Last week at FindBiometrics we saw a variety of facial recognition stories that illustrated the many complicated facets of the modality in action while fingerprint biometrics made prominent headlines. We saw big picture cybersecurity news too, as biometric wearables and border control rounded out our industry coverage.
Here’s a look back on the biggest stories in biometrics from the week that was:
Fingerprint
Fingerprint biometrics company BIO-key appointed a new COO last week while we got a look at the company’s Windows 10 compatible USB fingerprint readers in action. NEC Corporation of America announced the theme of this year’s AFIS Internet User Conference, NEXT Biometrics released its Q2 2016 financial results, and we reported that Synaptics’ Natural ID technology has been integrated into new touchpads from Clevo. We also got an update from Austin, Texas, which is seeing high compliance rates with its fingerprint-based background check regulations for ride share services, despite Uber having previously pulled out of the city in protest of such measures.
Here are last week’s big fingerprint biometrics headlines:
NEXT Ready to Attack Smart Card Market After Q2 Transition
NEC Announces AFIS Conference Theme
Synaptics Brings Biometrics to Clevo Notebooks’ Touchpads
WATCH: BIO-key Demonstrates The Power of a Touch
BIO-key Appoints Barbara Rivera as New COO
Life Goes on in Austin After Uber, Lyft Departures
Biometric Mobility
Of course, that’s not all the fingerprint news; the modality is practically omnipresent in the mobile biometrics industry news. Sensor manufacturer Fingerprint Cards announced multiple integrations of its technology, for instance, with Huawei, Xiaomi, 360, and a Japanese rugged smartphone maker all launching devices sporting FPC tech. Meanwhile, some mobile users in India now have the option to register for accounts with fingerprint and iris biometrics linked to Aadhaar, and Thailand’s Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission announced a forthcoming mobile biometric login security feature for its customers.
New Integrations Suggest 360 Satisfied With FPC1035
Latest Redmi Device Continues Line’s Biometrics Tech Trend
360 Q5 and Q5+ Use Precise BioMatch Mobile Tech
Japan-Based Rugged Smartphone Uses FPC, Precise Biometrics Tech
Thailand Telecom Regulator Developing Mobile Biometric Security App
MNOs Launch Biometric Onboarding Systems in India
Voice and Speech
JLG Technologies has upgraded its own voice recognition, which is aimed at correctional facilities, so that individual callers can be identified by voice across multiple calls—an innovation meant to crack down on gang activity. Turning from law enforcement to financial, Citibank launched a voice recognition system for phone banking customers in Malaysia. In the realm of speech recognition, meanwhile, we reported on a new study that has found voice command to be a more accurate and efficient mobile input method than texting.
Biometric System Lets Investigators Search Inmate Calls for Specific Voices
Speech-Based Input Faster and More Accurate Than Texting: Study
Citibank Malaysia Launches Voice Authentication System
Face
The many colors of facial recognition made the news last week, painting a complex and interesting portrait of the modality. We saw the New York DMV’s use of face biometrics paying off in the catching of fraudsters, the German government looked to the modality for national security purposes in its fight against terrorism, and a bank in Japan was reported to be developing a payment system that allows users to authenticate transactions with only their face. Meanwhile, the conversation turned to the need for adequate liveness detection as researchers found a way to spoof multiple face recognition technologies using pictures from social media profiles.
New York DMV’s Facial Recognition System Catching Fraudsters
Security Researchers Spoof Faces With 3D Models Built From Social Media Pics
Japanese Bank Developing Facial Biometric Payments System
German Minister Seeks Facial Recognition for Airports, Train Stations
Access Control and Border Security
Last week, ZKAccess announced that its fingerprint technology has been granted Lenel Certification, allowing Lenel OnGuard users to deploy its biometric physical access control solutions. Meanwhile, Vision-Box announced that its automated border control tech has been officially deployed at Carrasco Airport in Montevideo.
Certification Brings ZKAccess Fingerprint Tech to Lenel Access Control Platform
Montevideo’s Carrasco Airport Adopts Vision-Box ABC Tech
Biometric Wearables
Unisys released poll results last week that indicate major opportunity for biometric wearable technology in law enforcement. Samsung made wearable biometric news last week too, with a new patent describing fingerprint and iris recogntion on wristbands and headsets respectively.
Is Samsung Planning Biometric Authentication For Wearables?
There’s Major Opportunity For Biometric Wearables in Law Enforcement
Cybersecurity At Large
Finally, there was big picture cybersecurity and privacy on the table last week, with NSTIC announcing six new projects, and Safran Identity & Security announcing its support for a public-private partnership between ECSO and the European Commission. PEARL by OT received important certifications in the financial and urban transportation markets, while Balabit’s Blindspotter was honored at this year’s Golden Bridge Awards.
NSTIC Announces Six New Projects
Safran Identity & Security Announces Support for ECSO-European Commission PPP
Balabit Recognized for Blindspotter Security Solution
PEARL by OT Gets Payment, Urban Transport Certifications
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Stay posted to FindBiometrics throughout the week as we continue to bring you the best in identity management news. Be sure to follow us on Twitter so you don’t miss a thing.
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August 29, 2016 – by Peter B. Counter
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