Objective
There is a world-wide demand from the security industry for a low-cost, reliable system which can be used to automatically identify people. Biometrics is seen as the way forward as it provides the ultimate level of security - the identification of people by their personal characteristics. There are several biometrics systems currently being developed which use fingerprints, voiceprints, facial characteristics, eye features or hand geometry. Yet none have so far been able to meet all the user requirements in terms of reliability, public acceptability and cost. Using fingerprints, for example, has criminal overtones and scanning the eye, although very accurate, is seen to be too intrusive.
The Vein Biometrics project is looking at a biometrics technology which has the potential to revolutionise the security industry. It is based on the recognition of people by the vein patterns in their hands. Infra-red light is used to create an image of the veins which can then be converted into a vector pattern or a string of numbers and stored on a computer or plastic card. This technology is much simpler and cheaper than other systems because the image capture is easier and the image processing avoids the need for complex pattern recognition. Another advantage is that vein patterns are unique, stable and virtually impossible to copy or damage. Checking veins also has no negative social connotations which would hinder its public acceptability.
The aim of the project is to validate this technology and prove it in practical applications. The potential applications are many, as the security industry covers everything from access to buildings, time and attendance recording, to the payment of State benefits and the use of credit cards.
The project initially focused on developing and testing prototypes for access control applications such as entry into premises and the securing of information on computers. The results were then evaluated in relation to more complex areas of application like the financial transactions market, supported by a comprehensive dissemination programme.
In developing the prototypes user requirements was assessed in relation to the following aspects: ease of use, the potential for circumvention, work and environmental factors, public acceptability and cost. These determined design issues covering such areas as ergonomics and speed of processing. The project also addressed the verification performance of the vein check system as its reliability in terms of correctly identifying people is fundamental to all potential users.
The ultimate goal is to encourage potential users to be confident enough in this biometrics system to introduce it into major commercial applications. Public backing by a large industry sector such as banking would open up a whole range of market opportunities across many industries and could establish vein checking as the leading biometrics system. It is predicted that the European market for access control products alone will be worth $3.25 billion by 1997.
Fields of science
Keywords
Call for proposal
Data not availableFunding Scheme
CSC - Cost-sharing contractsCoordinator
NG7 2BG NOTTINGHAM
United Kingdom