Model CVJB-G107 features dual cameras (creating a 3D image that prevents false matches using a simple 2D photograph) , night vision, a 3.5 inch TFT display screen, touch keypad, USB and Ethernet port for TCP/IP connections, the ability to register up to 500 faces, and a verification process that supposedly takes less than a second. Using all of this it can store up to 150,000 attendance records of employees, as well as determine which of your relatives are allowed to attend the holiday party this year. [Chinavision via TRFJ]

Ring was deported from Japan twice: once in 2007 and again some time later after she slipped back into the country with her fake prints. Apparently, fingerprint altering procedures are becoming big business for shady doctors looking to make a quick buck. Japanese authorities claim that the practice is widespread in China, but if there is money to be made, I'm sure it is a problem all over the world.

In this case, prints from Ring's left hand were surgically implanted on her right—which makes me wonder why prints were not taken from both hands in the first place. Plus, the quality of the work suggests that $14,600 is a bargain basement, back alley price for surgery like this. Best to go top shelf when you're trying to do anything illegal. [BBC via The Register via PopSci]

Here is how it works: the wallet connects to your cellphone via Bluetooth. When the two objects are separated by more than 15-30 feet, the wallet will sound an alarm. So, in reality, it is really protecting you from losing two important items. The wallet also features a biometric fingerprint reader that will only open for its owner. On the other hand, if you leave both your cellphone and wallet behind, you are still screwed. Probably even more so since the wallet was so dammed expensive. The wallets are available for pre-order now in several colors, with shipments starting on December 11th. [iwallet via Gear Diary via OhGizmo via DVICE]

The retractable USB drive used the OLED screen to browse files and carry out certain functions. When used as a biometric scanner, the screen will change colors to indicate success or failure. Ennova hasn't mentioned any specific storage capacities for these drives, but they did talk in the presser about people backing up large chunks of data, up to 64 gigabytes. So I'll guess we'll be seeing a few drives bigger than 4 gigs.

Ennova says we should expect to see their hyper-ultra-advanced USB drive sometime in early 2010, under their Ion Technologies brand. [PRweb via OLED Display via Engadget]

In a patent filing recently published and dug up by Apple Insider, Apple lays out various methods, including weight, proximity and biometric sensors, for detecting a passenger in the front seat, and then allowing he or she to operate the nav while the car is in motion. It goes even further, though, by specifying means for the system to identify exactly who is touching it via biometric sensors, and then grant them access or not depending on pre-set safety settings. So if you don't want your 16 year old kid using the nav at all while in motion, just thumbprint him and program your Apple GPS.

Wait, what, Apple GPS? While apple has patented numerous techniques for pairing gadgets to cars, I'm not sure I've ever seen one that was so specifically geared toward an in-car device. Innnnteresting. Although this could obviously describe a way for a turn-by-turn iPhone 3.0 app to behave in-car.

So like all patent filings, which are written in a language so obscure as to make reading and parsing by anyone who is not a patent lawyer, take this with some skepticism. But as a concept, sounds kind of interesting—is the real iDrive coming? [Apple Insider]

The most realistic and likely biometric tool is a hidden sensor within a touchscreen or notebook's trackpad that would detect fingerprints, vein patterns or even the shape of your ear when you use the phone or notebook like normal, making the whole process nearly invisible. The patent also considers face recognition using the webcam—but considering our past experience with VeriFace's tech and iPhoto's face recognition, that sounds kinda lousy. The "ew, creepy" solution they propose is collecting a user's DNA to recognize their genetic makeup when they come into contact with the machine.

Oh and there's a couple ideas like arranging shapes or patterns that are sorta Android's neato puzzle lock. [AppleInsider]

DHS is currently collecting human odor samples and beginning preliminary work to uncover indicators that could be used against potential criminals. Essentially, they believe that an odor may not only be unique to a particular individual, but can also a "useful indicator of certain human behaviors." This research has a foundation in recent studies that have used gas chromatography-mass spectrometry to analyze organic compounds in human sweat. These studies have indicated that there may very well be marker compounds in human sweat that can be used to identify individuals, and that these "odor fingerprints" can change over time for as yet unknown reasons.

Naturally, civil liberties advocates (especially the smelly ones) are taking issue with this research, claiming that the department had "misplaced priorities."

"The history of DHS' deployment of these technologies has been one colossal failure after another," he said. "There is no lie detector. This research has been a long, meandering journey, which has taken us down one blind alley after another."

Personally, I would have to agree with the ACLU on this one. I'm no scientist, but I would imagine that there are too many variables like diet and scented perfumes/creams that could result in inconsistencies. It seems like less of an exact science than other biometric technologies. [UPI]

"mofiria" uses a unique method where a CMOS sensor diagonally captures scattered light inside the finger veins, making a plane layout possible. As a result, a small and more flexible design can be realized in building this technology into mobile devices.

The vein pattern is extracted from the captured finger vein image, and data from the pattern is compressed into the size of one-tenth to store in memory, which makes it possible for the data to be stored on a mobile device. Sony's unique algorithm achieves fast and easy operation. The vein pattern is quickly and accurately extracted from the captured finger vein image without a fixed finger position, as the position of a placed finger is automatically and simultaneously corrected. As a result, the authentication accuracy is less than 0.1% for the FRR (False Rejection Rate), less than 0.0001% for the FAR (False Acceptance Rate), and processing time for identification takes only about 0.015 sec*1 using a personal computer CPU and about 0.25 sec*2 when using a mobile phone CPU.

Sony plans to promote the "mofiria" technology for use in mobile devices, gateway security systems and solution services. Sony will aim for commercializing this technology within the 2009 fiscal year.

I don't know about you, but that crazy looking finger in the illustration makes this technology sort of frightening to me. [Sony and Slashphone]

It happened at Tokyo airport. The woman has repeatedly entered Japan using the same trick without anybody noticing. Japanese officials say that they suspect many others have been doing the same things, demonstrating that the biometric systems they installed in 30 airports in 2007—to the tune of $45 million—are completely useless. The woman was deported in July 2007 for illegally staying in Japan as a bar hostess in Nagano, but she entered again with the system, using the tape and a fake passport allegedly provided by a South Korean broker. [Sidney Morning Herald via Fashion Funky]

That seems far more convenient than carrying around a key or remembering a passcode, but couldn't you just take the whole thing with you and smash it open later on? I mean, it only weighs 10 pounds. It's more like a high-tech deterrent when you think about it. Plus, the damn thing is $579—so if you buy it you have already been robbed. [RCG Store via Everything USB]

In addition to the hefty $15,000 price tag, this door boasts a biometric sensor that serves as the lock. Oh, and lots of carbon fiber. Did we mention it's made of carbon fiber? There was, sadly, no word on what this door was protecting. An underground secret lair, perhaps?

Anyway, we sincerely hope the wealthy Brazilian businessman who commissioned this piece gets his money's worth, because this sucker would do nicely as the door to the next Gizmodo Gallery, don't you think? [Carbon Fiber Gear]

Personally, I don't think that standardized tests are really worth a damn when it comes to admissions, so all of the fuss surrounding it seems pretty silly to me. At most, it should be weighted on the very tail end of a student's accomplishments. Still, if dropping $250 on the GMATs is in your future, palm-vein scanning will begin next month in Korea and India, with US centers starting around the fall. A world-wide rollout is expected by May. [WSJ]

To be honest, I don't think the world really needs a Bluetooth headset, heart rate monitor combo—but a modified S9 that would allow users to increase volume, change tracks or answer calls with touch sensitive panels seems promising. However, like any other patent application, there is no guarantee either of these products will ever see the light of day. [Cellpassion]

This is a good thing, because Sagawa Advance's scanner is used as access to high-security areas such as power plants and medical factories where they've got to make sure that it's really the plant supervisor entering and not his evil twin bent on the destruction of the human race. That's always the worst. [Digital World Tokyo]

It can learn 50 different fingerprints, and for the old-school members of your household, yes, it has a regular old lock and key as a backup. It takes just a second to recognize your fingerprint, and you can swipe your finger to both lock and unlock it.

More details and pricing:

On the interior side of the lock, there's the usual lever that you turn to lock the door. It runs on four AA batteries, which are said to last a year, and it still remembers those fingerprint codes even when the batteries run down.

Plus, its exterior LED will make the burglars think you have an alarm installed. It's available in polished bronze or satin nickel finish for $229. – Charlie White

BioLock Fingerprint Deadbolt [Oh Gizmo]

And the price is in the realm of science fiction, too, because whoever heard of paying $315 for a mouse? But this iris recognition thing is an up-and-coming way to identify individuals, and perhaps someday it'll be used to ID you everywhere, so you won't have to carry credit cards, a driver's license, or any other identification as your life is completely monitored by Big Brother. Maybe a chip embedded in your arm would be better. – Charlie White

Iris recognizing mouse [Plastic Bamboo]

For the first step of online registration you will need at least two types of official ID (your Pizza Hut loyalty card won't do) before going to a Clear enrollment center, where they will take your photo and biometric details from you. Although they say that permanent foreign residents can apply, a "US passport is strongly recommended."

The company claims that its customer service is "extraordinary" but, from my limited experience, so is that of Homeland Security. Other benefits are fewer missed flights and a "stress-free, predictable airport experience."

As yet, the system is up and running in just a few airports, including Orlando, San José and JFK terminal 7, and it is not 24-7, but there are plans to expand this. – Ad Dugdale

Flyclear

Sharp VGA Touchscreen/Fingerprint Reader [Unwired View]

This isn't the first time that Citibank has embraced new technology for its customers. A few months ago, they started to release RFID credit cards. I for one can't wait until they start scanning our eyes whenever we want to purchase some soda pop. – Nicholas Deleon

Citibank Singapore debuts biometric fingerprint payment system [Digital World Tokyo]

We've been hearing a lot about fingerprint sensors lately, none of which have really caught on as of yet. Come on, somebody, develop a secure universal fingerprint reading system that we can use everywhere. Is this it? We'd sure like to eliminate pins, passports, IDs, secret questions, and all that other silliness that goes with authentication. Who knew a simple question, "Who are you?," could be so difficult to answer. – Charlie White

Product page [Pay by Touch, via Biometrics]