September 2005 - Ecebs partnership with Glasgow Caledonian University

Through the auspices of a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) arrangement, Ecebs has been co-operating with the software research and development expertise of Glasgow Caledonian University’s School of Computing and Mathematical Sciences. The purpose was to facilitate the development of a novel, advanced modular approach to smartcard based biometric identification techniques, such as fingerprinting.

Glasgow Caledonian’s team provided a researcher to work exclusively with Ecebs at their East Kilbride facility and provide a direct link back to expert support resources at the university. The challenge was to research and design software algorithms that work efficiently on the relatively limited computing power of a smartcard chip rather than on a PC, which has much greater processing capacity.

The software then records the fingerprint (or iris print) of the card user inside the smartcard. When the smartcard is then used, the presenter’s fingerprint (or Iris scan) is compared inside the smartcard, protecting the privacy and identity of the user. The technology helps to prevent identity fraud and ensures that stolen cards cannot be used by others.

The relationship is being further cemented by the sponsorship by Ecebs of a research fellowship at Glasgow Caledonian. This will enable continuation and expansion of the joint work in this field; there being many emerging applications for this type of product.

Our photograph shows Barry Hochfield of Ecebs with Dr Bonnie Stevens, Associate Dean and Mike Smith, Pro Vice Chancellor of Glasgow Caledonian University.