Academic Institutions Implement “Return to Learn” Biometric Access Control

California-based Cali Group has announced that a number of academic institutions have adopted its PopEntry+ solution in an effort to make their communities as safe as possible for a return during the COVID-19 pandemic.

PopEntry+ uses a combination of facial recognition technology and automated biometric temperature screening to provide biometric access control for facilities. Users would first need to create a PopID account via a secure web portal on their mobile device, after which they would have their face scanned and temperature taken by a device fixed near a building’s entrance.

If individuals who are scanned by the PopEntry+ solution are shown to have a fever, the system can contact the relevant authorities and notify them of the situation, and if they are cleared they will receive a text message that will ask them to confirm their health status on a daily basis.

Among the latest to adopt the system are the University of Mississippi (“Ole Miss”), Bismarck State College (ND), Lane College (TN) Lock Haven University (PA), University of Redlands (CA), and Metropolitan College Kansas City.

“Like other college athletic programs around the country, Ole Miss puts the health and safety of its student-athletes and staff above all else,” said Keith Carter, Athletic Director for the University of Mississippi. “We are pleased to add PopID’s technology to the steps we are taking to ensure their safety on and off the field,” he added.

The facial recognition technology also has the ability to allow entry to individuals who are recognized by the system as having the required access permission to enter a specified building. The handsfree device is capable of unlocking doors when recognizing students or faculty, can be adapted to suit a number of different locations, and is expandable to include PopID’s PopPay facial payment system.

“As a college professor, I am extremely satisfied with the progress made by our university’s leadership,” commented Bill Southworth, University of Redlands. “Return to Learn complements the many measures we are implementing to provide the safest possible environment for students and faculty returning to campus.” 

Known as the “Return to Learn” platform to distinguish it from its commercial variant, PopID is offering a discount to academic institutions that wish to employ it.

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August 27, 2020 – by Tony Bitzionis