CAMPBELL, CALIF.-- February 25, 2003 -- IR Recognition Systems, the biometric component of Ingersoll-Rand's (IR) Security & Safety Group's Electronic Access Control Division (EACD), today announced that Diebold, Incorporated (NYSE:DBD) has integrated the company's hand geometry technology into the access control system at West Virginia University's Boreman North Residence Hall. Additional HandReaders will soon be implemented at the Student Recreation Center. West Virginia University is the first to offer degrees in biometrics and forensics identification.
"More and more, colleges and universities are wanting the security and convenience of biometrics for their students," reports Bill Spence, director of marketing for IR Recognition Systems. "Some universities are talking about a 'one card' system, but others have taken the next step and implemented 'one hand' environments. For instance, the University of Georgia has been verifying student meal passes in their dining facilities with our HandReaders since 1989. In 1999, they implemented another ten HandReaders at their Ramsey Recreational Sports Center and installed another 27 HandReaders covering all entrances to 16 residential facilities. Each year approximately 30,000 students are enrolled into the system for the school year.
"Just last November, we announced that students at Johnson & Wales University in northeast Denver are using HandReaders to control access to their dorms and dorm rooms. Soon, they will also use the biometric readers to enter a 24-hour computer lab, obtain meals, check out library books, access the athletic fields and obtain bookstore charge backs. The faculty is using the HandReaders to enter academic facilities."
By the fall of 2003, West Virginia University plans to install biometrics in all residence halls and continue to explore its use elsewhere, including dining halls.
About IR Recognition Systems
With over 70,000 hand geometry units throughout the world reading millions of
hands each day, IR Recognition Systems, founded in 1986, is the pioneer of hand
recognition technology used in access control, time and attendance and identification
applications. The company is the world sales leader of biometric verification
devices and serves an international clientele from its headquarters in Campbell,
Calif. The hand geometry website is www.handreader.com. Phone is 408-341-4100.
Recognition Systems is the biometric component of Ingersoll-Rand Corporation's
Security & Safety Group's Electronic Access Control Division. The Ingersoll-Rand
website is www.irco.com.
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