Biometric Technology Provides Security & Convenience: Autos, Stores and More

(PRWEB) April 11, 2005

The unfortunate individual kidnapped in this theft was the car’s owner who, reportedly, lost a finger in the process.

Biometric identification technology is being used and considered by every automobile manufacturer around the globe. Biometrics provides a major convenience to owners who no longer need a key to access and start their automobile. Several different types of biometrics in use in cars include fingerprint, voice, iris and facial recognition. While providing positive identification of the driver, additional drivers may also be enrolled in the system for identification and access purposes.

Car security is a different matter. BMW's 'mechatronic' Z22 concept car sports fingerprint identification that controls the ignition. A recent report by Frost & Sullivan says that biometrics may not see widespread use for car security any time soon, partly because if your car doesn't recognize you, you risk being stranded. “Now that’s about the dumbest thing I have ever heard,” says Bill Rogers, publisher of the Biometric Digest in St. Louis, Missouri. “No security is foolproof, even for the largest and most secure safes and buildings. Every business and every individual needs to exercise sound judgment when employing security. It’s called a ‘back-up’ system. It’s not very smart if you don’t have one. In the case of an automobile, it’s the key. If a driver does not have the key in his possession, he’s asking for trouble. While biometrics provides a high level of security, the convenience factor is even higher. No amount of security is going to stop a car-jacking.”

Volvo offers the Personal Communicator or VPC. After pressing the fingerprint onto the pad of the VPC, the car recognizes the driver. The car then allows him to enter without a key. The car then starts up and automatically adjusts the interior to their personal settings. Security? Good. Convenience? Better.

Audi decided to develop a system based on the recognition of fingerprints. For Audi, they felt this technology provided the best solution with regard to security and user-friendliness for their customers.

Suzuki's new concept bike B-King bike is started using a fingerprint recognition system. Speech recognition provides the ability for cars and much more to recognize what words a user is saying. For example a car may be able to recognize a driver saying “cd” to turn on the CD player, or “wipers” to turn on windscreen wipers. Siemens has presented a fingerprint solution designed especially for use in automobiles. The company presents their biometric solution as a product for personalizing certain car settings such as adjusting the mirrors, seats, and radio pre-settings to a specific driver.

One web site showed a fingerprint car lock system for under $500.

The use of biometrics is inevitable but its implementation poses challenges. Biometric identifiers are set to become an increasingly common part of daily life. Biometric identification technology will have a positive effect on civil and commercial life, as people become more familiar with the technology, costs come down, and applications become more widespread.

Today we have iris scans unlocking VIP doors at Equinox gym, palm prints opening Bank of America safety deposit boxes, and fingerprint data paying for milk at the Piggly Wiggly. Consumer lives are swiftly evolving into a biometric Shangri La — with personal characteristics as the new currency. Rogers says, “The convenience factor – plus the added security – is tremendous.”

Other retailers, such as Albertsons supermarket, are also testing technology that links fingerprints with a customer's on-file checking account. Besides the inherent cool factor, merchants can bolster their own bottom lines. For retailers, the use of a fingerprint that allows a customer to debit money from a checking account can be less costly than doing business with credit card companies that charge fees to process electronic payments.

Wells Fargo and Bloomberg both use some form of biometrics for added security on their customers' terminals. Tech giants Microsoft, Hewlett-Packard and IBM now offer biometric readers to substitute for passwords on their computers. Japanese technology firm Omron just announced plans to launch software that lets cell-phones scan facial features before allowing users to dial out or access the address book. Carjacking is a violent form of motor vehicle theft. It is a serious threat to our personal safety because the thief uses force and fear to take the car from the driver. Sometimes the car owner or other occupants are kidnapped during a carjacking and, if lucky, will be dropped off nearby unharmed. The worst case scenario occurs when the driver or other occupants are transported to a secondary crime scene, which is usually more dangerous than the original confrontation. Those not so lucky victims have suffered other crimes like rape, aggravated assault, and even homicide – or the loss of a finger.

No amount of security is going to stop a person from carjacking a vehicle. Car jacking has been going on a long time, way before biometric identification technology was available.

Unfortunately, it will probably continue.

A 73 page information report on companies and organizations using biometrics is available in the Biometric Information Directory (http://www.biomretricinfodirectory.com) . The report may be purchase separately for $90 USD from the Biometric Digest. Send a request to the Biometric Digest at publisher@biodigest.com. A sample of the report is available at: http://www.mydocsonline.com/pub/wrogers/UsersSampleRpt.doc. An order form is contained in the sample and the full report can be e-mailed to you within the hour.

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