Fujitsu Announces the PalmSecure

Fujitsu Asia has announced the launch of the PalmSecure palm vein biometric authentication device, which according to the company is an improvement over its pre-decessor the Palm Vein.

The PalmSecure is engineered using Fujitsu's palm vein authentication technology, and works by emiting near-infrared rays then absorbed by deoxidized haemoglobin present in the blood flowing through the veins of a user's palm. In effect an image of the user's palm is captured as a vein pattern which is verified against the user's pre-registered pattern in order to check for authenticity, so as to grant or deny access to a physical location or a computer network.

Fujitsu's research claims that the PalmSecure exhibits a very small FAR (false acceptance rate) which is the rate at which an unauthorized person is granted access, plus a reduced FRR or the rate at which an authorized person is not given credibility for being so.

Fujitsu says that its PalmSecure captures a vein pattern only if haemoglobin is actively flowing through the user's veins, and that no two individuals have identical vein patterns. Besides - a user needs to only place his/her palm above the PalmSecure for it to capture the palm vein pattern. Fujitsu also says that PalmSecure's functioning is not compromised by external factors such as bodily scars, skin abrasions and wounds.

With dimensions of 35 x 35 x 27mm the PalmSecure is smaller than a matchbox and features fast authentication; maximum operable temperature of 60 degrees celsius; and direct connectivity to the USB port of a notebook PC, etc.

Chandran Sashi Kanth, business manager, Fujitsu India, said, "Fujitsu's palm vein authentication technology was commercialised in 2004, and has since been deployed by financial institutions, universities, libraries, government offices and private enterprises. We are extremely proud to use this award-winning technology to develop the PalmSecure and position ourselves as a dominant player in the dynamic biometrics market."

The PalmSecure will be available in India as well as Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, and Vietnam beginning end-June 2006; and will retail for a suggested price of Rs 15,750 per sensor.

Fujitsu is offering support through a dedicated PalmSecure website, which will provide technical data, enhanced services for related software, software development kits (SDKs), etc.