SecuGen Unveils Contactless Fingerprint Sensor

SecuGen is updating its product line to better meet the needs of customers during the pandemic. The company is best known for its fingerprint scanners, but noted that the demand for contact-based technologies (like fingerprint scanners) has declined in the wake of COVID-19.

That’s why SecuGen has released a new, contactless fingerprint solution. The Hamster Air operates much like any other single finger reader, but the user does not need to make physical contact with the device in order to produce a match. As a result, the Hamster Air is more hygienic than a traditional fingerprint scanner, and can safely be used by multiple people without increasing the risk of disease transmission.

The Hamster Air is fully compatible with SecuGen’s software development kits, and can be used with any application that supports the company’s existing fingerprint products. SecuGen indicated that the Hamster Air performs just as well as those touch-based scanners, and can match prints with a similar speed and with a comparable accuracy rate.

The contactless sensor is available now through SecuGen’s network of systems integrators and equipment manufacturers. Those who are interested in the solution can use SecuGen’s free SDKs to integrate the sensors with the rest of an organization’s infrastructure. SecuGen itself believes that the Hamster Air has a range of potential applications, covering everything from national ID programs to biometric authentication in retail, finance, and access control. The device was built to be both rugged and affordable to reach the widest possible customer base.

“When the coronavirus pandemic hit, our partners began asking for touch-free alternatives to traditional fingerprint readers, so we swiftly developed what I believe to be a top-quality product,” said SecuGen Sales VP Jeff Brown. “The Hamster Air fulfills a very real need for a safe, accurate and affordable fingerprint reader.”

The Hamster Air is being released alongside U-AIR, a modified version of Hamster Air geared toward original equipment manufacturers. SecuGen also introduced a standalone Unity 20 unit back in May. The company published a guide for cleaning fingerprint sensors in the early stages of the pandemic, though the new contactless offering should appeal to clients that are searching for a simpler authentication option.

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October 27, 2021 – by Eric Weiss