Oki Electric And Matsushita Communication Collaborate To Develop And Market New Iris Identification Systems
March 5, 2001, Tokyo, Japan -- Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd. and Matsushita Communication
Industrial Co., Ltd. announced today that they have made an alliance to develop
and market personal identification products for gate management and financial
systems based on the tint patterns of the human iris. The venture, by combining
Oki Electric's iris identification and processing technology with Matsushita Communication's
video camera technology, will jointly develop compact, high performed and low-cost
products for sales and marketing in Asian (including Japan), European and North
American markets.
Through the business tie-up, the two firms expect to develop next-generation
iris identification systems, promote iris identification technology and related
products for security and personal identification, as well as establish de facto
standards for these markets. Moreover, their complementary technologies should
enable them to develop products offering high cost performance.
As a first step, the two companies will begin marketing and selling iris identification
system incorporating a new architecture for financial industry from April 2001.
Later, as a second step, they plan to launch a new gate management system for
the financial industry. Future development will be focused on new applications
based on iris technology.
Products will be sold through the firms' respective sales networks in Japan
and other markets in Asia, Europe and North America. Besides using their respective
distribution networks for global marketing, the partners will also collaborate
in marketing and system construction whenever necessary to promote iris identification
systems in the growing market for biometric products.
Through the partnership, Matsushita Communication looks forward to expanding
its existing security product lineup with iris identification systems and to entering
the new-generation security business, "e-Security Net" while Oki, backed by Matsushita
Communication camera technology, expects to rapidly commercialize compact, low-cost
products with high liability and operability.
According to Mr. Koyo Matsumae, the executive vice president of Oki Electric's
System Solution Division "Iris identification technology, with its high accuracy,
is a significant technology for the growing security market. Oki's aggressive
development of leading-edge products has played a key role in the market's evolution.
Today's tie-up means we will be able to develop products even faster to meet market
needs, as well as expand our share of the global market."
Oki Electric has been conducting research and development of iris identification
technology, which uses tint patterns, the unique biometric signature of a person's
iris, for personal identification. In October 1998, Oki Electric commercialized
the IRISPASSR-S Gate Management System, the world's first security-gate management
system to use a human iris identification system, rather than conventional lock
keys, number codes, etc.
Matsushita Communication, which boasts high technology in the fields of security
image using video cameras, has focused on the security and safety business one
of its four core businesses. The company commands large shares of security imaging
markets in Japan and other countries.
Toshio Yokoyama, director of the Audio Video Systems Division and senior managing
director of Matsushita Communication says, "Iris identification technology is
crucial to the development of our new-generation security business, "e-Security
Net". Today's announcement with Oki Electric will enable Matsushita Communication
to launch innovative products backed by the strengths of both companies. I believe
the two firms will become great partners for promoting the iris identification
technology to the global market."
The new iris identification system jointly developed by the two partners will
be on display in the Matsushita Communication booth at Security Show 2001, which
will be held at the Tokyo Big Sight exhibition complex from March 6 to 9.
About iris identification
The iris is the contractile membrane that surrounds the pupil within the eye.
Each person's iris has a unique pattern that remains virtually unchanged after
the age of two. Moreover, characteristics of the iris are difficult to create
forgery. An iris identification system uses a video camera to capture the iris
(from a distance of about three feet), which is then digitally encodes the image
into an iris code by processing technology. The system then verifies the identity
by comparing it to previously recorded code data. Although a record requires just
512 bytes and verification takes only 1-2 seconds, the system is a highly precise
method for personal identification.
About Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd.
Founded more than a century ago in 1881, Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd. is Japan's
first telecommunications manufacturer headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. With more
than 21,000 employees worldwide, Oki Electric provides customers with top-notch
products and technologies for telecommunication systems, information systems and
electronic devices.
About Matsushita Communication Industrial Co., Ltd.
Matsushita Communication Industrial Co., Ltd. (MCI) is an affiliate of Matsushita
Electric Industrial Co., Ltd., and specializes in telecommunications, measuring,
audio-visual systems, and automotive electronics. For more information on Matsushita
Communication, visit http://www.mci.panasonic.co.jp/
Notes:
- IRISPASS is registered trademark of Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd. in Japan.
- Names of company and product are trademarks or registered trademarks of each
company
Press Contact:
Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd.
Public Relations Division
Phone: +81-3-3580-8950 |
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