Body scanning devices may soon make passwords a thing of the past

By Doug Bedell / Staff Writer of The Dallas Morning News
Published 01-20-2000
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For many consumers, the proliferation of computerpasswords and personal identification numbers has added amemory-taxing layer of complexity to modern life.

Mindful that security methods may be hindering business ande-commerce, a new generation of technology companies is coming upwith ways to confirm your identity by analyzing your retina,fingerprints, facial features and voice patterns.

More prototypes for personal identification products, looselygrouped under the category of "biometrics," have shown up atinternational trade shows such as Comdex and the ConsumerElectronics Show this month in Las Vegas.

And, if some of the latest biometric products are any indication, it won't be long before you can shuck that list of scribbledpasswords and PINs hidden inside wallets and purses.

Most of the ideas are still too expensive to implement on a widecommercial basis. Devices that map your retina foridentity-checking at automated teller machines, for example, stillcost $700 or more. Some, such as voice-printing, have major hurdlesto overcome. A person's voice can vary, depending on the stressthat person is under, intoxication levels and even time of day.

At the recent CES, however, a company called Applied Biometricsdemonstrated a fingerprint-reading technology that can be usedcheaply to secure access to palm computers, cell phones and homesecurity systems.

"The hardware's here," says Dr. John Catalano, Applied Biometricspresident. "The only thing that needs to be done is to develop somesoftware."

Dr. Catalano's solution - a wired glass pad powered by two AAAbatteries - maps the ridges and curls of a person's index finger.In high quantities, the company says, it can market these add-onsfor as little as $59 apiece.

Already, some state governments are planning to adopt fingerprintsecurity methods to help curb welfare fraud. Banks also areflocking to test this method at selected locations across thecountry. So are handgun and automobile makers.

A year ago, fingerprint identification required a computer. Thisyear, it can be done with a simple battery-powered unit smallerthan a credit card.

Says Dr. Catalano: "We're very close to seeing this technologyeverywhere. We're very, very close."

Contact Staff Writer Doug Bedell at dbedell@dallasnews.com.

ILLUS: (Sources: Dallas Morning News research, Miros,Emory University) 1. Fingerprint recognition 2. Opticalrecognition 3. Facial recognition 4. Voice recognition 5.Signature recognition ( The Dallas Morning News) 6. FacialRecognition process.

© 2000 The Dallas Morning News All Rights Reservedsswords a thing of the past., 01-20-2000, pp 1F.

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