Identity, Security, Payments, Biometrics, Smart Cards and Authentication News

IBM's Special RFID System Helps Airports Manage Bags

Monday, October 8, 2007

IBM will provide a baggage management system to control and track each bag using robot-handling software and RFID, Information Week correspondent K.C. Jones reported this morning.

IBM also will provide consulting services, hardware, software, and application development for the project, which is taking place in the Netherlands.

“Airports and airlines see improved baggage handling as a major step towards increasing passenger satisfaction,” Charles Vincent, director of IBM Travel and Transport Europe, said in a statement. “The efficiencies of the new system will cut down operating costs and improve transfer connection times for passengers at Schiphol.” [end] 

Multimodal biometric security provider ImageWare Systems Inc. has released version 2.0 of its Biometric Engine (BE) physical security identification product.

This product is designed for airports, seaports and other critical points-of-access for government and private enterprises. This update takes into account the SAFE Port Act, which requires foreign shippers to secure cargo being shipped to the U.S. and ensure the identity of those loading it. Shippers must manage this by 2013.

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The U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Australia’s Attorney General and Ministry of Defense are exploring ways to grant reciprocation for fast-tracking each other’s citizens through customs checks in both countries, reports Australian Business Traveller.

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A group of graduate students at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) are working to develop a new type of sensor using RFID technology to monitor freshness levels in fruits and vegetables, according to scdigest.com.

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Korea’s KT and Japan’s NTT DoCoMo have announced that their international NFC coupon service will go live on April 1.

The first product to come out of last year’s agreement between the two telecos, the NFC “roaming” coupon service will enable KT subscribers traveling to Japan to use NFC coupons at select stores within Japanese airports and shopping malls in downtown Tokyo.

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Two UK airports have stopped using iris cameras and the other two are slated to stop after the upcoming Summer Olympics, reports The Telegraph. Birmingham and Manchester airports already removed the cameras, where they have been since 2005, but they will remain at Gatwick and Heathrow for the duration of the Olympics.

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Missouri State University has selected Blackboard Transact to implement a contactless student ID card. This enables the new system to integrate student identification, door security, commerce and campus payment into a single contactless card.

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