Sony's Mofiria biometrics to be trotted out sometime this year
By Joseph L. Flatley 
posted February 2nd 2009 10:21AM
posted February 2nd 2009 10:21AM
We don't know anybody who seriously relies on biometrics -- except, of course, those of you who rushed out late last year to pick up your very own BioMirage Coffer -- but if this is your bag, take note: Sony has just announced Mofiria, their new high speed, compact biometric solution for mobile devices. Similar to Fujitsu's PalmSecure, the technology uses near infrared LEDs and a CMOS sensor to capture a snapshot of your veins. Apparently, vein patterns vary from person to person and from finger to finger, and don't change throughout a person's life -- making them perfect for use in authentication. Of course, passwords should also vary from person to person, and computer to computer, but Sony won't ever be able to charge extra for a secure password. And that's really what all this is about, isn't it? No word on a price yet, but this bad boy should roll out sometime in 2009. PR after the break.
Sony Develops Compact Sized, High Speed, High Accuracy Finger Vein Authentication Technology Dubbed "mofiria"
Tokyo, Japan – Sony Corporation today announced the development of a finger vein authentication technology called "mofiria." The user-friendly technology offers quick response and high accuracy and comes in a compact size for mounting on mobile devices such as a personal computer or mobile phone.
With the increase of networked products and services, a user-friendly interface for personal authentication and higher security of personal information is in great demand.
Compared to the other biometric authentication techniques, vein authentication technology achieves higher accuracy on personal identification and forgery resistance because it uses the veins inside the human body. Finger vein patterns differ from person to person, each finger to finger, and it is said that they do not change over the years. "mofiria" uses a unique method where a CMOS sensor diagonally captures scattered light inside the finger veins, making a plane layout possible. As a result, a small and more flexible design can be realized in building this technology into mobile devices.
The vein pattern is extracted from the captured finger vein image, and data from the pattern is compressed into the size of one-tenth to store in memory, which makes it possible for the data to be stored on a mobile device.
Sony's unique algorithm achieves fast and easy operation. The vein pattern is quickly and accurately extracted from the captured finger vein image without a fixed finger position, as the position of a placed finger is automatically and simultaneously corrected. As a result, the authentication accuracy is less than 0.1% for the FRR (False Rejection Rate), less than 0.0001% for the FAR (False Acceptance Rate), and processing time for identification takes only about 0.015 sec*1 using a personal computer CPU and about 0.25 sec*2 when using a mobile phone CPU.
Sony plans to promote the "mofiria" technology for use in mobile devices, gateway security systems and solution services. Sony will aim for commercializing this technology within the 2009 fiscal year.
Main characteristics of "mofiria"
1) Compact size realized by "reflecting scattering light method"
2) Fast data processing using a unique algorithm
3) High accuracy and user-friendly interface with automatic correction of the finger position
Great, so now if someone steals my password, I not only lose my data but a finger too. Thanks Sony!
How will I ever play my PS3 without a trigger finger? Did you think of that one design team!?
kinda redefines "thumb drive".
Ouch!
BUUURRRN from Engadget there...
Yeah. "We don't know anybody who seriously relies on biometrics"; obviously engadget doesn't know me (unsurprising) or anyone like me (more surprising); I have a notebook with fingerprint reader, and that's the only way I ever log in. I'd have to dig through my desk for an hour to find the password if it was required for some reason. (But I can't think of a good reason; I have a USB fingerprint reader set up as well to serve as a backup if the built-in one dies or something...)
Biometrics are more convenient than proper password behavior to match the security level, and the solution is _not_ to be sloppy enough with passwords to make them more convenient.
@benson
well execpt for the fact that on SOME models
i can just put a piece of paper w/ your finger print on it
and it will work....but thats only SOME models.... :P
So now if you get a bruise on your finger, you can't log in to anything anymore? Kids, watch your fingers if you want to be able to get back inside the house!
That's the creepiest looking finger I've ever seen.
Looks like a breadstick and an almond on the end.
I was about to say that. That finger just might be worse than the Apple patent fingers from a while back. Maybe.
What's with these companies not being able to draw fingers? I mean even I can draw a finger...
anyone else read that as sony's mafia and see a severed finger?!
Exactly what I was thinking!
looks like a sausage with a fingernail on it.
coming soon to a restaurant near you.
Why a finger, being so exposed and easily severed? I say protect your private data with your private parts!
Why not just have a spit-cup out front that checks DNA?
If confronted by thugs eager to get their hands on my files, I'd rather they cut off my finger than my private parts.
@Fred
But whos gonna know to cut off your wang instead of your index finger? I say its a brilliant idea, well as good as one can be considering. You might loose a finger, but you keep your data safe and most importantly your wang.
Cool, but why use a finger, being so exposed and easily severed? I say, protect your private data with your private parts!
Maybe you can record at least one finger on both hands so in case one gets mauled you'll still be able to use your devices...
So, if you get a cut in your finger, you can lose access to your data.
I don't think they tested that.
On my fingerprint reader on my laptop i have all my fingers scanned so it wouldnt be a problem if i lose one or 2...actually i just set it up because i was bored and it saves me the 2 seconds for typing in a pw. I assume you would be able to scan more than one finger just in case the table saw decides to eat a few one day.
.
best comment ever!!
seriuosly. you are knocking this. passwords are easily stolen. this may not be needed for protecting your itunes library but a server of peoples social security or credit card numbers would benefit and its harder to replicate than other biometrics (eyes with special contacts, fingerprints with jelly molds, etc. Stop thinking about yourself engadget try thinking about the bigger picture.
biometrics should be for all passwords now.
So what happens when the guy looses a finger on that tree-trimming job out front, only to find out that he can no longer get in to dial 911? HAHAHAHA
"We don't know anybody who seriously relies on biometrics "
Come on guys, the Sony hate is getting ridiculous here. You do realize than many people who have non-fruit laptops have fingerprint readers built-in and that includes many of the readers of this blog, who are also probably tech-savvy enough to use it.
-1 for coming up with a tortured reason to mention Apple in an otherwise unrelated thread
How is this more compact (and better for mobile devices) than a fingerprint reader?
I don't like the sound of this..
Ah, the fruit factor; now it makes sense. I couldn't believe nobody at engadget uses a fingerprint reader on their laptop, but yeah... they have _those_ laptops.
Always wondered with this stuff... what happens if you slice your finger very badly? Are you locked out of your stuff while its healing and (due to scarring, etc) also after? Hmm...
Of course Engadget says no one uses biometrics....because Apple hasn't invented it yet.....meanwhile my tablet and new laptop have been swiping the bird for years and haven't entered a password more then once in oh....I'd say 3 years. But yah. No one uses it yet.
Oh and as for the people complaining about OMG WHAT HAPPENS IF I LOOSE A FINGER.....*sighs* You can enroll multiple fingers on both hands. And frankly if you loose both hands you have bigger things to worry about then what's on your laptop\PDA. Pretty sure if its like any other biometric solution you can enter a passphrase and possibly an encryption key to bypass. This is a convenience. Fingerprint scanners can be bypassed. Its not easy, but it can be done on all but the most expensive and high end models. My assumption is that this thing would require blood to be flowing threw the finger, else the veins contract and change. So faking this SHOULD be harder. Of course YMMV on that.
Hitachi have been doing Vein readers for a while.
DisneyWorld relies on biometrics for their theme park entrances (for those that use the park hopper option).....
You don't know anyone who seriously relies on biometrics?
What about the hand, finger, and retina scanners I rely on almost every day to get into various datacenters?
thats one long ass finger tip, look it dont even have a joint where it bends, haha, its spooky