Michael Mongold's Technology Security

CompletelyOnline.com - Biometrics Shaking Up Internet Defensive Driving in NY

NEW YORK, Sept. 8 -- The New York State Department of MotorVehicles has approved the CompletelyOnline biometric face recognition methodfor student ID validation for use in its Internet defensive driving pilotprogram. Unlike other biometric methods also approved for the pilot,CompletelyOnline has the unique ability to authenticate a student's identitymuch the same way his identity would be authenticated in a classroom course. This distinction has already made a big change to New York's online defensivedriving industry: The first course sponsor to use CompletelyOnline has beenapproved to deliver an online course with no graded exams - a first in thenation.

By submitting an image of the driver's license along with the biometric sampleof his face, the student is proving his identity over the Internet the sameway he would be proving his identity in person. "Face recognition is theideal solution for distance learning applications for several reasons," saysArmen GeoSimonian, President and CEO of CompletelyOnline.com(R). "The face isboth the only human-readable biometric characteristic and the only biometric characteristic that can be authenticated against a driver's license. It istruly the closest thing to being in the classroom."

The New York Safety Program (NYSP), is the first course sponsor in New York touse CompletelyOnline, and is launching their "no graded exams" Internet coursethis week. According to President and CEO of NYSP Anthony Perlongo, "With thehelp of the CompletelyOnline technology, NYSP has developed an onlinepresentation that we believe comes as close as possible to our classroomdelivery. We believe that the combination of NYSP's hard earned reputationand the superior face recognition methodology offered byCompletelyOnline.com(R) is the reason that the NYS DMV has set this remarkableprecedent."

Benefits of taking a DMV approved defensive driving course include both apoint reduction from a driver's record and an insurance discount. The ideabehind the pilot program was to make these courses, which were previously onlyavailable in a classroom, more accessible to busy drivers who would nototherwise be able to attend in person. Student ID validation is a requirementfor all defensive driving courses in the pilot program. According to the NYSDMV 650,000 drivers attend an approved classroom course every year. Theyexpect 100,000 drivers to take the course over the Internet in the first yearof the pilot.

About CompletelyOnline.com

CompletelyOnline.com was established in 2004 and provides its uniquepatented CompletelyOnline biometric face recognition methodology to Internetdefensive driving courses in California, Texas, Nevada and Idaho. CompletelyOnline.com continues to expand its reach in the defensive drivingindustry and in other e-learning markets.

 www.completelyonline.com

About New York Safety Program

The New York Safety Program has been educating drivers in New York since 1980. Founder Anthony Perlongo, has been a nationally prominent leader in the fieldof driver safety. His accomplishments as a State and National President ofthe Driver Education Guild among others have brought him recognition as adriving safety expert throughout the country. www.nysponline.com

Technorati Tags: New York Safety Online,CompletelyOnline.com,completelyonline,New York State Department of Motor Vehicles,Michael Mongold

Smartmatic and NEC Argentina Join Forces in a Strategic Alliance

LA PAZ, Bolivia--

 NEC Argentina, a subsidiary of giant Japanese IT multinational NEC Corporation, announced it has selected Smartmatic as strategic partner to develop a biometric registration system for the Bolivian National Electoral Court (known as the CNE). NEC Argentina`s selection of Smartmatic is aimed at adding still more technical prowess to help in its commitment to completely revamp Bolivia`s voter registration system.

"It is gratifying that a world leader in biometric registration like NEC has chosen Smartmatic for its technology and support capabilities, toward achieving a transparent biometric register in record time. We are honored to take part in this historic enhancement of the Bolivian voting system", said Antonio Mugica, CEO, Smartmatic.

THE CNE`S VOTER REGISTRATION GOALS

The Bolivian CNE has set an important and dramatic voter registration goal. Over a period of three months (August to October 2009), the CNE hopes to register approximately 4 million Bolivian voters, including Bolivians living abroad in Argentina, the United States, Spain and Brazil.

A new electoral law, recently approved by the Congress of Bolivia, mandates the use of biometric registration to increase security and protect the rights of voters. The new registration, which will include digital data such as citizens` fingerprints, pictures and signatures, will first prove its usefulness in the December 2009 Bolivian general elections.

To implement the new registration process, the CNE is expected to use 3.000 new registration stations, comprised of 1,700 stationary and 1,300 mobile stations.

DAILY REGISTRATION: POTENTIAL OF 60,000 PLUS VOTERS

To support a potential daily registration of 60.000 people, NEC Argentina and Smartmatic will work together as follows:

-- As project leader, NEC Argentina will provide the equipment to be used in the data capture stations, such as computers and fingerprint scanners.

-- In addition, NEC will supply its cutting-edge recognition and fingerprint duplicate detection software (AFIS).

-- Smartmatic will be in charge of supplying peripheral equipment and technical staff training; and of the logistics of the whole event, including equipment allocation and staff to the various CNE offices in the country.

WHY SMARTMATIC?

NEC turned to Smartmatic due to its experience in managing elections in countries with complex geographies, such as Venezuela and the Philippines, under intense time pressure. Bolivia`s geography, including high elevation sites and steep mountainous landscapes, presents an added degree of difficulty for equipment distribution and deployment.

"NEC selected Smartmatic for three powerful reasons: its successful experience in mission-critical projects, its cutting-edge technology and its team, one of the most qualified worldwide to deal with this kind of project", said Jorge Vargas, Marketing & International Business Director, NEC Argentina.

About Smartmatic

Smartmatic is a multinational company that designs and deploys technological solutions aimed at helping governments fulfill, in the most efficient way, their commitments with their citizens. It is one of the largest cutting-edge technology suppliers, with a wide and proven experience in the United States, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean.

Smartmatic aims to help societies become more efficient and transparent, through technological innovations and it is responsible for several top and advanced innovations available in the market around three business areas: electronic auditable voting systems, intelligent and integrated security platforms, and advanced solutions for people registration and authentication for a wide range of government applications.

About NEC Argentina

NEC Argentina operates as a wholly-owned subsidiary of NEC Corporation. A pioneer in the integration of computer systems and communications, NEC Argentina offers solutions to different vertical segments, being today a Technological Development Center in government integrated solutions for Latin-America.

Established in Buenos Aires since 1978, NEC Argentina is one of the leader suppliers of the technological area with a vast experience in the development and setting up of integral solutions like e-gov, healthcare, education, biometrics, security and convergent solutions. The company has set up successful projects in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, Venezuela, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Mexico as well as in different parts of the world, through NEC Corporation.

Smartmatic

Samira Saba, Marketing/Communications Manager +582127062500 [email protected] or NEC Argentina Gabriela Romero, Marketing/Communications +54-1140106000 (int. 6016) [email protected]

Technorati Tags: Smartmatic,NEC Argentina,Bolivian National Electoral Court,CNE,Michael Mongold

Brazil votes on biometrics

Brazil votes on biometrics
Security Document World (press release)

Brazil votes on biometrics

08 September 2009

Brazil’s Superior Electoral Court (TSE) has selected Suprema’s RealScan-D live scanner for nationwide biometric voter registration.

The RealScan-D live scanner is a portable, USB-powered device designed for bundling with mobile jump-kits when used at voter registration and voting sites.

Suprema says TSE’s voter biometric identification programme aims to protect citizen’s voting rights by preventing any possible frauds.

According to TSE, the Brazilian government aims to implement biometric voting system to all states to enhance its consolidation of citizens’ rights.

“We are very proud of the order from TSE as it is the world’s largest fingerprint registration system for voting,” says Ismael Akiyama, CEO at Akiyama Technologia, Suprema’s local partner in Brazil.

Suprema has also recently won government projects in Slovenia, Japan and Mexico for criminal and public ID applications.

Technorati Tags: Brazil,Superior Electoral Court,TSE,Suprema,RealScan-D,Michael Mongold