Fingerprint and handwriting analysis firm Sciometrics has revealed that it will be contributing to a major US national study into contactless fingerprint solutions.Sciometrics will now enter a partnership with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to develop standards for image quality for contactless fingerprint capture devices such as smartphones and other mobile devices.The partnership is in the form of a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA). The purpose of the CRADA is to develop new methods and standards that can support evaluation of these devices by the US Government for certification and use by Federal Agencies. Certification by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for submission of fingerprints for background checks is a significant topic within the CRADA program.”We are pleased to contribute to the science and standards in an initiative that will greatly expand mobile identity management while dramatically lowering the costs”, said Mark Walch, CEO of Sciometrics. “As we announced earlier this month, our mobile SlapShot app, the subject of the CRADA, is already in beta testing with government agencies. It has also generated interest from the private sector ranging from app security providers to smartphone manufacturers who see an opportunity to replace fingerprint sensors.”The SlapShot app, in “administered” mode – as typically used in law enforcement or border control – captures all ten fingers plus a face in less than a minute using only a phone's camera. And a “Fingerprint Selfie” version will allow users to sign into apps or their phones using between one and four fingers. Using standard functionality in the Android operating systems, SlapShot obtains images already proven to match against non-customized third party AFIS systems. An iOS app has been prototyped and will be added later this year.Sciometrics joins NIST's other CRADA partners, including 3M Company (formerly Cogent), MorphoTrack and Hoyos Laboratories.

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