The Fingkey Hamster: It's aliiiive!

Finally, we can shop at Cubs again without worrying about losing a digit to some frenzied biometric thief. The Fingkey Hamster 2 not only authenticates via fingerprint, but it also knows if your finger is alive! So get on the horn with your metaphysician friends 'cause now you've got proof of your existence. Oh, and +2 points for having the guts to resurrect the rodent naming convention for computer peripherals.

[Via TRFJ]

[Red Maple Leaf @ Dec 19th 2005 2:06AM]

I would like to know how they tested for this. O_o

[TimB @ Dec 19th 2005 2:06AM]

The Cubs link said it reads your unique heat signature... obviously your finger has to be alive for that to work, so I think it's unrelated, although funny anyway.

[Marco @ Dec 19th 2005 2:06AM]

Damn, now all the movies from the future where people use dead peoples fingers will have to be rewritten.

[abigsmurf @ Dec 19th 2005 2:06AM]

if it uses a thumbprint it probably searches for a pulse. or it could just have a heat sensor

[BlueLaser @ Dec 19th 2005 2:06AM]

They picture it with a slim laptop, but it looks a bit bulky to carry around with you. I'm not sure how many people would trade their integrated fingerprint reader for a big, external life detecting hamster...

[Martin @ Dec 19th 2005 2:06AM]

Cut off finger, microwave, serve with hamster.

[Daniel @ Dec 19th 2005 2:06AM]

WHERE DO YOU BUY THIS??
THe nitgen site says you have to CALL. Jez. They can set up some nice crypto, but no e-commerce site?? Is this legit? I would love to get a high quality device that works with Firefox. Any suggestions?

[george @ Dec 19th 2005 2:06AM]

still insecure. So someone holds a gun to your head and makes you touch it. Whoopee.

What is necessary with all biometrics is a combined biometric / voice password or something like that. At least then you can lie and say you don't know the password.

[Nicholas Williams @ Dec 19th 2005 2:06AM]

This is just another excuse for people to make something to simulate blood flowing through vessels again. O_o

[Peter @ Dec 19th 2005 2:06AM]

george - but they'll still kill you so what's the difference?

[tom @ Dec 19th 2005 2:06AM]

Yes, they can hold a gun to your head. But at least they won't cut off your finger...

[Ian @ Dec 19th 2005 2:06AM]

What if someone killed me, cut off my finger, skinned it, and put it on their finger, would it allow the skinner to access my all important files?

[Dan (thoughtfix) @ Dec 19th 2005 2:06AM]

Why is there no
biometrics.engadget.com
yet? :)

[furtim @ Dec 19th 2005 2:06AM]

"This is just another excuse for people to make something to simulate blood flowing through vessels again."

And you just know where that's gonna lead... Zombies, man. Freaking zombies! I'm talking apocalyptic legions of the undead walking the streets!

[JCE @ Dec 19th 2005 2:06AM]

The live finger algorithm (there are a few) doesn't just detect heat or pulse, but takes a kind of fingerprint video and extracts time-domain information. cadavers and gelatin don't change in time in the same way a live fingerprint does (changes due to pulse and perspiration). That said, if a bad guy knows the tricks used for 'live detection' he might be able to make a fake that looks live.

[epp_b @ Dec 19th 2005 2:06AM]

You guys have all seen "The Sixth Day" one too many times.

[Bud Landry @ Dec 19th 2005 2:06AM]

Maybe it won't work if your pulse is racing due to a gun to your head. So they will have to slip you a mickey to use your hand as a key, or catch you while you are asleep.