First Biometric Facial Recognition Security System Using RFID Technology Eyes Canadian Market

[08/22/08] @ MoreRFID.com

RFID ProSolutions, Canadian leaders in RFID technology consulting and engineering, and American RFID Solutions, an industry-recognized leading manufacturer and solution provider, have announced a strategic reseller agreement for the distribution of TES, Trusted eSentry Security, a new, innovative biometric facial recognition system in Canada.

TES is a biometric/RFID security system that allows for the automatic identification of individuals using a combination of facial recognition and HF or UHF RFID technology (access cards).

"The ID cards are already used to control access to restricted areas but by adding a second reading of distinctive authenticity through biometric recognition; we've taken security to new heights," said Harold Clampitt, CEO & Founder of American RFID Solutions. "And this is the level of protection confidential information, valuable goods and sensitive environments require."

"The beauty of the system is that there is no central data base that can cause accusations of copying or stealing information," stated Andre Lacaille, President of RFID ProSolutions. "Systems that require prints are known for leaving evidence behind because of the physical contact that is required and therefore the information can be copied."

The system was recognized earlier this year as a Best in Show finalist for the RFID Journal Awards in Las Vegas and has a read rate of 99.999999% which makes this system one of the most secure in the world. The system works independently or through a network to interface with existing systems to form an increased secured perimeter.

"We are extremely excited about introducing this system to Canadian organizations and security integrators; this is an important addition to our portfolio of solutions" says Jebb Nucci, Vice President of Operations for RFID ProSolutions.

About RFID ProSolutions

RFID ProSolutions, a division of ProAction Management Group, offers their services in needs analysis, process design, solution selection and development, implementation and change management support. Specialized in RFID technology, RFID ProSolutions is a project management and solution-driven firm that focuses entirely on bringing the best possible products and the most innovative solutions to meet their customer's business needs.

About American RFID Solutions

American RFID Solutions is the developer of the Trusted eSentry Security System, TrackStar and eDOTS, and offers turnkey solutions, consulting and products in the areas of active, passive, RTLS, near field and far field RFID technologies. http://americanRFIDsolutions.com

Study: Revenue From Video Surveillance Software To Dramatically Increase In Next Five Years

May 29, 2008
from Security Products Online

Video surveillance systems have existed for many years, but until recently, extracting useful information from them was labor-intensive, time-consuming and tedious.

Now, however, the quickening transition from analog to digital video has made it possible to use software for detection and analysis. This can free humans from the drudgery while improving accuracy and creating opportunities to use video in ways never before possible.

“Analytics software has become increasingly sophisticated and more accurate,” said ABI Research vice president and research director Stan Schatt. “It is beginning to be used for such tasks as identifying customer buying behavior, identifying criminal behavior before crimes take place, identifying objects left unattended in public venues, and much more.”

A new study from the firm forecasts a nearly fourfold increase in revenue from video surveillance software between now and the end of 2013, rising from about $245 million to more than $900 million.

In fact, surveillance software has a myriad uses. The homeland security applications are self-evident, but it is also starting to be used in marketing, to identify customer’s “eyeball connections” with products and analyze their retail behavior. In a retail environment it can also analyze customer traffic patterns, helping to improve store layouts. ABI Research expects the retail market segment to grow exponentially. Casinos are also using it to keep staff from restricted areas.

Software can also be used in ATMs and in banks, to identify known criminals before they commit a crime (shades of the film Minority Report).

“There are many small software companies in this market, and some big ones such as IBM, which has released software that is largely platform-agnostic, increasing pressure for others to follow suit. And while most systems today are sold to end-users,” Schatt said. “IBM Global Services sees potential in a managed service model, and it would not be surprising to see HP jump in as well, particularly following its EDS acquisition.”

Cincinnati’s Use Of Automated License Plate Recognition Pays Off

From Security Products

By Brent Dirks · May 2, 2008

The Cincinnati Police Department is using automated license plate recognition from Federal Signal PIPS and seeing strong results.

Using the technology to identify stolen vehicles and wanted suspects and to serve as a crime analysis tool and deterrent, the city has ordered seven more installations of the technology with plans to expand in order to include fixed camera installations throughout Cincinnati.

“We’re not doing dead-end leads anymore,” said Capt. Jeff Butler of the Cincinnati Police Department. “We’re going with a purpose because there’s a high likelihood that someone is going to be there.”

In the first five months of deployment, more than 300,000 license plates were read. Of those, 8,000 vehicles were of interest to law enforcement and 300 suspects were taken into custody -- including a homicide suspect and bank robber.

Beyond locating vehicles of interest, city officials also have found dividends with the investigative use of Federal Signal PIPS Back Office System Software (BOSS).

Copper theft has swept the nation and is turning into a major problem for urban law enforcement. With the BOSS system, police used an eyewitness account of a vehicle leaving the scene of a copper theft to nab the suspect. Using the vehicle’s license plate number, law enforcement tracked down when and where the suspect had been seen around the city. With a cluster of locations from the data, police set up surveillance and were able to make an arrest.

BOSS also provides data sharing and multi-jurisdictional search capabilities with other law enforcement agencies that use Federal Signal PIPS systems.

“Federal Signal’s advanced ALPR technology, which is widely deployed in Europe, continues to gain traction here in North America,” said Michael K. Wons, vice president and general manager of Federal Signal’s Public Safety Systems Division.

About the author

Brent Dirks
Brent Dirks is e-news editor for Security Products magazine.

Nashville Schools to Test Face Recognition Technology

Securityinfowatch.com has a really interesting article about Face Recognition Technology being used in Nashville schools to ID intruders.


Nashville Schools to Test Face Recognition Technology 75,000-student district seeks to ID people unfamiliar and barred faces

Thomas Frank, USA TODAY

The Nashville school system plans to become the first in the nation to use security cameras that spot intruders with controversial face-recognition technology.

Starting Dec. 1, the 75,000-student district will equip three schools and an administration building with cameras that can detect an unfamiliar face or someone barred from school grounds, said Ralph Thompson, assistant superintendent for student services.

"This will give us an edge in providing safety for our students and teachers," Thompson said of the $30,000 camera system. Several intruders have entered Nashville schools in the past year, he said.

A successful test in Nashville could prod other schools to try the technology, said Peter Pochowski, executive director of the National Association of School Safety and Law Enforcement Officers. He said Nashville is the first to use face-recognition cameras.

Nashville will take digital photos of students and workers at the three test schools and store them in the new camera system, Thompson said. When a camera spots a face in a school that it cannot match to a stored photo, it will alert security. The system also could detect suspended and expelled students and fired employees, Thompson said.

The technology is denounced by civil libertarians and has been discarded by police in Tampa and Virginia Beach, which found face-recognition cameras in downtown districts did not help in spotting wanted criminals.

"Schools should not feel like some sort of prison," said Melissa Ngo of the Electronic Privacy Information Center.

Jay Stanley of the American Civil Liberties Union said that because the cameras identify people, their widespread use could let authorities "track you throughout the day."

Schools have grown more open to security technology since the Columbine shootings in 1999, though many lack money for high-tech devices, said Ken Trump, a school safety consultant.

Many urban schools have networks of security cameras that are monitored from a control room. Some use radio-frequency ID cards to track students as they board school buses and enter buildings. Others check visitors' names against databases of sex offenders.

An elementary school in Phoenix installed face-recognition cameras in 2004 to find sex offenders but never turned them on because of concern they would flag innocent people, said Carol Donaldson of the Washington Elementary School District.

Jonathon Phillips, head of the National Institute of Standards and Technology's face-recognition program, said the cameras have problems in poor lighting or if they photograph at an angle and cannot fully view a face. A test last year in a German subway found that cameras spotted only half of the test subjects, Phillips said.

So what do you think of this use of technology?

- The Hackett Security Team