SmartMetric Inc. has added functionality to its fingerprint access control card. The device, the size of a standard credit card, has an embedded fingerprint scanner that stores different information. After the user swiped his finger on the scanner it transmits information that can be used to access secure areas.
The first release included a short-range access control frequency, but the new release includes a long-range frequency that can open garage doors or identify individuals as they approach a guard station.
Creating a dual frequency on the one card and still keeping the dimensions of the card to that of a standard credit card was a challenge, according to Colin Hendrick, the company’s founder and CEO.
“We had to install inside the card two separate antennas to enable both short range and long range transmission from the one card. After a person places their finger on the card, the card’s internal electronics scans the fingerprint and then matches it with the person’s pre-stored fingerprint in the card,” he says. “If the person is who they say they are then a match with the internal fingerprint is made and the card is ‘turned on.’” ![[end]](/resources/bullet/archive-4.gif)
