National Biometric Security Project (NBSP) has announced the availability of a new update to the published and emerging biometric standards that include 17 new standards since the previous incarnation released in September 2009. The new listing of standards brings the total to 111 with an additional 95 standards outlined as emerging standards that are under consideration. Many of the standards listed were put in place to increase security, ease interoperability between different companies’ products, ease interfacing with specific technology and standards put in place to assist developers creating new technologies.  

Luxand announced release of a free, downloadable version of its Blink! facial recognition software. The software provides as a biometric-based login service Windows 7 and Windows Vista operating systems via a user’s regular webcam. In addition to authenticating the individual accessing the computer, Blink! also takes and records a still image of each person trying to access the computer to help prevent unauthorized access, and touts the ability to correctly recognize stored faces despite poor lighting conditions or basic changes in a user’s look such as glasses or hair cuts.