GadgetReview

Vein Scanners are nothing new, but we have yet to see them gain significant ground in the consumer market.  Today, Sony announced a compact finger vein authentication technology that is small enough to fit on a mobile phone.  Called the Mofiria, it works by shooting LED light through the finger.  The CMOS sensor (widely used in cameras) then captures the information, and then though some algorithmic magic creates a sort of pass code based off the finger’s vein structure.

Sony plans to bring the Mofiria technology to the commercial market this fiscal year.

[Techfresh]

Apparently, when Fujitsu says ‘peace of mind’ they mean it.  Why so?  They’re latest phone, which is available on Japan’s NTT DOCOMO network, features fingerprint security and the ability to be submersed in 1 meter of water for up to 30 minutes.  The F-01A’s fingerprint scanner, which is from AuthenTec’s TouchStone packaging technology, also doubles as a mini mouse pad.  Other features includes a 5MP camera, GPS, 3.5-inch touchscreen, 1Seg Mobile TV tuner and e-Wallet mobile payment.

[Slipperybrick]

Scott A. Jones won a contract with the telephone industry back in the late 80s to develop a mass level voicemail system. He also invented Gracenote and a few other things. As a result, he’s been ‘paid’, and his home in Indianapolis reflects it with opulence you and I could never even begin to dream up. Hit the videos for a complete walk through of his mansion, but my faves have to be the 8 screen computer with built-in bicycle, eye scanner to enter his own bedroom, waterfall shower that drops 300 gallons a minute and multiple secret passage ways.

[Thanks, Erik]

Two Chinese students have invented a device that might mean ‘giving the finger’ before you even start your car.  Zhao Wencai and Li Zhoumu, from China’s University of Geoscience, have built a finger print reader that doubles as a blood alcohol detector.  It’s purely a prototype, but it works by detecting sweat and other chemicals on the skin.  If you’re dripping with alcohol you won’t be able to start your vehicle.  Additionally, the finger print reader will double as a security device and will only let registered finger prints start the vehicle.

[Wired]

You’ll breath easy with the Digital Breathazlyer from BACTrack.  Aside from knowing if you’re too trashed to drive, you don’t have to place your mouth on a bacteria infested straw; just blow into the front of the device.  It’ll measure your drunkness on a scale of 0.00 – 0.40% BAC, has an easy to read LCD display and features an indicator light to tell you when to start and stop blowing.

Available here for $80

Researchers from Simon Fraser University in British Columbia have developed a knee brace like device, that when worn while walking will charge an internal battery. The Biomechanical Energy Harvester (sounds more like an implant – it ain’t) generates power at the end of a walker’s step similar to that of an electric or hybrid car braking (that’s according to the researchers). Wearing the device on each leg can generate 5 watts of electricity at a normal pace. At a fast pace the device can generate up to 13 watts. With just one minute of walking and the Biomechanical Energy Harvester can power a standard cell phone for 30 minutes of talk time. That puts the Hymini to shame. Although, I doubt it costs a mere $49 like the Hymini. Dare I say: “The green energy race is on’.

More pics after the ‘leap’

…Continue reading: Out Of Juice? Just Strap on This Knee Brace

I just stumbled across this while reading this month’s issue of Popsci. Have you ever worried about a crook snagging your card and ordering high end goods over the phone? Well, the Beepcard contains a prototype paper-thin speaker, microphone and voice-recognition chip. In order to use the card the user must speak into the card – yes the card – and if the recorded sample is a match, the card will send “high frequency, hard-to-fake beeps over the phone or a computer microphone, signaling the credit card company to authorize the transaction”. I am not sure if it can have multiple users, but Beepcard is market ready and they’re currently looking for partners.

A company known as SmartMetric ordered a press release today announcing the development of what they tout as the first ‘affordable’ fingerprint scanner for credit cards and similar sized IDs. This isn’t the first time we’ve heard of such tech, but if they can hold up to the ‘affordable’ aspect, it may not be too long before we place our thumb instead of our John Hancock to make a purchase. Could also be applied to other fields of use such as identity and access cards via RF communication. 

You know those Vein scanners we talked about a couple months and some ago?  Well, it looks like they are finally making their way into some consumer level products.  The keyboard here features a Vein scanner for computer security.  Veins are said to be almost impossible to hack, and unlike fingerprint scanners you can’t chop off the appendage as blood has to be flowing for the biometric scanner to function. 

Vein Scanning Keyboard Provides Extra Security [Akihabaranews]