt AFB, Nebraska. SAFtyLock is a multi-user fingerprint biometric authentication and control solution designed to
enhance access and audit for highly sensitive, mission critical network environments running Sun Solaris(R) UNIX workstations and servers. Development of this
sophisticated system was contracted through World Wide Technology, Inc. of St. Louis, MO., a provider of integrated technical solutions to the government and
commercial enterprises.
saflink.com
San Francisco, CA. - DigitalPersona and the San Francisco Exploratorium invite you to take a look at how we see ourselves in a new "Revealing Bodies" exhibition on
view from March 18 -- September 4, 2000. DigitalPersona's U.are.U fingerprint security system provides visitors the ability to experience the process of digital
identification and authentication at the fingerprint exhibit. Visitors will also have the choice to vote on and comment about issues of personal and physical identity
throughout the exhibition using DigitalPersona's fingerprint recognition software and hardware sensor. The Exploratorium is located inside the Palace of Fine Arts in San
Francisco's Marina District. This exhibition is free with admission to the museum.
digitalpersona.com
New York, NY. ? The International Biometric Group and COMDEX/Spring have teamed up to present Biometropolis(TM), the state-of-the-art industry event for biometric
technologies. Biometropolis was a major feature of the COMDEX/Spring 2000 conference held April 17-20 at Chicago's McCormick Place Convention Center. Biometrics
was a hot topic for the more than 80,000 attendees and 600 media and analysts, COMDEX/Spring 2000 expanded the show floor area dedicated to biometric exhibitors
and included new educational sessions. The program's momentum began last year, when COMDEX/Spring attendees had the opportunity to see exhibitions from the
leading biometric vendors, including NEC, SAFLINK, IriScan, CyberSIGN, Keyware, Visionics, Veridicom, Precise Biometrics, BioPassword, SecuGen, Cherry, Biometric
Identification and many others. COMDEX/Spring 2000 attendees also attended presentations from technology vendors American Biometric Company, SAFLINK, and
Authentec; solution provider EDS; and online identity security and privacy provider e-Dentification.
bio1.com
comdex.com
Irvine, CA. - Rainbow Technologies, a supplier of security solutions for the Internet and eCommerce, announced the company's membership in the BioSEC Alliance.
Formed in 1999 by BioNetrix(TM), the BioSEC Alliance is made up of authentication providers who have joined together to support an open platform for advanced
authentication solutions such as smart cards, tokens and biometrics. The formation of this open platform and its interoperability with a growing number of authentication
devices has provided increased flexibility and ease-of-use for customers and resellers that are building and managing enterprise level authentication solutions. Rainbow's
security token, the iKey 2000, does not require a reader and snaps directly into a laptop or desktop PC's existing universal serial bus (USB) port. As a certified member
of the BioSEC Alliance, Rainbow has integrated the iKey 2000 with the BioSEC framework that is supported by the BioNetrix Authentication Suite(TM). For additional
information about the BioSEC Alliance and its offerings, visit biosec.com
Washington, DC. - Identix Incorporated , a provider of biometric authentication, security and identification solutions, announced that ANADAC, Inc., its wholly-owned
subsidiary which provides information technology products and services to the Federal Government, is appeared March 29th, 2000, before the U.S. House of
Representatives Subcommittee on Government Management, Information and Technology. Paul Collier, ANADAC, Inc. Division Manager, will testify to the Subcommittee,
which is engaged in an effort to address the serious concerns for computer security in the Federal government in light of recent events, including denial of service attacks
on popular e-commerce web sites and hacking of government web sites. The Committee asked for BioTouchâ and BioCardâ demonstrations during the hearing.
BioTouch is Identix?s recently announced mobile computing security solution that protects laptops with registered fingerprint authentication, rendering both device and data
inaccessible in the case of theft. BioCard provides smart card integration and biometrics authentication to achieve multi-factor security for higher risk protection.
Treasury Secretary Lawrence H. Summers convened a two-day National Summit on Identity Theft in March and announced four new initiatives targeted at cracking down
on the increasing threat of identity theft. The Summit addressed the prevention of identity theft, remediation and enforcement efforts with the public and private sector. The
Summit consisted of a series of panels and more than 150 participants from federal, state and local government agencies, financial institutions, credit card companies and
reporting agencies, as well as identity theft victims, consumer advocacy groups and private sector representatives.
The four new Treasury initiatives to help combat identity theft include:
Skimming and counterfeit check databases currently used to identify common suspects, defendants of identity theft, and address criminal trends prevalent in
financial crimes today. These databases were developed and are maintained by the U.S. Secret Service in partnership with the financial industry;
A computer-based training module developed by the U.S. Secret Service that will focus on financial crimes and all pertinent statutes including identity theft, and be
made available within the agency as well as local and state law enforcement officials throughout the U.S.;
A pilot program, developed by the U.S. Secret Service and Citicorp, to help identify suspicious activity on electronic commerce. The program will attempt to develop
a protocol for the identification of identity theft and other schemes used to commit bank fraud, credit fraud and money laundering within electronic commerce and
the immediate notification of law enforcement authorities; and
Forums and mini-conferences to maintain a dialogue between the private and public sector.
Round Rock, TX. - Readers of Product Design and Development magazine voted Biometric Access Corporation's SecureTouch 99 the top product in this year's
Engineering Award competition. According to the magazine's publisher, Thomas H. King, the objective of the contest is "to reward a small number of engineers for
outstanding technical achievements as well as to bring recognition to the engineering profession for efforts to improve our world." Mr. King presented the award to Alvaro
Bastidas, design engineer for BAC, during a reception held at the Regal Knickerbocker Hotel in Chicago on March 13 as part of the activities surrounding National
Manufacturing Week.
biometricaccess.com
Livermore, CA. - Advanced Precision Technology Inc., a developer of identity verification systems using biometrics, announced the granting of two additional patents. The
first, U.S. Patent No. 6,038,043, was for a Method of Recording a Holographic Optical Element. APT was also granted U.S. Patent No. 6,002,499 for a Real Time
Fingerprint Sensor and Verification System. The systems use holographic optics to capture an undistorted fingerprint image that can be compared directly to a previously
loaded ink-based print or "filter" that is stored as a hologram.
aprint.com
Redwood Shores, CA. - Communication Intelligence Corporation, a supplier of natural input and electronic signature solutions, announced the introduction of a new
software developer's kit called iSign(tm). The product is designed to enable the implementation of electronic signatures in Business to Consumer or Business to Business
e-Commerce applications over the Internet and corporate Intranets. iSign enables businesses to reduce fraudulent transactions by capturing handwritten signatures on-line
and linking them to specific transactions. For sensitive transactions where the user's identity needs to be more fully established, iSign also provides verification of the
customer's signature based on the biometric elements in the signature. Vikas Perla, product manager for CIC, commented, "Although many solutions for Internet security
exist today, the majority of these rely upon passwords and PINs to authenticate users. iSign delivers the capability to use the most widely accepted form of traditional
authentication -- your John Hancock." The captured transaction information and electronic signature are all encrypted for secure transmission, storage, and future retrieval.
iSign is designed for use with most pen tablets including Wacom, Interlink and Topaz as well as Palm organizers and touchscreens. The Company plans to support other
new devices like the Pocket PC and next generation Smartphones and Communicators as they become readily available.
cic.com
Toronto, ON. - Mytec Technologies Inc. announced the release of a low-cost, self-contained, Portable Authentication Device called MPAD, for licensing and development
opportunities. MPAD uses fingerprint pattern recognition to remove the need to remember passwords. The lightweight device, which measures just a few inches in length,
was the size of a pool table when development work began seven years ago. The device can be integrated into a wide range of applications that include PDA's (personal
digital assistants), cellular telephones, remote control devices for set-top boxes, and other applications where identity authentication is required. MPAD is based on the
same core technology that Mytec provided to Smith & Wesson as the biometric module for the development of their "Smart Gun." MPAD is a portable implementation of
Mytec's pattern recognition algorithm. Recent advances in DSP technology and solid-state fingerprint sensors have allowed Mytec to implement its core authentication
technology into devices that can be operated entirely from batteries.
mytec.com
COMING EVENTS
Got an event of interest to the Human Services Biometric Community? Send your information to the editor at DmintieCT@aol.com or use the mailing address on the last
page of the newsletter.
Smart Cards China 2000, Beijing, China, June 15-17, 2000
ctst.com
CTST Canada 2000, Toronto, Canada, August 29-31, 2000
ctst.com
The IEE Fourth International Conference on Knowledge-based Intelligent Engineering Systems and Allied Technologies (KES 2000) will be held at the
University of Brighton, Sussex, UK, August 30,31 and September 1, 2000.
luna.bton.ac.uk
Financial Services Technology Consortium, Washington, DC., September 25-26, 2000
fstc.org
CTST '2001 ? Las Vegas, Nevada, May 14-17, 2001
ctst.com
RESOURCES YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT
AfB (Association For Biometrics) afb.org.uk
BioAPI Consortium bioapi.org
The Biometric Consortium biometrics.org
Biometric Testing Services (BIOTEST) wwwnpl.co.uk
Commercial Biometrics Developer?s Consortium (CBDC) ncsa.com
The Connecticut Biometric Web Page dss.state.ct.us
Financial Services Technology Consortium (biometric fraud prevention) fstc.org
International Biometric Industry Association ibia.org
The Human Identification System Project asti.dost.gov.ph
International Association for Identification (IAI) iaibbs.org
National Biometric Test Center biometrics.org
National Center For Identification Technology ncit.org
Security Industry Association siaonline.org
BIOMETRIC PUBLICATIONS
AVANTI Biometric Journal
Julian@jsoft.freeserve.co.uk
Bio1.com, Informative web based biometric resource published by the International Biometric Group
bio1.com
Biometric Digest, P. O. Box 510047, St. Louis, MO 63151-0047, (314) 892-8632 Fax (314) 487-5198
biodigest.com
Biometric Technology Today, SJB Services, Bank Chambers, Cheapside Langport, Somerset TA10 9PD , United Kingdom (800) 550-8589 or +44 1458 253344
sjb.co.uk
IDWorld published by Faulkner & Gray, CTST, 11 Penn Plaza, New York, NY, 10001-2006 (212) 967-7000
faulknergray.com
Voice ID Quarterly, Dr. Judith A. Markowitz, 1-800-880-7256, Fax 1-773-769-9253
jmarkowitz@pobox.com
SUBMITTING ARTICLES TO THE BHSUG NEWSLETTER
Submissions are invited and encouraged. Submissions must contain the authors name and organization or company. They must be submitted as plain ASCII text or in Microsoft Word format. All submissions can be addressed via e-mail to the editor:
DmintieCT@aol.com
Mail Address: David Mintie, DSS Digital Imaging Project, 25 Sigourney Street, Hartford, CT. 06106-5033
Editor: David Mintie, Assistant Editor: Marisa Carter
Published By
EDITED.................
dss.state.ct.us
steve |
