Japanese tech firm NEC has revealed a new biometric technology which identifies people through specially adapted headphones that bounce sounds off people's ear cavities.The NEC solution instantaneously the acoustic characteristics determined by the shape of the ear using an earphone with a built-in microphone to collect earphone-generated sounds as they resonate within ear cavities.The firm notes that this unique method for extracting a biometric profile was developed by its experts and has a recognition rate greater than 99% accuracy.As well as various plans to commercialize the technology within 2018 – in applications including identity fraud and the security of critical infrastructure – it also notes that it is particularly well suited to “continuous authentication”.”Since the new technology does not require particular actions such as scanning a part of the body over an authentication device, it enables a natural way of conducting continuous authentication, even during movement and while performing work, simply by wearing an earphone with a built-in microphone to listen to the sounds within ears,” said Shigeki Yamagata, general manager, Information and Media Processing Laboratories, NEC Corporation.NEC has also said the tech could ensure the confidentiality of wireless communications and telephone calls, and in voice guidance services designed for particular individuals or particular scenarios.

Also in the news:

Default ThumbnailSignicat provides access to German national digital identity service, nPA Default ThumbnailING deploys voice biometrics banking app Default ThumbnailIndia’s Paytm eyes 200m accounts in first year