South Dakota School of Mines & Technology embarks on ambitious ID program

A cashless society and fingerprint payments are on the horizon (Mail & Guardian)

The programme makes South Dakota School of Mines & Technology the first in the world to test life as a biometrics campus using foil-proof biocryptology that goes beyond a fingerprint to read multiple layers into the skin and detect haemoglobin in the blood.

The patented technology on the back-end turns each finger scan into a series of valueless numbers that change every time the finger is introduced.

Data encryption ensures security, as the numbers can’t be reproduced in a meaningful way, not by merchants, law enforcement, hackers or even Nexus Smart Pay.

SDSMT also recently made news when it was revealed that its graduates earned more upon graduation than Harvard grads.

Those leaving the college of 2,300 students this year got paid a median salary of $56,700, according to PayScale Inc., which tracks employee compensation data from surveys. At Harvard, where tuition fees are almost four times higher, they got $54,100. Those scheduled to leave the campus in Rapid City, South Dakota, in May are already getting offers, at a time when about one in 10 recent U.S. college graduates is out of work.

SDSMT seems to be doing a lot of things right.

University of Southampton Showing Off World-Changing Research Including Biometrics

Join University of Southampton's free 60th anniversary celebrations (Daily Echo)

The institution is holding a special open day tomorrow at its Highfield Campus, aimed at showing off some of the world-changing research that has been carried out there over the last 60 years.

Unique experiences on offer will range from the chance to watch exciting demonstrations in some of the university’s cutting-edge hi-tech laboratories, to poring over historical pictures and documents from through the centuries in its Special Collections Archive.

Visitors will be able to discover their own “signature” of the way they walk thanks to the world’s only electronics and computer science (ECS) Biometric Tunnel.

Sounds fun!

Indian University Passes on Biometrics for Proxy Test Takers... for now

Cusat shelves biometric identification for CAT (The Hindu)

University sources associated with the development told The Hindu that the finance sub-committee of the Syndicate had turned down the proposal for want of funds and shortage of time in implementing the process. The expected cost for implementing the biometric student identification project was about Rs. 18 lakh.

Sometimes, the better part of valor is discretion. The part of the quote that caught my eye wasn't the cost (1,800,000.00 INR = 35,206.72 USD), but "time in implementing the process," which, if overlooked, can really cause problems.

As a smart man once said, "Automating a bad process just gets bad results more quickly."

Biometrics & Standardized Tests

Graduate Management News: Five Questions on GMAT Test Security for Dan Eyob (GMAC.com)

Dan Eyob is GMAC’s director of GMAT test security and his interview with the GMAC corporate newsletter is a tight exposition of the proper way to think about security, starting with a firm understanding of what it is you're trying to secure. In GMAC's case, it's integrity — integrity of the test itself and integrity of the test's ability to predict a certain type of academic success.

ID management, as it is for all credentialing organizations, is a big part of ensuring the integrity of the GMAT.

Q: What does GMAC do at test centers to prevent cheating?

A: We have a strict check-in protocol at all test centers and apply state-of-the-art technologies to support this protocol.

♦ Each test taker has to bring a valid government-issued photo ID with them. Passports may be checked electronically to ensure that they are not forged.

♦ Test takers must sit for a digital photograph, which may be included in the Official Score Report if requested by the school. All test takers have to provide a palm vein scan before entering or leaving the testing room. The palm vein reader makes an encrypted, digital record of each test taker’s unique palm vein pattern.

♦ Test takers must provide a digital signature agreeing that they have not accessed test content and will not divulge it to anyone else.

♦ Test takers are not allowed to take anything with them into the testing room, including electronic devices such as mobile phones, calculators, or watches. Erasable noteboards and markers are provided by a test proctor and must be returned after the test.

♦ Test administration is monitored in person by a test proctor and is videotaped for subsequent review, if necessary.

See also: New York: Seven Arrested For Alleged SAT Cheating Ring UPDATE: SAT, Biometrics & ROI
and Privacy commissioner seeks to block finger-printing of Canadian med-school applicants

The med-school post gets at some issues of ID management, standardized tests and public safety that aren't as readily apparent in the business school case.


The other questions answered by Mr. Eyob at GMAC's site are:

What is GMAC’s philosophy on GMAT security?
What investments does GMAC make in security?
What does GMAC do when it discovers evidence of cheating?
What is GMAC doing to keep a step ahead of cheaters?


h/t Stacy Blackman and U.S. News & World Report

Davenport University offering degree in biometric security

Biometrics is the wave of the future (KCBY)

About 55 students are enrolled in either the two- or four-year biometric security degree programs at Davenport, a 141-year-old school of 13,500 students with its main campus in Grand Rapids.

Biometric security - which identifies people based on unique personal characteristics - has become more common since the terror attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. Government agencies and private businesses are investing in biometric devices that grant or block access after scanning fingerprints, eyes, facial features or vocal patterns.