This technology possesses a number of key advantages. First, hand geometry recognition, along with fingerprint recognition, has been around the longest, and as a result, it has certainly proved itself to be a viable technology. Second, it is deemed to be one of the easiest to use and administer of all of the biometric technologies that are available today. Third, hand geometry recognition can work in the harshest of environments, both internal and external. In terms of an internal environment, the technology can tolerate a fair amount of rough usage from end users, especially in large factory, warehouse, and retail settings. With respect to an external environment, the technology has proven to work in the most extreme of atmospheric climates, ranging from very hot to very cold. Fourth, hand geometry recognition is the least susceptible to privacy rights issues-primarily because of its simple enrollment and verification procedures. Fifth, the hand is a stable biometric whose physical characteristics are not susceptible to major biological changes (except for conditions of arthritis, swelling, or deep cuts), thus making hand geometry recognition a very reliable technology.
There is only one primary vendor for hand geometry recognition technology, and that is Recognition Systems, Inc. They produce hand geometry scanners for two broad market segments: (1) Physical access entry; and (2) Time and attendance. With respect to physical access entry, a widely used hand geometry scanner is called the HandKey II. To view a picture of the HandKey II product, please visit our website at www.htgadvancesystems.com/advance/products