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Brian

The Science Museum in London developed a network of fingerprint-scanning
stations in the Wellcome Wing.  This opened in 2000, so the technology
*should* be better now.  There was an 18 month process of prototype
development and the main issues, as I recall, were to do with tuning the
system to accept children's fingers (as they are usually too soft and
flexible to create a good quality fingerprint).  I'm not there any more, but
the person to speak to in-house there would be Dave Patten, although one of
his team is now freelance at www.joecutting.com. As far as I know, the
system still works and they ironed out a lot of the usability and
reliability issues.  

The benefit of fingerprints over any card-based system is that if you have
large visitor numbers (and don't already issue the correct type of card as a
ticket) the operational costs of any card system can become prohibitive
(e.g. in London that would have included the cost of 3 million cards a
year).  The biometric systems are/were more expensive, but the operational
costs are much lower.

I've noticed bar-codes coming back into fashion in the last year (in Europe,
at least), possibly as the hardware costs have plummeted.  Let us know what
you settle on.

Regards

Andy

Andy Lloyd
Centre for Life
Newcastle, UK


-----Original Message-----
From: brian hostetler [mailto:[log in to unmask]] 
Sent: 31 August 2006 20:49
Subject: Fingerprint scanners/Magnetic cards

ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related
institutions.
****************************************************************************
*

Hello there list!  Just wondering if anyone has had any experience with
fingerprint scanners or magnetic swipe cards in their spaces.  What were
some of the advantages and disadvantages to using this technology and where
can we go to find out more information on the topic??  Any responses would
be appreciated!!  Thanks!!
   
  Brian Hostetler
  The Youzeum
  Columbia MO USA

 		
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