Fingerprint Readers & Scanners

Fingerprint Biometric Solutions

Biometric technology compares employees unique physical bio-metric details (like fingerprint, palm, face etc) to identify them, for the purpose of physical and logical access control, time and attendance systems and government criminal and record checks. There are many types of bio-metric technology available for companies to consider. The most mature technology is fingerprint reader systems; with two decades of developments and refinements to the technology.

Bio-metrics is the most secure and easy to use verification and authentication method. It can’t be borrowed, stolen, or lost. While methods do exist to spoof bio-metric readers, including fingerprint readers (Google "How to make a fake fingerprint"), the technology is aware of this and algorithms and systems have been developed which can detect fake fingerprints.

Bio-metric technology can be integrated into almost any application that requires physical access control, logical access control, and the identification or verification of users.

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Fingerprint Verification and Recognition.

A fingerprint is the twirls, swirls and whirls on the tips of all your fingers. One of the reasons fingerprint biometric technology is the most mature technology available for biometric identification and verification, is that there are many different methods to approach fingerprint verification and recognition, and over the last 15+ years, this technology has been refined to where it is today. The most common method is the matching of various minutiae points which appear on your fingers, which are unique to every individual.

How fingerprint matching works

Fingerprint reader systems convert the actual image of a fingerprint into an electronic template.

The purpose of this is generally for registration, using a USB fingerprint scanner, or for identification and verification. The fingerprint reader or scanner uses an advanced image sensor to capture high resolution fingerprint images, with an exceptional contrast. These images are almost completely undistorted.

Using patented algorithms, the unique features of this image are turned into a digital constellation, and stored as a fingerprint template, unique to a specific user, and stored on the reader or in a software database.

Some users express privacy concerns regarding their fingerprint being stored in a database: the actual fingerprint image is never stored, and cannot be be reverse engineered from the fingerprint template or constellation.

When the fingerprint is placed on the fingerprint reader or USB-scanner again, these unique features are used for verification or identification.

Verification is the 1:1 matching process, where a user's biometric information is compared to previously enrolled information. This process is normally used in conjuction with other identifying information, like a user ID, name or ID number.

Identification is the 1:N (one to many) matching process, where the user's biometric information compared to the entire database of available templates, to identify the user in a physical access control system (turnstile, door, vehicle barriers), logical access control system (access to a server/PC/console or SSO solutions), or time and attendance systems.

There are four major brands in Southern Africa regarding fingerprint reader technology.

They are - Sagem/Morpho, ZKTeco, Suprema and Virdi

Blake Consultants is a product-independant company. What this means is, we work with our customers and partners to identify the best and right solution, considering every aspect of your project, all the while endeavouring to exceed your expectations and deliver only excellence.

What is FRR and FAR?

FRR (false rejection rate) and FAR (false acceptance rate) are two very important concepts for every user of fingerprint reader technology to understand. FRR is when a user who should be granted access or clock-in, is falsely rejected. This can occur because of various lighting conditions, the quality of the fingerprint reader installed, poorly registered fingerprints and various other factors. This can cause users to become frustrated with the system. Solutions around this can range from capturing the fingerprint again, checking if the sensor on the fingerprint reader is damaged or scratched, or user-training, where users are shown how to place their finger correctly on the sensor. Another solution around this, is to lower the security level on the reader, which some readers do allow. This tells the fingerprint reader to require a lesser percentage of matched minutiae points to accept the user. This can however lead to an increased FAR, whereby users who shouldn't be accepted or granted access, are. This is a more serious problem, where unauthorised users can thereby be granted access to areas or sensitve data. FRR and FAR can vary dramatically between fingerprint readers and various biometric technologies, and therefore this is one of the main reasons at Blake Consultants we always recommend installing the highest quality fingerprint readers possible, be it for access control solutions or time and attendance systems.

So, now what?

With our 15+ years of experience in fingerprint readers, time and attendance solutions and access control systems, it is our belief that every company can see a very real tangible benefit by installing a high quality biometric fingerprint readers at their premises. From a simple single reader solution for time and attendance for 5-100 employees, to sophisticated access control management system of a large corporation, with many different locations, hundreds of fingerprint readers and thousands of employees, we have always seen significant returns on investment every time. In the 21st century, companies simply cannot be without a biometric fingerprint reader solution.

ROI

Is there a return on investment when implementing this technology? Let us consider a basic example to demonstrate this; let's look at "Customer A"

They have 100 employees, earning R1000.00 per week, which makes their weekly wage bill R100 000.00 (one hundred thousand rand)*
Each employee is mean to work 40 hours per week, or 2400 (40 X 60) minutes per week
On average, each employee (considering late arrival for work, early departure from work, long tea- and lunch-breaks), only works 2350 minutes per week, which is 10 lost minutes per day on average (Monday to Friday) of productivitiy for "Customer A"
R1000.00 per 2400 minutes is R20.83 per 50 minutes per week per employee - put another way, R2083 for 100 employees, which can be saved per week by "Customer A", or R108 000.00+ per annum, by installing comprehensive time and attendance software and biometric fingerprint reader technology.

We generally see a ROI of between 3-9 months at all our customers.

Important Things to consider regarding Biometric Fingerprint Readers

Not all readers are the same. There are cheaper fingerprint readers, with cheap unrealiable sensors, poor manufacturing and poor design, and then there are high quality fingerprint readers, in widespread use, designed to deliver exceptional value for money, ease of use to end-users, and signficant longevity on site. We have fingerprint reader technology which was installed almost a decade ago at our customers, which is still fully functional and operational. Cheaper systems often use normal glass for their sensors. Over time and with extended usage, this glass gets marked and scratched, and the effectiveness of this reader starts to diminish. High quality sensors often use hardened glass, with various types of anti-scratch coatings, allowing these devices to last years and years, delivering the same quality and FAR/FRR each time.

Fingerprint Readers vs Proximity Card or Paper Clock-card systems

There are some significant benefits from using a fingerprint reader for time-and-attendance and access control, vs the traditional proximity card or paper clock-card systems.

Fingerprint Readers eliminate buddy-clocking. This is where one employee is taking 2+ cards, and clocking both.
Paper Clock-cards and Proximity cards have an initial cost.
Biometrics gives you the guarantee that it was the correct and authorised user gaining access to your premises or network.
Proximity cards can be lost and then need replacing
Paper Clock-cards require manual input into software or a spreadsheet, and this is time-consuming and errors can be made

So, does it always work?

There are some instances where fingerprint biometric technology should potentially not be considered, and rather be replaced with face or palm biometric recognition. High quality fingerprint readers can accommodate and handle most enviroments, but there are some just too extreme. One such example we have encountered was a glue factory, where the employees would end up wth glue on their hands and fingers during the course of their work-day. A fingerprint reader is unable to read through this layer of glue, and other biometric technologies should be considered in this instance.

The Rules of a Successful Fingerprint Reader Installation

There are some golden rules which apply to every customer and project.

The location of the reader is paramount. Indoor fingerprint readers must not be exposed to harsh lighting (sunlight or industrial lighting), as this can distort what the fingerprint sensor sees, and making identification more difficult. The reader must also not be to close to a wall, so that the users are unable to stand directly in front of it.
The height of the installed reader. 1.45m - 1.5m is considered the correct height to install the sensor, as this places it just above the elbow, and allows for a natural downward pressure when placing your finger onto the reader.
Outdoor readers (IP65) are able and designed to be exposed to rain, dust and sunshine.
Comprehensive user-training on the operation of their fingerprint-readers and fingerprint reader management software, including time-and-attendance software
Better quality fingerprint readers have better sensors and fingerprint reading algorithms, which will have a higher FAR and FRR than cheaper units

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