Advanced Biometrics Tech For Your Home

Whether on TV or in the movies, we've probably all seen advanced keyless lock systems, based on biometrics -- you know, a lock that grants you access with a thumbprint or eye scan.

You may even know such keyless lock systems are used in growing numbers in real life to secure government buildings and other key facilities. Did you know that keyless lock systems are also available for your home?

Moreover, you may think such technology would cost you, the homeowner, thousands of dollars to install. But you would be wrong. You can get keyless entry systems for your home -- and the security and convenience they bring -- for less than 200 bucks.

Imagine never having to worry about a physical key again, or the hassle of your kids being locked out after school. Now you can. Just click the links above to learn more.

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Upgraded Biometric Technology Facilitates Visitors' Entry to the United States

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced today that upgraded biometric technology is in place at major U.S. ports of entry, and most international visitors should expect to use the new technology when they enter the United States. DHS's US-VISIT program began upgrading its biometric technology from a two- to a 10-fingerprint collection standard in 2007 to make the entry process faster and more accurate, enabling DHS officials to focus their attention on people who may pose a risk to the United States, those officials say.

"Since 2004, biometrics have facilitated legitimate travel for millions of visitors entering the United States," says US-VISIT Director Robert Mocny. "The 10-fingerprint upgrade makes this proven system even more efficient and enhances the security of our nation."

For the last five years, U.S. Department of State consular officers and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers have collected biometric information -- digital fingerprints and a photograph -- from all non-U.S. citizens between the ages of 14 and 79, with some exceptions, when they apply for visas or arrive at major U.S. ports of entry. State consular officers began collecting 10 fingerprints from visa applicants in 2007.

Collecting 10 fingerprints increases fingerprint matching accuracy and reduces the possibility that the system will misidentify an international visitor, DHS says. It also strengthens DHS's capability to check visitors' fingerprints against the FBI's criminal data and enables DHS to check visitors' fingerprints against latent fingerprints collected by the Department of Defense (DOD) and the FBI from known and unknown terrorists around the world, DHS says.

DHS's US-VISIT program, in cooperation with CBP, is leading the department's upgrade to 10-fingerprint collection. This upgrade is the result of an interagency partnership among DHS, FBI, DOD and State.

US-VISIT provides biometric identification services to agencies throughout federal, state and local government. The program's most visible service is the collection of biometrics from international visitors when they apply for visas and enter the United States. Since US-VISIT began in 2004, DHS's use of biometrics has helped prevent the use of fraudulent documents, protect visitors from identity theft, and stop thousands of criminals and immigration violators from entering the United States.

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The Science of Biometrics, Now For Your Home

The technology of computerized identification of individuals based on distinguishing characteristics was once belonged to the world of science fiction. Remember the Starfleet computer recognizing Captain Kirk by an iris scan in the film Wrath of Khan, for instance?

No longer. In fact, biometrics as an area exploded following the 9/11 attacks as homeland security concerns drove the need for new, more efficient ways to authenticate people. Well, that homeland security technology is now finding its way into commercialized -- even consumer -- applications today.

That's what's behind the concept of the keyless lock. Imagine securing access to home simply by use of your fingerprint. What keyless entry systems did for convenience and security for our personal vehicles, the keyless lock system will do for our homes.

Consider that with a keyless lock you and your family need not be locked outside for want of a misplaced house key. Indeed, your home biometric system can be programmed for temporary, conditional access by others -- such as a petsitter or a neighbor coming to check your mail while you are away.

It's amazing to me that when you stop to think about it, we have relied on basically the same ancient physical key-entry technology for our homes for hundreds of years, with no advance -- until now. I just wonder why it took until the 21st century to move this concept and this old tech forward.

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