Master Lock unveils smartTouch garage door opener

Let's face it: there's a myriad ways to open one's garage door, but you won't find us kvetching over a new, relatively affordable alternative to the tried and true numeric keypad. Master Lock's smartTouch GDO is a universal add-on device that ditches the numbers and relies instead on the swiping of your digit to open the connected door. Purportedly, you can register up to 20 users on a single device, ensuring that your entire fraternity will have the ability to sneak in through the garage door if they misplace the house key. Sadly, it's not likely to arrive before the Spring semester starts, but you can snap one up shortly after Rush Week for $129.95.

[Via Gearlog]

[Jonathan Keim @ Dec 26th 2007 8:16AM]

The large database is a plus for large Amish families as well :Thumbsup:

[Wwhat @ Dec 26th 2007 8:32AM]

Seems a silly idea, who wants to get out of his car to open the door when you have encrypted random-key wireless technology on a keychain?
I would sooner see this used on normal doors.

[Tranman @ Dec 26th 2007 9:11AM]

This would be for people who need to access the house without using a key...for instance a children coming home from school. Instead of giving them a key that they can lose or a key sequence they can forget, they can just swipe their finger and open the garage to gain entrance to the house.

[Wwhat @ Dec 26th 2007 10:33AM]

But why not the frontdoor then?

[Maestro @ Dec 26th 2007 12:49PM]

No Kids, huh? You know how hard it is to have a kid NOT lose his house key!

[Wwhat @ Dec 26th 2007 3:53PM]

I once was one, never lost my key!

[Wwhat @ Dec 26th 2007 3:53PM]

P.S.: I had it on a string round my neck ;)

[stephen @ Dec 26th 2007 8:37AM]

This isn't new. Craftsman already makes one and it's only $79 and you can pick it up today if you want it. Only difference is theirs only stores 4 fingerprints. Same point and purpose for less and it's available.

The Link

[Ghen @ Dec 26th 2007 8:39AM]

If they release wireless ones that send an encrypted signal to open based on the person who used it... Anything to get around the whole stolen garage door opener method of having your house broken into.

[ricklw @ Dec 26th 2007 9:03AM]

From what I've heard on the fingerprint scanner on computers, I would be afraid it would not always read my print. Lock out.

[Spiderpig @ Dec 26th 2007 9:28AM]

1. Put some dust on the cover
2. Take pictures of the fingerprints
3. Clean off the dust
4. Go home and make copies of the best fingerprints on latex, ballistics gel and paper (laser printer)
5. Go back, open the door and take what you want.

Almost as stupid as fingerprint readers on laptops.

[TheCow5 @ Dec 26th 2007 10:52AM]

I will have to agree, some times I have a hard time getting into my laptop which has a finger print reader.
@Spiderpig, I must also agree with you, does seem quite easy but for the most part ppl want instant access.

It would be nice to have the fingerprint reader with a hey pad so it requires both (that may be too much).

[Ladderless @ Dec 26th 2007 11:27AM]

@spiderpig-

I see how that system would work with the fingerprint reader that you place your finger on, but how would that work with the type where you swipe your finger? Isn't this a swipe-type reader?

[Kevin @ Dec 26th 2007 3:09PM]

If you can get a full usable fingerprint off a 1/8" wide strip of plastic, you deserve to get into my house.

Not like I have anything of value anyway. Everything that's hard to replace fits in my laptop bag.

[Scott @ Dec 26th 2007 4:47PM]

@kevin

If that's how you feel, then why buy this device in the first place? Just leave your doors unlocked.

[bigdoggie @ Dec 26th 2007 9:19AM]

Meh, $300 more and you can get one with a keypad, carp swipe, and a fingerprint scanner, all in one. Plus the ability to store over 50 accounts.

[lol @ Dec 26th 2007 3:00PM]

what!?!?

You say "$300" more like that's not a significant amount.

Hey this car is $20,000!

Meh, for $10,000 more I could get navigation system, heated seats, a dvd player, and a blowjob.

Talk about stating the obvious, dude.

[Andrew Pollack @ Dec 26th 2007 10:07AM]

This is a REALLY bad idea from a security perspective. Biometric security should ONLY be used in conjunction with some other measure. Its called two-factor authentication. Biometric is best paired with human observers (security guards).

An example I've heard (possibly an apocryphal one) is that GM opted not to use thumb print biometrics for car keys years ago, even though its clearly a feasible technology. The reason for the decision, quite simply, was because some wise person at GM realized that this made the value of your thumb -- connected to your body or not -- equal to the resale value of your stolen car or its parts.

Fingers, eyes, etc. as security should only be used when there are sure ways to verify that the bio-part in question is still attached to its owner.

[dcny @ Dec 26th 2007 11:08AM]

I agree 100 % if your at your door, and someone walks up behind you and trys to force you in or something you can throw the keys at least, you'll get your ass whooped but thats another story. With biometrics they can just get you and force you to put your eye, finger, etc to the scanner of just cut it off. neither is a solution your just forcing the criminals to change with the times.

[Suhag Patel @ Dec 27th 2007 1:45AM]

First off, I totally agree with you. It's important to remember that someone could just as easily see what you drive, hold you up and take your keys. Same results as cutting the thumb off, but not as messy.

[Andrew Pollack @ Dec 27th 2007 9:49AM]

@Suhag - It isn't about losing the car. Its about losing the thumb. A car is easily replaced by your insurance. In fact, when mine burned up in the garage (fortunately I put it out and saved the house) I ended up after a bit of inconvenience for a few days, better off than I'd have been otherwise. My insurance company gave me more for my car than I'd have been able to sell it for, and I got an excellent new car.

Losing a thumb, however, means a lifelong limitation and is potentially life threatening if medical attention isn't received quickly or if infection sets in.

[TheCow5 @ Dec 26th 2007 11:00AM]

Will we soon be hearing of ppl fingers being cut off?
They should have a camera tied to the device so it can take pictures each time a finger is swiped

[Sirius @ Dec 26th 2007 11:01AM]

20 user accounts huh... *counts fingers and toes*... woah.. talk about redundancy... now i don't have to worry about one finger getting amputated or watnot :D

[Justin @ Dec 26th 2007 11:21AM]

Just remember to set up all the accounts right away, in case you're the administrator and it's your finger that gets injured somehow.

Fingerprint scanners used to seem cool to me until I got stitches in one of my fingers. Now I realize just how malleable fingerprints are. Maybe retinal scans would be a better idea.

[Andrew Pollack @ Dec 26th 2007 3:32PM]

@dcny - absolutely. Most home alarm systems have an alternate punch code - usually just one digit off - which seems to shut the system down but in fact sends a silent panic alert to the alarm company at the same time. This is built specifically to deal with forced home invasion. In some cases, this even activates microphones or cameras in the home (I know of at least one installed case where microphones were used, and that was 20 years ago in a private home) which are tied to the alarm monitoring company.

[Rainier @ Dec 26th 2007 12:25PM]

In other news, duplicate key making shops see a decline in business, while cloning facilities are expericing a surge for their services. Master Lock's smartTouch GDO has been deemed responsible for giving locksmiths "the finger".

[marglepuss @ Dec 26th 2007 1:52PM]

There -are- myriad ways. There's a myriad -of- ways.

Anyway, this just seems like a waste.

Kind of like bitching about blog grammar.

[Bobbler @ Dec 26th 2007 2:35PM]

Don't trust these things at all and would never entrust them on their own as "security", maybe as part of a whole package of security checks.
When at a range in Florida in January they had a finger scanner on one of the gun safes, a Biovault IIRC. Thing just flipped open when I ran my finger over it.
At first I assumed it was a demo model and just opened at random, the range owner was less happy as it was keyed to his finger print only and was a normal "NRA approved" gun safe.

[Jason @ Dec 27th 2007 10:23AM]

Just wait until it freezes and the little finger scanner gets frost on it. Then you'll be breathing and pissing on it to defrost it. Then it'll be wet and still won't read your dirty ass finger.

[Wwhat @ Dec 27th 2007 7:48PM]

Now that's a textbook case of reaching.