Fujitsu do Brasil announced PalmSecure, a new biometric security solution featuring a compact, high-performance sensor that scans palm vein patterns to verify user identification in bank ATM transactions.

This pioneering palm vein solution is already being tested internally at Banco Bradesco S.A., the largest private bank in Latin America, with general operation scheduled to start soon.

After researching various biometric technologies, Bradesco chose PalmSecure for its outstanding features, such as high levels of verification accuracy and being non-invasive and hygienic, making it easier to be accepted by customers of the bank.

PalmSecure was developed by Fujitsu as the world’s first palm vein-based biometric authentication system. The user has to hold the palm a few centimeters over the scanner and within a second it reads your unique vein pattern. The sensor captures the palm vein pattern of the user and compares it with pre-registered data to authenticate the user’s identity. The sensor is compact (35mm x 35mm) and can be safely and flexibly used in a wide range of applications, such as in PCs, ATMs and for building and room access.

Vein patterns are unique even among identical twins. Each hand has a unique pattern. Trying logging in with your left hand after registering with your right goes to denied access. The scanner makes use of a special characteristic of the reduced hemoglobin coursing through the palm veins – it absorbs near-infrared light. This makes it possible to take a snapshot of what’s beneath the outer skin, something very hard to read or steal.

Besides the high accuracy of a false rejection rate of 0.01% and a false acceptance rate of less than 0.00008 % (as of February, 2005), Fujitsu’s contactless palm vein authentication offers a range of advantages over other biometric technologies. Fujitsu will continue to develop the promising new technology of contactless palm vein authentication by shrinking the scanner. A future goal Fujitsu is incorporating the scanner in mobile phones. This is expected to drastically change the way mobile phones are used.