Security is now at your fingertips

Zia Askari

HYDERABAD: The Hyderabad-based TSR Inventor's association has devised a

Cheque Authentication System (CAS). The device, which comprises fingerprint

recognition software and scanner, can be deployed in the banks for checking

validity of transactions.

The software with image processing algorithms carefully compares the

fingerprint fed into the computer with the fingerprint of the account holder

that is stored in the database. The system uses the reader for capturing and

converting fingerprint image to digital form for verification by the computer.

Initially we will target large banks and financial organizations, said T Sony

Roy, the CAS inventor.

"With signatures liable to be forged, insurance, banks and credit firms

are likely to suffer losses due to forgery. The device will come in handy to

these segments for all these segments," Roy said.

"We are now in the process of holding talks with representatives of

Indian Banks Association (IBA) and Reserve bank of India (RBI) seeking their

franchisee of the device," he said. Fingerprint recognition is one of the

most feasible biometrics today for general market.

A fingerprint is a pattern of ridges, with minutiae point. Minutiae are the

places on fingerprints where ridges split or end. The system captures the image

of the fingerprint on the cheque, extracts the minutiae points and creates an

identifying template of 300 bytes.

Once the account holder is enrolled for the 'Cheque Authentication Facility',

the cheques presented at the counter are scanned. The fingerprint on the cheque

is matched with the stored list of registered account holders, and if they match

the cheque is passed.

The fingerprint scanner can be modified depending on the suitability of the

bank and easily mass-produced. The software is priced at Rs 12,000.