Halifax awards biometric ID contract

Halifax awards biometric ID contract If we told you the Port of Halifax was going to use palm readers as a screening device to determine who to let onto its terminals, that would be silly.
   No, they’re using back-of-the-hand readers.
   Unisys Corp. said it has been awarded a contract from the port to develop and manage a biometric credentialing and access control database system for about 4,000 of its port workers.
   Unisys said the system will use “vascular scanning technology” to identify port workers. An infrared scan of the back of the cardholder’s hand will be embedded in a smart card, which also will include the holder’s photograph.
   This vascular image, which is recognized by a non-invasive infrared sensor, will be used to identify the employee when presenting the card and placing the back of the employee's hand in the scanner.
   Transport Canada and the port will fund the pilot project, scheduled for completion Nov. 30.