Tech Files

November/December 2001

www.eyeticket.com
www.iridiantech.com
Security in airports is of prime concern to many these days, and it seems that biometric identification technologies may be the solution for many problem areas. But what’s the best biometric?
"What do you want to do with it?" answers Evan Smith, senior vice president of Virginia-based EyeTicket Corporation. "There is a lot of confusion in the media right now about biometric technologies. Many people incorrectly assume that the different biometrics are interchangeable."
Smith says that high-volume identification systems like employee access doors require extreme accuracy, high fraud resistance, minimal insanitary contact, speed, and ease of use — all of which iris recognition provides.
On the other hand, "iris recognition requires the individual to initiate an access or check-in transaction by looking at the camera," says Smith. "Thus, iris recognition is useless in the surreptitious, anti-terrorist surveillance applications where facial recognition excels."
The lesson learned from Smith is this: each biometric has at least one application where it beats the others out. Considering the pros and cons of each technology is key.
EyeTicket Corporation offers the EyePass access control system and JetStream facial recognition system. EyeTicket licenses its iris recognition technology from New Jersey-based Iridian Technologies.

www.flight2ground.com
Valley Oil Company, LLC, and Multi Service Corporation announce that the Flight2Ground web-based flight and ground service scheduling system has gone "live".

www.signatureflight.com
Signature Flight Support launches ConciAir, an online reservation system accessed via the "Reservations" button on Signature’s home page.

www.clarityvisual.com
Clarity Visual Systems has been awarded a new $1.2 million contract with Washington Dulles Int’l Airport. Clarity will provide more than 200 high-resolution rear-projection displays as part of an upgrade to Dulles’ passenger terminal and two midfield concourses. Installation will be completed in 2002.

www.intersystemsww.com
InterSystems has won contracts at Calgary Int’l, Houston George Bush Intercontinental, and Canberra Air-port in Australia. The Calgary project includes a FIDS software upgrade and 20 plasma screens. In Houston, InterSystems will install a FIDS server; Terminal A will receive 28 LED displays, one plasma screen, and 40 monitors and workstations. Inter-Systems has completed the installation of its RapidFIDS system in Canberra.

www.wayport.net
www.ipass.com
Wayport Inc. has "teamed up" with iPass Inc. to offer iPass customers access to Wayport’s 420-plus locations in airports and hotels.