Ingersoll Rand Security Technologies, a provider of products and services that make environments safe, secure and productive, has unveiled a new and improved Schlage GT-400 HandPunch terminal.

The device makes use of the size and shape of an employee’s hand for verification which makes it an easy-to-use, fast and efficient solution. It features a large LCD screen and programmable soft keys and is claimed by the company to the ideal choice for interactive workforce management kiosks.

It is an effective solution for workforce management and offers daily, tangible benefits such as accurate record keeping, risk mitigation, and increased employee productivity that provides peace of mind for clients who deploy it and their respective employees.

Randi Marchezak, Schlage biometric solutions marketing manager, time and attendance has commented that their first totally redesigned HandPunch terminal in ten years, the new GT-400, coupled with a software provider, is a most effective solution for workforce management and lends itself to a diverse array of facilities and workgroups.

The HandPunch GT-400 uses hand geometry – the length, thickness, and curvature of fingers or simply the size and shape of a user’s hand – to verify each employee.  Hand geometry increases reliability and reduces privacy concerns over fingerprint and other biometric technologies. The hand measurements are converted into a 20-byte numerical template which is then matched with the enrollment template of each employee and the identity is verified.

It functions well in environments where dirt, dust, grease, moisture, swelling, and dryness are present. The company has claimed that for this reason, HandPunch technology is the ideal biometric for all applications. The device reads and records punch-in and punch-out data at the point of entry which removes the need for translation of timecard records along with any discrepancies between time worked and time reported. This can add up to a significant reduction in administrative costs.

Users can upgrade the device remotely i.e. download new firmware and application functionality through an Ethernet connection, without removing the GT-400 from the wall and disrupting productivity. Also the antimicrobial coating embedded in platen, keypad and plastics restrains the growth of bacteria.

In related news, Schlage announced new security capabilities for Schlage and Data Management Inc. introduced new Schlage Biometric HandPunch GT-400.