UK School Using Biometric Device, Palm Vein-based Biometric ID Solution

Yarg Biometrics Ltd, and Fujitsu Europe Limited announced their plans to work together to develop a pioneering biometric identification system for schools, based on palm vein authentication technology known as PalmSecureâ„¢ from Fujitsu. Yarg and Fujitsu have implemented the technology at Todholm Primary School in Paisley, Scotland.

The palm vein-based biometric authentication system, the first of its kind in Europe, is an exciting new way to pay for school meals.

This project is part of the Scottish Executive’s “Hungry for Success” initiative to promote the health and social wellbeing of children in Scotland, with a focus on school meals.

Scotland’s Deputy First Minister Nicol Stephen welcomed the news during a visit to Fujitsu’s headquarters in Tokyo, Japan and commented:

The biometric system is based on Fujitsu’s contact-less PalmSecure palm vein authentication technology, which incorporates a device to emit near-infrared light to capture a unique palm vein pattern of the user that can be used for personal identification. The palm vein pattern in an individual’s hand is unique from person to person and even between one’s left and right hands. As veins are inside the body, a palm vein pattern is extremely difficult to falsify, and there is no need for surface contact thereby enabling hygienic use in public places.

Yarg Biometrics, an innovative Scottish biometrics company, collaborated with Fujitsu Europe to develop Yarg’s PalmReader™ device, based on Fujitsu’s PalmSecure technology.

The system installation by Amey Group at the primary school addresses the need for a secure non-token or cashless system to provide Electronic Point of Sale (EPOS) for their catering facilities. The system uses pre-registered palm vein patterns from the pupils and staff to manage individual accounts thereby creating a cashless catering solution. The flexibility of Yarg’s PalmReader design means that the technology can be expanded to provide leading edge biometric access control applications to monitor truancy levels, to facilitate accurate attendance at classes and overall better time management.