Mexico to Fingerprint Cell Phone Users to Fight Crime
[Image courtesy of BusinessWeek]
biometrics posts
[Image courtesy of BusinessWeek]
UK Cops to Wield Mobile Fingerprint Scanners
Dubbed Project Midas, this here setup is supposed to "transform the speed of criminal investigations"while simultaneously freaking out anyone remotely concerned about personal privacy; in fairness, cops insist that fingerprints scanned via these portable devices will not be stored or added to databases, and we're told that they'll only be used " when they suspect an individual of an offense and can't establish his / her identity."
The £30 million ($47.5 million) to £40 million ($63.4 million) initial phase should hit widespread deployment within 18 months, and in case you thought it was over after this, you should probably know that facial recognition in the field is the next top priority.
[Via Pocket-lint, image courtesy of SpringCard]
FBI Creating Massive Biometric Database
Biometrics refers to the study of identifying you by some physical characteristic. For ages, the fingerprint has been the ideal choice for identifying you without your express consent. These days, computerized surveillance cameras and a variety of other tracking techniques can automatically identify you by your body shape, the position of your facial features, and even the way you walk. With this in mind, the FBI wants to create a new $1 billion biometric database to track all these identifying characteristics.
Right now, the FBI tracks about 55-million sets of fingerprints in a database. This new program would expand that greatly, capturing and storing entire palm prints, scanning mugshots to identify facial features, and more. This could be a boon for crime investigators, but it could also be a nightmare for privacy advocates. Already the FBI will let hiring managers query their current database with the fingerprints of those would-be employees. The current policy is to use the fingerprints to scan and then discard them if no match is found.
Now, however, the FBI is indicating that it may change that policy and keep those fingerprints on record, tracking you even if you've never committed a crime. As always, in theory, there's nothing to worry about if you're not committing any crimes, but that's little comfort if you've read '1984' a few too many times and don't trust Big Brother.
From CNN.com
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Biometric Dress Changes Color According to Wearer's Mood
Check this out: A new prototype dress may one day help dense men or women clue in on their partner's emotional condition. The Daily Mail reports that the Bubelle Dress, designed by scientists at the Dutch electronics company Philips, changes colors depending on the wearer's mood. The dress's development was prompted by a research venture dubbed the SKIN Probe Project, which imagines daily living in the year 2020.
The garment has two connected layers, an inner layer equipped with biometric sensors that pick up physical information correlating to certain emotions, and an outer layer that casts different colors and patterns according to the information gathered. Sweat and temperature levels, the makers say, are key determinants in identifying a person's emotional condition.
The garb is the latest "practical" application in the burgeoning biometric field. While it certainly is the most fashionable development to date, biometrics has been around for a while now, but has traditionally been used on security apparatus like locks and safes. Unfortunately, consumers intrigued by the prospect of such an outfit in their wardrobe will be disappointed to learn that the Bubelle Dress is not currently being produced for the public. On the plus side, this means that Cro Magnon males won't be able to masquerade as Dr. Phil anytime soon.
From The Daily Mail
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