Biometrics are becoming important today as the need for security increases rapidly. Biometric technologies that measure fingerprints, voice recognition and other features of an individual offer an enhanced level of security because they measure a unique physical characteristic of a person that doesn’t change.  

 

Identica, a manufacturer and supplier of unique Identification solutions, offers vascular biometric technology that takes the level of security even further. With their vascular biometric solutions, the company provides individuals with "undeniable identity credentials and provides organizations with Entry Management, Workforce Time and Attendance and Credential Verification solutions."

 

A vascular biometric solution measures unique characteristics underneath the skin. This type of biometric technology is becoming very well known in the industry and according to   Terry Wheeler, President of Identica Holdings Corp., their proprietary Hand Vascular Pattern Matching biometric hardware and software solutions are being used in a number of environments where people are working with their hands.

 

This includes use in universities and for areas beyond just government use like in evidence rooms, banks and even fitness clubs, as a way to manage user access.

 

The Vascular Pattern Scanner uses a passive infrared technology to capture an individuals unique Vascular Pattern from the back of their hand. This pattern exists below the surface of the skin. Once the pattern is collected, it creates a template that can be stored locally on the device, or on an HD Iclass smart card.

 

The solutions is simple to use, fast and hygienic. When a user presents their hand to the scanner, the live vascular pattern is matched to the stored template and the individual is identified.

Wheeler explained that the hands of users working outside on ships and trucks for example, can sometimes present a problem in the quality of fingerprints, which can be dirty, dry or damaged. Our device, he said, goes below the surface of the skin so there's no issue.

 

Back in August, the company announced that it teamed up with Unisys (News - Alert) Canada to deploy a biometric credentialing and access control database system (CACDS) in the Port of Halifax.

 

The Port of Halifax serves as Canada’s East coast connection to worldwide trade and is "the world’s second largest ice-free port."

 

Because security and privacy issues are a top priority, and because they needed a system that worked outside, the Port of Halifax chose Identica’s VPR technology in a bid to strengthen security as well as manage workforce access control for more than 4,000 of its workers.

 

At the port, workers can now go up to a scanner and present their card, which is automatically read and show their hand for the door to open and close automatically for them.

 

 “Vascular biometrics is the ideal solution for secure access control in a working environment as it is more accurate and doesn’t have the well known operational difficulties of other biometric technologies,” said Gord Helm, Manager Marine Security and Cruise Operations, Halifax Port Authority about the deployment. “Identica’s vascular biometric technology provides complete technological competence and easily integrates into our current system.”

 

Also, Wheeler said that the Port of Vancouver is making use of the solution full time in their cruise facility in their water ports.

 

Biometrics are also being used in ATMs and even gaming casinos are using it for their employees. Very soon, Wheeler said, hospitals will also have the technology installed as they have coated the device and every component with nano silver that kills bacteria in the hospital. "We've made it so it kills 99.9 percent of anything on contact. This is helping us to get into hospitals."

 

Identica markets its products and services through reseller and OEM channels in the United States, Canada, Mexico, South America, Europe, Israel, and globally through worldwide partnerships. Visit www.identicacorp.com for more.