Fujitsu informs us that The University of Tokyo Hospital is upgrading its room access security system to contactless palm vein authentication technology:
In the past, the hospital had been using fingerprint-based biometric authentication technology to prevent unauthorized access to its Department of Planning, Information and Management. However, in view of the Personal Information Protection Act that went into full effect in Japan in April 2005, the University of Tokyo Hospital sought a more secure means of preventing information leaks, and began using a new room access security system utilizing Fujitsu’s contactless palm vein authentication technology from March 28 this year.
The system’s security levels are divided into three access levels: access to the administrative room, the development room and the server room. A contactless palm vein authentication device has been installed at the entrance of each room. The system is able to restrict an individual’s entry in stages, by checking data read by the contactless palm vein authentication device against pre-registered palm vein patterns.
Palm vein patterns are unique with each individual and aside from size, the vein patterns do not change over a person’s lifetime. As the veins are internal in the body and have a wealth of differentiating features, assuming false identity through forgery is extremely difficult, thereby enabling an extremely high level of security. Furthermore, other advantages of palm vein pattern authentication include minimal impact from such factors as cold weather, injuries, skin chafing, and strong resistance to impact from changes in external environmental factors. Moreover, Fujitsu’s system features contactless technology and does not require direct contact with the device. Simply suspending the hand in the air over the device is sufficient for reading and authentication. This hygienic feature makes it possible for numerous users to use the device without hesitance, as it is unnecessary to touch surfaces that others have come into physical contact with.
The system’s security levels are divided into three access levels: access to the administrative room, the development room and the server room. A contactless palm vein authentication device has been installed at the entrance of each room. The system is able to restrict an individual’s entry in stages, by checking data read by the contactless palm vein authentication device against pre-registered palm vein patterns.The press release…
The technology (.pdf)…
In similar vein: Biometric Mouse with Palm Vein Pattern Recognition Technology…
UPDATE (5/16/05): The system revealed:
