Washington, DC (PRWEB) July 27, 2004
Today Pen-One, Inc. demonstrated a new fingerprint-sensing pen aimed at adding an automated new level of security to government documents and systems. Company representatives were on hand to answer questions about the technology at the Government Security Expo & Conference (GOVSEC), a forum for those responsible for protecting physical, information and cyber security at the federal, state and local levels.
Pen-Ones biometric pen uses a built in electronic fingerprint scanner. This integrated circuit sensor instantly reads an enrolled signers fingerprint to create the equivalent of an electronic key. If the key matches the enrolled signer, the transaction is accepted. Conference participants were among the worlds first to try using a fingerprint-sensing pen as they visited booth 3209.
We are truly pleased to debut our pen technology at GOVSEC, stated Todd Robinson, the companys CEO. We are confident that this is an ideal automated platform for controlling government and Department of Defense transaction signatures, handwritten logs, and secure documentation. Robinson explained, Our technology takes the guesswork out of confirming who a signer is or who is making entries into logs that help control facility access, classified visits, and so forth. The company plans to have its technology accepted for initial applications later this year.
Pen-One also recently demonstrated its pen technology at MasterCards Global Risk Management Symposium in San Diego, a high-powered security conference that brings law enforcement and financial industry leaders together to explore ways to reduce identity theft and credit card fraud. The technology is capable of verifying the identity of a check signer or credit card user automatically.
The idea for the fingerprint pen was the brainchild of Pen-One co-founder, Gerald R. Black, a successful inventor and patent attorney. Black began by building a simple hand held stylus with the sensor built into the grip. As the company and design evolved, the entire fingerprint circuit was miniaturized and placed inside the pen. Black also assured that the pen would have an interchangeable tip to convert from ink based use to PDA stylus or pen based computing applications. Blacks vision for a fingerprint-sensing pen included credit cards and check cashing plus dozens of other applications including custody documents, customs declaration cards, immigration documents, maintenance records, shipping receipts, quality control certifications, building or physical access logs, and even remote test taking.
Black founded Pen-One in March 2000 as a private company based in Southfield, Michigan. The company recently closed its second round of funding in order to enter production of the new pens. The basic USB design is compatible with existing fingerprint pad software. Pen-One can provide software development tools and assistance. The company holds a global patent portfolio of issued patents and pending applications related to biometrics and fingerprint sensing technologies.
###
