Fingerprints are not perfect

April 2012 Access Control & Identity Management

Fingerprints are one of the most common biometrics for automating time and attendance, but they are most suited to white-collar environments where people do not work with their hands. Because fingerprint scanners rely on the small contours of your fingertip, they can be sensitive to oil and other chemicals, dust or scratches. This results in a high rejection rate in industrial or construction environments.

Many companies find that hand geometry is faster and more consistent as a high volume biometric measurement because it is unaffected by dirt, paint, oil or scratches on the fingers. Hand geometry scanners are robust and will provide years of reliable service in both time and attendance and access control applications.

Hand scanners measure and analyse the overall structure, shape and proportions of the hand – it does not read your palm print. The terminal analyses the length, width and thickness of hand, fingers and joints as well as characteristics of the skin surface such as creases and ridges. The shape and size of our hands are surprisingly distinctive and remain relatively stable over time. You could even paint your hand a different colour and it would still work!

Benefits of biometric hand scanners

* Accurate across a wide range of lighting conditions and skin colours. Reads 30 000 points of an individual’s hand in less than one second.

* Verifies identity reliably even when hands are dirty or stained.

* Able to withstand wide changes in temperature.

* The anti-microbial base plate is appropriate for hygienic environments such as hospitals and laboratories.

* Hands cannot be lost, stolen, borrowed or left at home.

* The system cannot be fooled by prosthetics, jewellery or false fingernails.

Face geometry

In many commercial and office environments, a contactless biometric solution is more acceptable to both management and staff because it is less intrusive. Uniclox FaceID terminals use high quality cameras to verify your identity based on the precise geometric location of facial features.

The FaceID maintains high performance even under poor lighting conditions. The design makes this terminal perfect for both door access as well as time and attendance at any office. Contactless authentication is the ultimate in hygienic use and is suitable for cultural and religious groups that consider touching offensive.

Integrate with your HR, ERP or payroll

“Biometric readers are one of the most effective automated solutions for time and attendance,” reports James Oliver of Uniclox Technologies. “Face and hand geometry terminals will provide years of reliable service in environments that deal with complex shifts and schedules.”

For more information contact Uniclox Technologies, +27 (0)11 439 2000, [email protected], www.uniclox.co.za



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