IDEX supports proposal for fingerprint sensors
Public data security watchdog points out problem – IDEX has the solution.
Press release – Oslo, 28 February 2011: The Norwegian newspaper Dagbladet on Saturday 26 February 2011 reported that NorSIS – the Norwegian Centre for Information Security – suggests a feasibility study on fingerprint sensors for national identification documents, for instance the national ID card that is scheduled to be released in Norway.
The article (in Norwegian) is available at the web on this address:
http://www.dagbladet.no/2011/02/26/nyheter/id-tyveri/innenriks/norsis/idex/15580276/
The suggestion appears in a letter to the Department of Justice, in which NorSIS writes that «by including a type of fingerprint sensor on identification documents, these will be safer to use.» One can then authenticate that the correct person is holding the card.
IDEX has the solution
IDEX has developed the patented SmartFinger® Film sensor, which is particularly well suited for the market that NorSIS focuses on in its letter to the Department of Justice.
The SmartFinger Film sensor is ultra thin and bendable, and received international recognition in December 2010 by winning the Sesames Award for best «Identification/ID Cards» at the major exhibition and conference of the card industry.
«IDEX believes it is essential that this issue is put on the political agenda, and the company looks forward to contributing to the process that NorSIS suggests,» said CEO Ralph W. Bernstein of IDEX.
«ID theft is a big problem, and fingerprint sensors on identification documents will reduce, possibly eliminate, this problem,» he added.
«We wish to make it known to both the public administration, politicians and financial institutions that there are solutions that in a simple and safe manner will reduce the uncertainty that a lot of people feel in their everyday lives. When it becomes known that there are available solutions to the fraud problem, we are convinced that these will be in demand, especially as the added cost of integrating the sensors is low compared to the cost of fraud, to individuals and society,» Bernstein concluded.
Built into the card
The solution is based on integration of both sensor, fingerprint data and software into the card. The user’s identity is authenticated without the fingerprint information leaving the card. No fingerprint is read by external readers or stored in external databases. Since no one besides the card holder accesses the information, it can’t be lost or misused.
The Norwegian Centre for Information Security (NorSIS) is part of the government’s comprehensive campaign for information security in Norway. IDEX intends to become a partner with NorSIS.
About IDEX
IDEX ASA is a Norwegian public company specializing in fingerprint imaging and recognition technology. IDEX’ vision is to ensure individuals a safe, secure, and user-friendly use of personal ID. IDEX has developed the award-winning SmartFinger Film technology platform including the patented fingerprint imaging principle, sensing scheme and chip design. Combined with core software solutions for imaging and authentication SmartFinger Film enables on-device enrollment, template storage and verification within the very same module. The SmartFinger Film sensor is thin and bendable and can be customized for a variety of applications such as One Time Password devices, Smartcards, ID cards, access control devices and biometric tokens. The SmartFinger technology is available to customers under an intellectual property (IP) licensing scheme or as SmartFinger Film sensor assemblies for integration into customers’ products. IDEX ASA (ticker IDEX) is listed at the Oslo Axess market place on the Oslo Børs (Oslo stock exchange). For more information, please visit www.idexbiometrics.com or contact IDEX at: mailbox@idexbiometrics.com
About SmartFinger® Film
The patented IDEX SmartFinger Film sensor is an ultra thin and bendable fingerprint sensor, based on state of the art polymer technology, low power consumption and offers superior biometric performance. The SmartFinger Film fingerprint swipe sensor can be easily implemented into a variety of applications requiring biometric authentication such as One Time Password devices, Smartcards, ID cards, access control devices and biometric tokens. The technology is protected by multiple patent families, ranging from sensing principles to miniaturized hardware implementations and image processing algorithms. Combining the extremely small software footprint with low-resource microcontrollers and the thin and bendable form factor, IDEX is able to offer a complete biometric authentication solution tailored specifically for card applications.
Press contact:
Dr. Ralph W. Bernstein, CEO, +47 930 59 303, ralph.bernstein(at)idexbiometrics.com
This information is subject of the disclosure requirements acc. to §5-12 vphl (Norwegian Securities Trading Act)
