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World Smallest Fingerprint Scanner

Jun 11, 2019

Photo-illust.-Wikimedia-US-Navy — 101012-N-7061S-018 SAN DIEGO (Oct. 12, 2010) A software engineer tests a digital fingerprint system after installation at the Fleet and Industrial Supply Center San Diego security office. Using digital fingerprints instead of traditional paper and ink increases the accuracy of fingerprinting and reduces overall timelines for processing personnel investigations. The machine is the first of its kind in the Naval Supply Systems Command Enterprise. (U.S. Navy photo by Aaron Schoenfeld/Released)

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The US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) processes nearly million visitors a day. The agency is responsible for border management and control, customs, immigration, border security and agricultural protection and is charged with keeping terrorists and their weapons out of the US while facilitating lawful international travel and trade. One of the technologies it uses extensively is biometric fingerprint scanning.

The CBP has recently purchased Integrated Biometrics (IB)’s Kojak livescan 10-fingerprint scanner for deployment to more than 5000 workstations within the United States Ports of Entry (Air, Land and Sea). A majority of the scanners are already in operation at the nation’s busiest airports, including Atlanta, Chicago, Dulles, LAX and Miami. Thousands more will be installed in additional CBP facilities in the coming months, as reported by integratedbiometrics.com.

The Kojak Light Emitting Sensor (LES) technology scanners were chosen to replace the incumbent’s outdated glass-prism technology. Kojak scanners are easy to use, do not require costly silicon membranes or complex, time-consuming maintenance. In addition, LES fingerprint technology avoids racial bias found in facial recognition software.

Incredibly small and incredibly accurate, the Kojak scanner features an intuitive ergonomic design, weighs less than 725 grams (1.6 pounds), and scans four flat prints and single finger rolls. Kojak performs in direct sunlight with an easy-to-read LED graphic user interface, according to the company website.

The device comes with a full featured SDK to enable effective integration into applications requiring certified FAP 60 quality images. The solution is resistant to finger contaminants such as grease, oil, water, dust and chemicals.