Sony intros Mofiria vein authentication tech
updated 04:40 pm EST, Mon February 2, 2009
Sony Mofiria security tech
Taking user authentication to the next level, Sony on Monday has introduced a new type of technology with its finger vein authentication called mofiria. Sony claims the new tech offers greater accuracy and resistance to forgery as it relies on finger vein patterns that are inside a user's body. Mofiria relies on a CMOS sensor that reads scattered light through the finger that originates from a near-infrared LED light. The mofiria sensor can be made small enough to fit on notebook computers and mobile devices.
Users' finger vein patterns do not change over the years and can thus be used to verify a person's identity. The captured image of the vein pattern is compressed into one-tenth the original and stored in memory, making it possible for the data to be stored on a mobile device. The position of the finger is also more forgiving, as it is automatically corrected at the same time as its being read. Sony claims a False Rejection Rate of less than 0.1 percent and under 0.0001 percent for False Acceptance Rate accuracy standards. Speeds are said to be 0.015 seconds when using a PC's CPU and 0.25 seconds on a mobile phone's CPU.
Sony wasn't specific on when the technology will be available, saying only that it plans to commercialize mofiria in the 2009 fiscal year, incorporating it into mobile electronics, gateway security systems and solution services.
