Show Coverage: CardTech/SecurTech

Jun 1, 1998 12:00 PM, AC&SSI Staff

Card technology for security applications abounds at show In the past, when most U.S. security managers heard the terms "smart cards" and "biometric security," they envisioned high-tech, high-cost solutions. Today, the technologies are viable electronic and physical security products. But remember that the technology means different things to different users. At the recent CardTech/SecurTech conference and exposition, advanced chip-based-card technology (smart cards) and biometrics were the primary topics. More than 8,500 visitors from 70 countries, including manufacturers, dealers, distributors and end-users, convened at the show April 27-30 in Washington, D.C. The more than 250 educational sessions offered something for everyone - from financial applications, to healthcare management solutions and access control and physical security. More than a card technology event, CardTech/SecurTech offered a range of smart card, cryptographic and biometric technologies in applications such as Internet commerce, network security, banking, wireless telecommunications, healthcare management, retail loyalty programs, transit systems, government services and healthcare. In addition to seminars on technologies and their applications in vertical markets, there were dedicated sessions on integration, legal and regulatory issues and social implications. "Every organization has a need to deal with people in our increasingly wired world, and that makes the card and security industry very exciting," said Ben Miller, CardTech/SecurTech's conference chair and founder. "Numerous industries are now deploying smart cards and biometric devices because they are seen as tools that will allow us all to continue to deal with each other on an individual and secure basis." Exhibitors targeting the security industry included Microsoft, Sun Microsystems, Hewlett-Packard, IBM, Siemens, Motorola, 3M, Toshiba, Schlumberger, Datacard, Nisca, Polaroid, Fargo Electronics and many more. There were more than 300 exhibiting companies from around the world, including Austria, Australia, Belgium, Canada, China, England, Finland, France, Germany, Holland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea, Scotland, Singapore, Spain, Switzerland and Taiwan. According to Miller, "Many of the most ambitious applications of smart card technology have occurred overseas. Having these innovators here provides U.S. attendees with the opportunity to interact with people who have been through the process."

The exhibition Card technologies in general were the focus on the exhibition floor. Card printer technologies and high-security card features such as overlays, holograms and products such as 3M's secure laminate generated interest. There was also interest from electronic security visitors in contactless smart cards used in conjunction with biometric access control applications. Eltron International, designer and manufacturer of plastic-card and thermal-label printers, announced its electronic purse smart card personalization capability at the show. Demonstrations showed the integration of Eltron's P300 plastic card printer with UbiQ's UbiQlink smart card personalization software and Schlumberger's Payflex electronic purse smart cards. Fargo Electronics introduced its new Pro ID card printer, which is designed for users who do not need built-in lamination capabilities. The Pro produces dual-sided ID cards with any combination of full-color photos, text, graphics, bar codes and overlays in just 25 seconds, according to Fargo. SAC Technologies announced that it has received certification from the International Computer Security Association, an independent certification organization, in a first round of biometric testing. Of six participating vendors, SAC was the only company that participated and received certification in the "Identification" (M1: one-to-many) category. "The biometrics industry must take a proactive and sincere position regarding the capabilities and limitations of biometric technology," said SAC CEO Barry Wendt. "We are pleased to be the first company to receive ICSA's Identification certification. As an emerging technology, it is very important that biometric companies properly represent the technology to gain consumer acceptance and trust." SAC Technologies provides technology for network and computer security without the use of PINs, passwords or tokens. The company offers SACcat, a system-administrator-controlled computer access terminal for individual computer workstations and networks that supports Windows, Novell and UNIX environments. It also includes bundled applications consisting of: - workstation-logon, which controls who can boot and operate a computer; - screen-saver-lockout, which secures a workstation when a user is away from his or her desk; and - local-network-logon and remote-network-logon, which restrict who has access to a specific network and what applications can be run. All these applications use a user's unique fingerprint-based BioKey. Biometrics manufacturer Recognition Systems, a division of Harrow Products, was the focus of several end-user presentations. Using Recognition Systems' patented hand geometry technology, both Citicorp and San Francisco International Airport have integrated card technologies and biometrics for more secure access. Security managers responsible for these applications say the technology enables them to know who gains access to their secure areas. San Francisco International Airport's new access control system, which integrates magnetic cards, biometrics and CCTV, cost $3.4 million. Currently, it supports 392 access portals and 80 hand geometry readers and can support up to 2,000 portals and a card database of 1 million. Nisca/Kanematsu USA introduced the PR5200, a high-volume, dual-side plastic card printer that can print 200+ single-sided cards per hour (standard format) and 140+ cards per hour (edge-to-edge). The PR5200 offers edge-to-edge capability for the production of drivers' licenses, employee badges, government and college ID cards, prepaid phone cards, IC chip cards and other identification cards and badges. It can print one single-side card every 25 seconds (edge-to-edge format) and one dual-side card every 52 seconds (edge-to-edge format) using an automatic card flip-over feature. The system also has a downloadable firmware feature, allowing operators to perform system upgrades via a software update instead of ordering and installing EEPROM chips. The PR5200 is equipped with a SCSI interface, and a 1.6 megabyte image can be downloaded to the PR5200 in 3 to 4 seconds. Other features include a replaceable snap-in ribbon cartridge and self-aligning printhead module.

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