On show at the recent Biometrics 2005 show in London, the contactless authentication device Palm Vein from Fujitsu Europe.
The manufacturer demonstrated Palm Vein being used to unlock a door. The product is much more reliable than digital fingerprinting and iris scanning as it can’t be forged, the makers say.
How does it work?
Palm Vein captures a palm image with near-infra-red rays. The deoxidised hemoglobin in the veins absorbs these rays, thereby reducing the reflection rate and causing the veins to appear as a black pattern. This pattern is then verified against the pre-registered pattern to authenticate the individual. The technology is offering, the makers say, a touch-free, hygienic solution. The user places the palm of the hand above the reader, and the machine does all the work, the makers say. The scanner measures 7 x 7 x 2.7 cm, weighs less than 90 grams and comes with a USB 2.0 interface. The device is suitable, it is claimed, for applications in banking, aviation, and property.
As the veins are internal in the body and have a wealth of differentiating features, assuming false identity through forgery is extremely difficult, thereby enabling a high level of security, it is claimed (and according to internal research, resulted in false acceptance rate of less than 0.00008pc and a false rejection rate of only 0.01pc and also indicated that each individual’s palm vein pattern is unique, even in the case of identical twins).
Palm Vein is only able to recognise the pattern if hemoglobin is actively flowing through the person’s veins, the makers say. The combination of these factors gives Fujitsu’s palm vein scanning solution an edge over competing biometric identification products, it is claimed.
