InfoSecurity

March 8, 2007
Iris Reader comes to India!

NEW DELHI -- Biometric technology is claimed to overcome many of the disadvantages of conventional ID and verification techniques such as keys, ID cards and passwords. Panasonic's solution uses Iris Reader to verify the identity of authorised persons - positively and definitively with virtually no chance of mis-identification.

Convergence Plus spoke to Chander Kohli, chief operating officer, Panasonic Asia Pacific (India Branch Office) on Panasonic's proven biometrics solutions and how it plans to extend our security capabilities beyond surveillance and monitoring, to provide a highly effective 'front-end' to our complete security solution.

Convergence Plus: How does Iris recognition technology overcome the disadvantages of conventional ID techniques?

Chander Kohli: Panasonic's Iris Recognition Camera System (BM-ET330), a biometric device, provides a highly effective 'front-end' to access control and security solution and extend its capabilities beyond surveillance and monitoring. The biometric technology overcomes many of the disadvantages of conventional ID and verification techniques such as keys, ID cards and passwords.

Panasonic BM-ET330 reads the iris of the eye to verify the identity of authorised persons with virtually no chance of misidentification. It relies on the complex and intricate patterns in the iris, which are unique to each individual. With a specialised Panasonic video camera, a detailed close-up of the iris of each authorised person is captured into the system. The biometric software then makes a template or 'map' of each person's iris pattern, and stores it in the system. To verify identity later, an individual simply looks into a specialised Panasonic iris camera located at a designated access point. The system compares the patterns in the individual's iris against the templates stored in the system. If there's a match, the identity is verified.

The database of iris template data is secured by 3DES encryption, to guard against theft or misuse of the data. It involves no lasers, bright lights, or any hazardous technology at all. It's as safe to use as any video camera besides complying with worldwide standards. What's more, unlike ID cards and passwords, it is almost impossible to 'spoof' or to counterfeit. Compared to other types of biometric systems, the Panasonic Iris Reader is more accurate and precise. With a false acceptance ratio of 0.001 percent to 0.0001 percent, it is 100 to 1,000 times more accurate than spot fingerprinting; 1,000 to 10,000 times more accurate than hand-print verification and 3,000 percent more accurate than voice-prints.

Panasonic Iris Reader can verify identities automatically, without attendants, in just 0.8 seconds. No contact with the iris cameras is required, which eliminates wear and tear, and contamination issues.

CP: What is the kind of market that you foresee for this technology in India? Which are the key sectors that will be deploying this technology?

CK: Panasonic's Iris Recognition Camera System comes in a tamper-proof design and finds ready application in offices (documents and data storage rooms, safes, boardrooms, secure meeting rooms etc.); laboratories and factories (drug and dangerous or precious material storage rooms or for night and holiday access control); financial institutions; airports and harbors (staff gates and immigration checkpoints) etc. It comes with a built-in real-time clock for time and attendance applications and is supported by a global network of access and control manufacturers and solution providers.

CP: What is the cost of installing the technology? What is the maintenance expenditure and how regularly is it needed?

CK: Panasonic Iris Recognition Camera System is available for Rs. 2,50,000 through the authorised dealer and distribution network of Panasonic Asia Pacific, India. Compared to conventional techniques such as ID cards, keys, and passwords, the Panasonic Iris Reader can be much less costly to administer and operate, and can easily accommodate larger numbers of personnel as the needs grow (up to 5,000 users). It circumvents the need and the costs for ID cards and passwords completely such that the management does not have to worry about ID cards being lost, damaged or stolen or for that matter passwords being forgotten or broken into. As mentioned earlier, it comes in a tamper proof design and therefore is rugged enough for outdoor use. Therefore, it is low on maintenance costs and frequency.

CP: Has security measures come of age in India vis-a-vis rest of the world?

CK: Yes, security measures have indeed come of age in India as against the rest of the world. Actually, the extent of security largely depend on how acute is the need to protect. India has some of the most advanced security deployments in place. Though, these kind of high-end solutions may be in hundreds in a developed country, their count in India is still very select and miniscule. In terms of technology, we are not behind in any way form or manner whatsoever as almost all vendors are selling their latest offerings here.

CP: What prompted the company to build something like the Panaboard?

CK: As businesses become more interactive and collaborative, they need tools that aid routine processes and enhance productivity. All participants (physically present or at a remote location) need to be on the same page i.e. leave the meeting with the same set of information. Besides, users need to make changes in presentations projected on the board during the course of their discussion / meeting. They needed something that could 'write back' to the PC  i.e. alter the PC application open in real-time and in exact accordance with the changes made on the board besides enabling them to toggle between different applications from the board itself. Participants also require the final copy of the presentation for reference later. Considering all of these business requirements, Panasonic came up with an Interactive Panaboard. With this, note taking during meetings has become a thing of the past as everyone can be handed with print-outs instantly and the remote participants can be mailed the collaborated file as an attachement on the spot itself. It also provides a cost-effective teleconferencing solution when used in conjunction with Microsoft NetMeeting—drawing ideas from all of your resources around the world simultaneously.

CP: How is the handwriting recognition technology applied and what are its benefits?

CK: The new interactive Panaboard comes with a unique electronic pen through all of the aforementioned features can be operated. Using the electronic pen, one can scribble anything Making use of the handwriting recognition technology, handwritten words and numbers can be converted into digital text and imported into the different Windows application (English and German languages currently supported). 

The electronic pen can also be used to write and annotate i.e. highlight keywords and subjects, even incorporate comments and feedback in different colors. Adding notes to the presentation has never been easier as they are displayed on the Panaboard, as well as the connected PC, for all to see in real-time. When users need to modify their notes, they can simply use the included eraser to make the changes. Panaboard's drawing tool makes use of the electronic pen and the eraser to enhance the presentations, spreadsheets, graphs and other projected applications. Anything written on the Panaboard can be recorded and played back on the PC in the order it is written.