Vein Patterns to Verify Identity

JonN writes "Fujitsu Ltd. will start selling a biometric security device next month that relies on vein patterns in the hand to verify a user's identity, it said today. The palm-vein detector contains a camera that takes a picture of the palm of a user's hand. The image is then matched against a database as a means of verification. The camera works in the near-infrared range so veins present under the skin are visible, and a proprietary algorithm is used to help confirm identity. The system takes into account identifying features such as the number of veins, their position and the points at which they cross."

Comments

In short...

[eznihm]

This is somewhat novel and cool because:

a) there need not be any physical contact twixt the biometric reader and the individual - unlike with fingerprint scanners - defintely more hygenic

b) as a previous poster mentioned, it doesn't work if the hand is severed

c) fingerprints may be scarred, burned, or otherwise mutilated

I mean, if you're gonna put people through biometric authentication, you might as well do it right, right?

Veins not very constant

[theufo]

It is not uncommon for the smaller bloodvessels to simply disappear and appear over time to facilitate changes in energy consumption. A tiny inflammation can also cause the surrounding vessels to change themselves quite significantly. Wouldn't want to be denied my own money suddenly.