by David C. Wyld, Southeastern Louisiana University There is no setting in the private or public sectors where a verifiable “chain of custody” is more essential – or more lacking – than the handling of evidence in criminal cases. In the United States, the legal system is dependent on the proper handling of all forms […]

By Andy Williams, Associate Editor Television shows like HBO’s The Wire and Homicide: Life on the Street depict Baltimore as a gritty city. While the shows are fiction, crime is a real concern and Johns Hopkins University is testing a system that detects gunshots in an effort to help keep the campus safe. The gunshot […]

PockeTracker, a handheld ID checker from Jupiter, Fla.-based Vision Database Systems, was used recently by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to control entry to the 81st version of the Oscars presentations in Hollywood, Calif. The portable device contains both proprietary software and an ID card reader, which allows authentication of any secure […]

Identification Systems Group, a network of dealers in identification and card personalization systems, has unveiled the MOCA (Multi-application Open Card Architecture) Card. The MOCA Card was developed in coordination with two key ISG partners, XceedID and CPI Card Group. The 13.56 MHz contactless smart card is can handle multiple applications with its open architecture. Multiple […]

Legic Identsystems Ltd. has announced a deployment of contactless smart cards to members and employees at Zest, a Madrid-based fitness club. Zest has deployed contactless smart card to its members at its four locations. The cards are used to access to the clubs as well as for members to secure items in lockers at the […]

Finnish RFID solutions provider UPM Raflatac brought RFID-enabled access control to February’s “Piemonte Mondiale 2009” skiing event. The ski competition, part of the FIS Alpine Ski World Cup, was held in Sestriere, Italy. For the event, UPM Raflatac inlays were used to create RFID-enabled plastic ID cards for all attendees, including press, athletes and invited […]

Users of Visa payWave cards released by Cornèrcard, one of Switzerland’s largest card issuers, could soon use the same credit card as an ID badge for car sharing, gaining access to leisure or club facilities or as an e-ticket for public transport thanks to a virtual transponder produced by LEGIC Identsystems. Establishing this functionality on […]

Live Luggage, a developer of high-end luggage, has created a carry-on case, called BioCase, which locks via a fingerprint scanner, according to a Crunch Gear article. The BioCase’s fingerprint scanner is capable of storing up to eight fingerprints and is rechargeable via USB or a power connector. In addition to the biometric capabilities, the case […]

Canadian telecommunications company TELUS has heeded the convergence call and is issuing 32,000 credentials for secure physical access to facilities and logical access to computer networks. “The project began in late 2005 as an IT project for logical access,” says Stephen Pedersen, manager of security development for TELUS. But it soon became clear that it […]

Pradonet Technology, a provider of security, identification, payment and authentication devices, has launched a FeliCa-enabled contactless handheld terminal, the ST4fx, that enables card reading anywhere. It is expected the new ST4fx will soon also support NFC functionality. Developed by Pradonet’s R&D division in Malaysia, the rugged portable handheld is durable enough for most weather conditions […]