NEC Corp has developed a fingerprint identification scanner for users to access and control their PC or PDA. The fingerprint sensor LSI (CI No 3,509), from Lucent Technologies Inc spin-off, Veridicom Inc, identifies the image within one second and authenticates the user to the computer. The scanner can identify each individual finger, which enables it to assign different functions to each fingerprint, for example, the print from the left thumb could trigger the opening of files, whereas jumping to a favorite web site could be set off by the right index finger. NEC will target its applications for use in computer security, e-commerce, banking and government systems. The scanner measures 54x100x34mm, weighs 53g and has a resolution of 500 dots per inch. It operates on Windows 95 and CE systems.
