Apple?s voice-recognition technology, Siri, is easy to use, as long as you don?t have an accent.

Taking advantage of iPhone's computing prowess, iBike Dash is a trainer, navigator and data analyzer all in one.

The FBI approved an iPhone-adjacent scanner that can run fingerprints through the national database in ten seconds.

A handheld device used to recognize possible criminals could also infringe on people's privacy.

This shirt measures your breathing to determine your sleep patterns.

Clothing embedded with micro-pumps releases bursts of scents for mood improvement.

By mapping out the diversity of bat ears, researchers hope to inspire new sonar tech and flying robots.

Genetically engineered bacteria detect toxins or disease and turn on the appropriate indicator colors.

A new animal-recognition system capitalizes on zebra stripes.

Infrared motion cameras show how kangaroos get up to hopping speed without breaking their bones.

(source= ContactlessNews) Sagem Morpho Inc. introduced the MorphoAccess 521 TWIC biometric reader, a smart card access device to meet Transportation Security Administration implementation requirements for the Transportation Worker Identification Credential program. The MA521 TWIC is designed to read encrypted biometric data, such as a digital fingerprint, perform the match to the cardholder and perform an active card authentication across a contactless interface. To gain access to a secure port facility, the worker will hold his or her TWIC card up to the contactless interface on the reader. Depending on the security level at the port credential holders may have to do different things. At the lowest security level the reader will first read the cardholder ID to verify that the card is authentic, unaltered and active.

(source= financeTech) While single signon technology has been recognized as a worthy goal in insurance technology circles for several years now, a quick scan of the industry still yields little evidence of centralized depositories for user IDs and logons that consolidate the number of passwords that an employee, business partner or customer needs to access a carriers systems. Its been a big topic for a number of years, and I think its a utopia that hasnt been reached yet in many instances, according to Mike Barba, manager, business consulting, at SMART Business Advisory and Consulting, a Devon, Pa.based firm with expertise in areas including enterprise risk management, regulatory accounting and claims management. A lot of people will claim they have single signon, when in reality they do have local databases of users that they still need to manage, he adds. In many ways, single signon (SSO) does represent a sort of utopia. Its benefits are farreaching. From a security standpoint, SSO can eliminate the alltoocommon sticky note approach to identity management that has been.....

(source= EU) The European CommissionÂ’s eGovernment Action Plan considers innovations in eIdentification, interoperability and Open Source Software to be eGovernmentÂ’s key enablers. Will these initiatives make possible the efficient and correct operation of public administration eServices? What does the evidence suggest? The European Journal of ePractice looks contributions on eID, Interoperability and Open Source. The deadline for submissions is 1 October, 2008.

(source= Forbes) IT Computing Services, Inc. (ITCS), a leading provider of Web Based Time and Attendance Systems, announced the immediate availability of the ITCSWebClock Mobile Solutions. ITCSWebClock is a Web Based Time and Attendance solutions offered as a SaaS solution (Software as a Service) or installed locally. Perfect for multiple locations or to reduce IT infrastructure costs. Several Mobile features are available for collecting time and attendance data. Features are: Cell Phone Punch through the basic cell phone web browser. Dial a Punch through the Telephone and Key Pad. Web Enabled PDAs with a browser interface. Laptop computers on the Cellular Wireless Networks. Also, the web browser from a computer, biometric and badge time clocks. The above mobile features integrate with the ITCSWebClock web based functionality for managers and administrators. This includes data integration with the Job Costing and Location Tracking modules.

(source= ComputerWeekly) A £500,000 biometric fingerprint entry security system is to be installed at the Busy Bees childrens nurseries chain. The system from UK Biometrics will allow parents and carers easy access to the nurseries while ensuring unauthorised people cannot gain entry. UK Biometrics has been trialling the system at 14 Busy Bees nurseries for more than a year. The new biometric locks allow Busy Bees personnel to register parents and carers fingerprints in seconds. Once registered, parents press their fingerprint onto a sensor pad at the door and gain immediate entry. Unregistered visitors ring the bell and wait for a member of staff to admit them. The new system will allow staff to spend more time with the children at busy dropoff and collection times, rather than answering the door to parents.

(source= Finextra) Aladdin Knowledge Systems an information security leader specializing in authentication, software DRM and content security, today announced a partnership with IdenTrust, who possesses the only global bankcentric identity network, to provide identity authentication solutions for secure online banking and financial transactions. Aladdin and IdenTrust are collaborating to offer certificatebased twofactor authentication for unmatched security, enabling financial organizations in the United States, Europe and Asia to implement nextgeneration technology to improve the security of ecommerce, fight identity theft, increase customer trust and drive revenue.

(source= Citi Group) New York, NY – Citi announces the launch of its highassurance digital identity solution – Citi Managed Identity Services. This new offering from Citis Global Transaction Services business enables Citi clients to use digital identity and signature technologies to effectively and securely manage the exchange of electronic information in digital commerce and business critical transactions. The expansion of electronic commerce and globalization of supply chains is driving companies to streamline their business processes and move to a sustainable, industrialstrength, paperless environment without compromising security, confidentiality, compliance, and integrity of transactions. Citis Managed Identity Services provides clients the requisite security and assurance framework to confidently transact business. As part of the solution, Citi issues digital identities that can be used in a number of ways including authenticating end users to applications, encrypting and locking down data, and replacing wet ink with digital signatures, without compromising legal enforceability.

(source= USA Today) Call them the Coreflood Gang. A ring of cyber bank robbers from southern Russia has quietly perfected a way to get a beachhead inside company networks. Once inside, it infects every PC within reach with a custommade datastealing program called Coreflood. The goal: go rip off bank accounts online. Over the past 16 months, the Coreflood Gang has infected swaths of PCs inside thousands of companies, hospitals, universities and government agencies, says SecureWorks researcher Joe Stewart, who has tracked and documented the spread of Coreflood over that period. Its spying on you, capturing your logons, user names, passwords, bank balances, contents of your email, Stewart says. It can capture anything. Coreflood is part of a class of malicious software, called banking trojans, designed primarily to help crooks break into bank accounts online. The number of banking trojans detected on the Internet this month topped 24,800, up from 3,342 at the start of 2006, security firm FSecure says.

(source= Forbes) PARIS (Thomson Financial)Oberthur Technologies said it has won a contract to supply the Philippines electronic passport. The French manufacturer did not say how much the contract was worth. The group will supply a complete system, including registration, issuing, personalisation and the biometric system. Oberthur recently created a division devoted to electronic identity documents, a branch of activity it wishes to develop. In June it won a contract to supply electronic passports in Taiwan.

(source= ComputerWeekly) Sony has launched three VAIO notebook computers aimed at business users. The lineup comprises VAIO SRSeries, a 2Kg 15.4 inch model, which gives 5 hours battery life the VAIO BZ is an A4format and the VAIO ZSeries is a 1.5kg notebook which has a carbon fibre case. The SRSeries uses Intels Core 2 Duo processors. It is configured with 4GB of highspeed system memory and a 13.3 WXGA (1280 x 800) screen, which Sony says offers both low power consumption LED illumination and its Xblack LCD display enhancement.Sony has also developed a Switch function, which lets users change the personality of the notebook at the touch of a button, so it can be switched between a customised personal desktop and a professional look and feel. The VAIO BZSeries BZ11VN uses Intels Centrino platform with vPro technology, which, Sony said, offers users builtin remote manageability and enhanced security. This notebook includes fingerprint recognition technology and supports Trusted Platform Module hardware protection, which stops access to data if the laptop is stolen or left on a train

GMO GlobalSign, Inc. appointed Ryan Hurst, a 10 year Microsoft security veteran, as its new Chief Technology Officer. In his role, Ryan becomes responsible for developing the overall technology vision, product architecture, standards development, compliance and will be overseeing the GlobalSign engineering and operations organizations. Ryan is

Kerry Reid joined this week HID Global as as vice president of HID Connect, trusted leader in solutions for the delivery of secure identity. In this new role, Mr. Reid will be responsible for driving HID Global hardware and software partnerships and extending the company’s Genuine HID Technology™ ecosystem. This involves building upon HID’s exis

Precise Biometrics has developed a smart casing with a built-in smart card reader and fingerprint sensor. The product meets the increasing requirements on network security and strong authentication raised by todayÂ’s government, healthcare, enterprise and banking sectors. The smart casing is the first of its kind on the market. With a built-in sm

The Illustra 600 series, from American Dynamics, part of Tyco Security Products, offers an excellent choice for applications requiring exceptional HD video quality in all lighting conditions. Features include free auto-configuration software included with the cameras and hands-free, remote auto-focus and zoom capability. The cameras also feature a

ValidSoft, a global supplier of fraud prevention, authentication and transaction verification solutions and part of the Elephant Talk Group, has partnered with leading research house Opus Research to produce a report titled, Voice Biometrics Authentication Best Practices: Overcoming Obstacles to Adoption. The study, led by Dan Miller, senior ana

London City has chosen MFlow Journey for passenger queue measurement replacing its existing Bluetooth measurement technology. MFlow improves the passenger experience as it predicts, detects, measures, analyses and facilitates the high volume of people flowing through the airport. Using non-invasive facial recognition technology MFlow Journey hel

A strategic partnership between Human Recognition Systems (HRS), the UKÂ’s independent leader in biometric solutions, and the Olive Group for the Middle East and North African regions has been agreed. The agreement will see HRS leverage the extensive presence of Olive Group, a leader in integrated risk mitigation solutions within the Middle East,

Mark Knight, Director of Product Management at Thales e-Security, has written his latest blog post about the Certificate Authority publishing requirements for the issuance of digitally-signed certificates. In the wake of DigiNotar, the industry has woken up to the risk of corporate identity theft and the importance of the correct issuance of digita

This morning, Neurotechnology, a provider of high-precision biometric identification technologies, announced their new line of embedded biometric technologies, including VeriFinger Embedded SDK for fingerprint biometrics, VeriLook Embedded SDK for face biometrics and MegaMatcher Embedded SDK for multi-biometric systems using face and fingerprints i

Tiger IT Bangladesh Limited introduces a complete criminal identity solution, including iris and fingerprint biometrics and a database upgrade, to the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) office in Bangladesh. Tiger IT sought out LumidigmÂ’s reliable Venus fingerprint sensors for the project in order to provide the RAB with the best tools available for tra

PPSS Body Armour have launched an ultra light and extremely thin NIJ Level IIIA+ bullet proof vest in order to offer executive and diplomatic security professionals the best possible concealable protection. With a weight of only 1.65kg, a thickness of just 6.5mm and protective area of 0.28sqm, this new outstanding bullet proof vest certainly means business. Made out of a high performance bal

US Navy Admiral and President of the American Council of Renewable Energy Dennis McGinn will speak at the Homeland Security Finance Forum 2012 ("HSFF 2012"), taking place in Washington, DC on Tuesday, March 6th. Admiral McGinn will discuss the crucial role energy plays in the defense, military and global security industry. Academi, BAE Systems, Freightwatch and Pegasus Global Holdings are among t

Plustek Inc. a leading manufacturer of innovative Linux-based, standalone Network Video Recorders (NVR) and Network Digital Video Recorders (nDVR), has launched its most innovative standalone nDVR to date. With the enormous growth in the business and economy, there has been an increase in criminal activities across all geographies. Organisations, whether government or private, small or big, ar

Opgal Optronic Industries, a leading global provider of innovative thermal imaging and near infrared illumination solutions for security and safety applications, signed a reseller agreement with Celte SRL, a leading Italian distributor that specializes in electronic components for telecommunications, high-tech, industrial and security applications. Opgal provides one of the broadest thermal ima

Netop, a pioneer in secure remote access support and management, offers its Remote Control software at no charge to users affected by the Symantec pcAnywhere security breach. The free licenses will be offered for a duration of thirty days in unlimited quantities. Last week, Symantec warned users through its website to stop using its pcAnywhere remote access software due to a serious security ri

Marine Electronics Ltd the Guernsey-based manufacturer of scientific and technical sonars, will be launching two new competitively priced commercial products at the Oceanology International exhibition during March in London. The Pin-Point diver detection sonar and the WideView 3D interferometric side scan sonar are both products of the company's most advanced technologies. They will enable users t

Genetec, a pioneer in the physical security industry and a leading provider of world-class unified IP security solutions, announced today that the integration with the full line of Bosch devices goes beyond basic functionality to offer customers deeply compatible solutions. Genetec and Bosch have been technology partners in physical security industry for years. Over time, both leaders have develop

SecureMac.com launched PrivacyScan, Privacy Protection for Your Mac, is now available on the Mac App Store. PrivacyScan protects online and offline privacy by shredding files that can be used to track your web browsing and computer usage. Going above and beyond United States DoD (Department of Defense) government standards, PrivacyScan's shred feature can overwrite data with up to 35 passes! Ev

We all know that broken glass poses a major threat to safety. Not just for occupants of a building, but sometimes even for general passers-by. For example, in the event of vandalism, flying broken glass causes the vast majority injuries, rather than the missile. We have all seen the damage caused by the riots that took place in London recently and resulted in a number of high profile building

Imperva, a pioneer and leader of a new category of data security solutions for high-value business data in the data center, today announced the release of the second Imperva Web Application Attack Report (WAAR), which revealed that web applications are subject to business logic attacks. The WAAR, created as a part of Imperva's ongoing Hacker Intelligence Initiative, offers insight into actual mali

A recent survey conducted by Wincor Nixdorf shows that a strong majority of French consumers are interested in using fingerprint scanning technology to secure transactions.

Out of 1,008 French consumers surveyed, a healthy 69% said they were in favor of scanning their fingerprint at the point of sale to secure electronic payments rather than punch in a PIN code.

Read the full article at ThirdFactor…

The board of directors for Lumidigm announced the appointment of Mark Shermetaro, a member of the board, to chief executive officer of the company with current CEO and chairman Bob Harbour moving to the position of executive chairman of the board of directors.

Among Shermetaro?s previous experience that he bring to the position beyond his two years on the board at Lumidigm is serving as vice president of business development at Methode Electronics.  

Read the full article at ThirdFactor…

ImageWare Systems announced that the Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA), an agency that oversees Los Angeles International (LAX) airport, LA/Ontario International airport and Van Nuys airport, has placed an order for a number of biometric identity management and credentialing solutions.

Among the solutions LAWA is intending to implement at their airport locations are ImageWare?s Quick capture, which is a multi-biometric solutions and various parts of their Identity Service Bus suite, which will be used for identity management and credential issuance.

Read the full article at ThirdFactor…

The European Association for Biometrics (EAB) is focusing on a goal of driving the research and development of biometrics and building the future of the industry around a concern for end-user privacy protection.

As the EAB continues to find its footing as a representative and proponent for biometric technology in Europe, it hopes to create a continent-wide network of professionals in the industry wherein experiences with the political and business sectors can be shared.

Read the full article at ThirdFactor…

DigitalPersona announced the release of a new version of its Pro Enterprise software solution, version 5.2.

Among the aspects of the new version DigitalPersona is touting are the extensive number of factors a company utilizing the solution can use to authenticate for access to sensitive information or secured computer stations. These factors include what a user knows, such as PINs or passwords, things you have, such as smart cards, contactless identity cards or Bluetooth devices, and things you are, such as fingerprints.

Read the full article at ThirdFactor…

Viv.ie, a start-up located in Ireland working on face recognition technology, announced it is finishing a new type of facial recognition technology that does away with a number of the security pitfalls current facial recognition technology is commonly guilty of, according to a Sydney Morning Herald article.

Face recognition had gained some traction in the smart phone market, where individuals gain access to the device using the front facing camera on the device. This, however, has commonly been thwarted by simply holding a picture of the user up to the device. Viv.ie claims to have solved this problem.

Read the full article at ThirdFactor…

Biometrics enable expedited border screening

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Global Entry program is expanding enabling enrolled U.S. citizens to enjoy expedited screening when returning from travel abroad to a number of domestic airports. The program also makes them eligible to participate in similar programs at foreign airports.

Global Entry has 200,000 travelers enrolled, says John Wagner, executive director of Admissibility and Passenger Programs at U.S. Customs and Border Protection. It’s open to U.S. citizens and permanent residents as well as citizens of Canada, Mexico and The Netherlands via reciprocal arrangements.

Read the full article at ThirdFactor…

In an effort to streamline passenger security, Jakarta, Indonesia’s Soekarno-Hatta Airport has opened the country’s first biometric immigration gate.

Fingerprint biometric identification provider BIO-key International, Inc. and Oakwell Engineering Limited partnered to create the new gate, designed for use by passengers with electronic passports. Passengers submit their e-passports and authenticate with a fingerprint.

Read the full article at ThirdFactor…

Human Recognition Systems (HRS) has added features and enhancements to its MForce latent fingerprint processing product.

In an effort to reduce operation times and costs, HRS has developed MForce as a mobile biometric product that enables law enforcement officers and military to obtain and process latent and livescan fingerprints in the field. By processing prints onsite, users are able to quickly provide investigators with intelligence.

Read the full article at ThirdFactor…

India’s government has called a truce in the ongoing argument between the Ministry of Home Affairs’s National Population Register (NPR) project and the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), reports the Indian Express.

Both agencies will continue on with their projects, collecting biometric data in the states in which they operate. They also agree to accept data that the other has compiled. Per the new agreement, however, the NPR database will be considered the authority if discrepancies arise.

Read the full article at ThirdFactor…

The National Institute of Standards and Technology announced a competition to award a approximately $10 million for pilot projects to accelerate progress toward improved systems for interoperable, trusted online credentials that go beyond simple user IDs and passwords.

The NIST-hosted national program office will manage the competition for the National Strategy for Trusted Identities in Cyberspace. According to the Federal Funding Opportunity, NIST anticipates funding five to eight projects for up to two years in the range of approximately $1.25 million to $2 million per year, though proposals requesting smaller amounts may be considered. The deadline for submitting initial proposals is March 7.

Read the full article at SecureIDNews…

ImageWare Systems announced that the Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA), an agency that oversees Los Angeles International (LAX) airport, LA/Ontario International airport and Van Nuys airport, has placed an order for a number of biometric identity management and credentialing solutions.

Among the solutions LAWA is intending to implement at their airport locations are ImageWare?s Quick capture, which is a multi-biometric solutions and various parts of their Identity Service Bus suite, which will be used for identity management and credential issuance.

Read the full article at SecureIDNews…

In an effort to streamline passenger security, Jakarta, Indonesia’s Soekarno-Hatta Airport has opened the country’s first biometric immigration gate.

Fingerprint biometric identification provider BIO-key International, Inc. and Oakwell Engineering Limited partnered to create the new gate, designed for use by passengers with electronic passports. Passengers submit their e-passports and authenticate with a fingerprint.

Read the full article at SecureIDNews…

India’s government has called a truce in the ongoing argument between the Ministry of Home Affairs’s National Population Register (NPR) project and the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), reports the Indian Express.

Both agencies will continue on with their projects, collecting biometric data in the states in which they operate. They also agree to accept data that the other has compiled. Per the new agreement, however, the NPR database will be considered the authority if discrepancies arise.

Read the full article at SecureIDNews…

MasterCard introduced a road map focused on advancing the U.S. electronic payments system. The map, which includes the path for migration from magnetic stripe to EMV technology available on chip cards, will serve as the foundation for the next generation of products and services.

As payments evolve to include new devices and new channels, such as mobile and eCommerce, the road map takes steps to address how consumers shop, providing them greater security and control in their payment choices and the potential to integrate loyalty programs and offers into the purchasing experience.

Read the full article at SecureIDNews…

British Columbia is moving forward with plans to upgrade its CareCard program. According to The Vancouver Sun, the new card will provide access to a variety of regional services including electronic health records, driver license and school registration for children.

The local government plans to sign a $20 million, six year deal with Toronto-based SecureKey to provide all of the necessary technology, including contactless readers which enable citizens to tap their card to access the government stored information.

Read the full article at SecureIDNews…

HID Global has announced the successful completion of the world’s first university pilot of NFC smart phones carrying digital keys.

First announced in September, the pilot involved a select group of students and staff at Arizona State University using NFC-enabled smart phones equipped with HID’s Secure Identity Object (SIO) Technology. Participants could gain access to their residence halls and other secure access areas by tapping their handset against a reader embedded in the door and entering a PIN, rather than use their plastic campus card.

Read the full article at SecureIDNews…

Russia has pushed back the launch of its universal eID card to January 2013, reports The Moscow Times.

Originally scheduled to roll out this month, the card is supposed to function as an electronic ID, driver’s license, proof of auto insurance, ATM card and immigration document, along with other possible features.

Read the full article at SecureIDNews…

Prisoners at Tihar prisons, located near New Delhi, India, will now be using smart cards instead of paper coupons for their food purchases.

As reported by The Economic Times, the former system of paper food coupons led to misuse and illegal activity within the jail. Some prisoners would use it for currency in order to get banned substances or buy favors from others.

Read the full article at SecureIDNews…

HP partnered with Anakam to offer a cloud-based system for identity vetting and credentials. Bryan Maybee, a solutions architect at HP, says the system can be used by the public or private sector for registering individuals to online services.

As an individual registers for an application or service the system asks them a series of questions in order to proof the identity. The questions are taken from the individual’s utility records, credit history and other public records.

The system can also be used to register the individual into a two-factor authentication system, Maybee says. The system can send a one-time passcode to the user’s mobile phone and also use voice biometrics for a third factor of authentication.  

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