News and insight into biometric identification and authentication

New anklet monitors BAC through sweat

Friday, September 25, 2009

Law enforcement officials in the U.S. have begun utilizing a device called a SCRAM anklet to keep those on alcohol related probation from drinking by tracking the alcohol in their sweat, according to an MSNBC article. While the device is a potential life saver for the wearers and an effective tool for police and the court systems, its implications of law enforcement being bale to track individuals both by where they are and their physiological state has privacy advocates worried.


Additionally, the tracking of people in this manner is soon to become even more worrisome for privacy advocates as a SCRAM anklet that utilizes GPS is expected to be ready for use soon as well. Many of the privacy advocates looking at the new technology see it as a slippery slope wherein more intrusive technology is around the corner.

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SmartMetric, a developer of portable biometric solutions, has announced that its biometric activated data card can now be used to contain full medical history and health records on the individual. The card, called the SmartMetric Data Card, is a standard sized card that has the capability of holding multiple pages of data as well as being inaccessible without the holder first scanning his fingerprint on the card itself.

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India’s Social Welfare Department has implemented the Beggars Personal Management System to track beggars using biometrics. This effort is to fight recent large-scale deaths and mismanagement within colonies, according to a Deccan Herald article.

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A new study conducted by a team of researchers has found a way to implement wireless monitoring technology by tapping in a building’s heating, ventilating and air-conditioning (HIVAC) ducts, according to EurekAlert.

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While new high-tech vending machines are being released with options such as touch screens, nutritional information displays, wireless coin dispensers, stock monitors and biometric payments, some feel the idea of moving forward with biometric-based payments on the devices may not work yet, according to a Retail Solutions Online article.

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It takes young adults–those between the ages of 18 and 24–some 132 days before they realize they’ve had their identity stolen. In that time, they’ve lost five times the amount of money compared to other age groups, according to Washington State University’s student newspaper.

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The Palos Heights School District 128 in Chicago is using GPS technology to track its students allowing the district to keep up with the student–when he or she first entered the school bus and when the student exited the district’s care.

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