Hi-tech scan for Legislature

Hi-tech scan for Legislature
New Indian Express

BANGALORE: The Vidhana Soudha and the Vikasa Soudha will go hi-tech with the Government set to introduce Biometric devices to upgrade the security set-up at the twin structures housing the Legislature and ministerial offices.

‘‘There is a growing realisation that the existing low-cost security measures do not provide adequate protection against a terrorist attack”.

“It is easy to steal or acquire an employee’s identity card, bypass the policemen at the entrance,’’ said H C Kishore Chandra, Additional Commissioner (Law and Order), Bangalore.

The Biometric device helps ascertain a man’s identity with his unique physical features or characteristics before allowing him inside. The technology has been around for quite some time in various forms.

The most familiar modes are photographs on identity cards or fingerprints. Less familiar modes, often used in high-security areas, include retinal scanning, voice print authentication, or palm print scanning.

The new set-up will provide an upgraded, fool-proof and convenient security to the Vidhana Soudha and the Vikasa Soudha.

Employees and regular staff members will have to pass through the touch-screen device counters to be set up at the four entrances, manned by security personnel.

The touch-screen verifies the fingerprint of the employee along with the one already collected and clears his entry only if both match.

‘‘This security system will induce a sense of fear among the criminals. It will not be easy for them to gain entry into the Vidhana Soudha and the Vikasa Soudha,’’ Kishore Chandra said.

The system will not cause inconvenience to people coming to meet ministers at the Vidhana Soudha.

Temporary passes embossed with scanned photos will be issued to visitors. Among other hi-tech gadgets the Government is planning to install are access-control devices, horizontal gates and automatic buttons, which jam the gates in an eventuality.

‘‘The control buttons will block the vehicle movements whenever needed. The criminal can then be trapped inside the premises,’’ Chandra said.

What is Biometrics?

Science of measuring an individual’s physical properties and comparing them with others’ Biometric data to determine identification.

Types of Biometrics used World-wide

* Fingerprint verification: Verifying through thumb impression. Used exclusively around the world due to relatively low cost, small size and ease of integration.

* Hand geometry: It is concerned with measuring physical characteristics of the hand and fingers. Used extensively in attendance-recording duties.

* Voice verification: Biometric voice is compared with the recorded voice. Not very user friendly.

* Retinal scanning: An established technology where the unique patterns of the retina are scanned by a low-intensity light source via an optical coupler. Not convenient for a spectacle wearer.

* Iris scanning: It utilises a conventional CCD camera element and requires no intimate contact between user and reader.

* Facial recognition: Verification through facial measurements but difficult to substantiate in practice.

* Others include use of Biometric chip, scent, ear lobes.

Future applications

* ATM Machines

* Internet transactions

* Telephone transactions

* Public identity cards.