Industry

'trics of the trade...

                                                             Our world today is obsessed with the ambivalent forces of data collection and data protection. As the powers of order and control introduce newer ways of capturing and recording our individuality civil liberties groups challenge the increasing encroachment into our privacy and rights.

Biometric technology is among the latest in security advances and is a sophisticated system of identifying individuals through their biological data. Fingerprints, iris patterns, facial shapes and vein patterns are all unique to an individual and this translates into valuable data for identity purposes.

It all sounds very I, Robot but it is now a working reality in visionary areas of our industry. Sat Bal spoke to Matthew James, MD of UK Biometrics about the implications for the event and venue industry.   

                  
System in action at SEA nightclub

What is biometrics?

MJ - Biometrics is the science and technology of measuring and analysing biological data. In information technology, biometrics refers to technologies that measure and analyse human body characteristics, such as fingerprints, eye retinas and voice patterns for authentication purposes.
UK Biometrics Ltd has developed many solutions for different sectors, ranging from the first system to secure nursery schools through to the groundbreaking membership system for combating underage drinking and anti-social behaviour.

Doesn't the system meet with objections from individuals reluctant to leave recorded fingerprints?

MJ Our systems do not record actual fingerprints. Instead they spot up to 17 key points, convert these to digital code which is then encrypted and stored for future comparison. Nobody can reconstruct a fingerprint from the data stored so human rights concerns are easily overcome.

While we work across many industrial sectors the needs of our clients can be boiled down to one simple proposition. “Is the person accessing our system who they claim to be?” Biometrics offers the one key which cannot be lost, stolen, forged, ‘Buddied’ (ie. passing a key to your buddy) or hacked. 

Explain how the technology would benefit RedKarpet’s readership and the event and venue industry generally . Illustrate with the following sectors; film premieres, live concerts, conferences, hotels, nightclubs – particularly private members’ clubs

MJ  Film premiere organiser - Attendees at film premieres can be broken down into two groups.  V VIPs who comprise the film’s cast, directors etc. and VIPs who are invited guests.
Regarding the first group, it will be a brave person who says “Good evening Mr. De Niro. You need to scan your fingerprint to get into the cinema for the premiere of your latest film”. The V VIPs are not a problem. Their arrival is heralded and they are widely recognised.
The challenge is to stop resourceful blaggers posing as VIPs. In this instance it would be quite proper to advise that to attend the aftershow party, guests must register with a biometric scanner. The data is networked to the venue hosting the party club and the VIP simply turns up and places their fingerprint on the scanner for access to the party. The advantage for the venue is that they can select registered VIPs and accord them the status of “queue jumper”. After registration the VIP simply turns up to future events by the same organiser and gets in with fingerprint scanning.
Live concert organiser - This type of multi-layered security is ideal for a biometric solution. It allows executives and security personnel to access all areas while crew can access technical areas only, for as long as they are working. They can then be instantly deregistered. Press can quickly and easily be registered and can leave, then re-enter the venue without lengthy security checks. As above, artists are not a problem since their arrival is heralded and they are recognised.
Hotels handling conferences -If the hotel has a biometric registration system, the entire hotel can be controlled by biometrics. Access your room, order drinks and food, or be given access to the conference - all with one fingerprint registration.
Private members’ clubs -Members need only bring ID once. Thereafter they show up and scan their fingerprint and they’re in with no fuss. If Tara Palmer-Tomkinson changes her hairstyle or Amy Winehouse puts on weight and has a blonde crop it’s not a problem. The system knows that the person presenting themselves is the person who originally registered - or not! The club can afford the member privileges (V VIP, queue jump, comps, etc) and door staff can greet the person by name, since the guest’s name will flash up on their screen on scanning. The system can even relay drinks preferences to bar staff if required.
Ultimate Leisure was our development partner for the nightclub membership systems and they have Beta tested the system for four years. Our system is installed in SEA nightclubs in Newcastle upon Tyne and Glasgow.
Annual awards ceremonies eg MTV Europe Music Awards.
The advantage for events of this nature is that VIPs register only once. The following year their data is still stored and they simply turn up and scan. Generally speaking people love our system because once registered, they don’t need to carry ID or have the frustrating experience of being questioned by well-meaning door staff.
Airlines and their premium flyers
As with nightclubs. register once, then access first class lounges at airports around the world with no fuss.

Matthew James screens the technology

Does relatively new technology make the service cost-effective for the event sector?
MJ Probably not when compared to say, a laminated card or ticket. But cards and tickets can be forged or Buddied. Blaggers are extremely resourceful and the only sure way to keep them out is biometrics. There's a certain cost to organisers in entertaining bogus invitees too.
Biometrics offers an elegant solution which appeals to people who value exclusivity and security. It offers peace of mind for event organisers and VIPs alike.   

How would your service impact on the need for physical security teams?

MJ Physical security will always be necessary. A biometric system cannot prevent a blagger leaping over a barrier. What it can provide is a simple, non-interventionist means of ensuring security staff know that the people in the venue are all authorised and are exactly who they claim to be.

What is the current state-of-the-art with biometrics? Has the “teething troubles” phase been passed?
MJ The problem for biometrics over the past 10 years has been “fail rate” ie. if the system does not achieve a perfect match, possibly due to a cut on a finger, it will reject the person as a fail safe. Error rates have been recorded as high as one percent, which is unacceptable if biometrics is to be a frontline security system.
UK Biometrics Ltd is addressing this potential problem with the development of “Second Generation” robust biometric readers with extremely low error rates. We have a partnership with Keico Hightech Inc, manufacturers of high quality security terminals and Lumidigm Inc, the worldwide patent holder of multispectral imaging for use in biometrics. This imaging imaging technology simultaneously reads the surface and subsurface of fingerprints to capture clear, clean images every time, even when surface features are absent or hard to distinguish. The system has been tested on high volume USA tourist attractions and error rates are now at acceptably low levels.

RK