Today, employees swipe their ID badges or manually enter a PIN number into the HandPunch terminal and lay their hands on the unit's platen to begin their shifts. They also do likewise to punch in and out for lunch and at the end of their shifts.
“The first time our employees used the HandPunch, they were wowed and surprised at how the technology works,” adds Orozco. “Today, as a result of using the HandPunch and our new time and attendance software, we are assured of accurate records while saving our managers and myself much processing time.”
As the organization continues to grow, Orozco reports that all future sites will have HandPunch units.
A tailored application
Biometric readers can be standalone or networked, and integrate easily into all popular access control and/or time and attendance systems. Best of all, in most cases, biometrics look just like a card reader to an access control system.
* Standalone systems. Many biometrics are available in a standalone configuration. Such devices are not only a biometric but also a complete door controller for a single door. Users are enrolled at the unit and their biometric template is stored locally for subsequent comparison. The actual comparison is accomplished within the unit and a lock output is energized depending on the outcome.
* Networked systems. Many access control applications have a need to control more than one door. While multiple standalone units could be employed, a network of biometric readers offers many advantages. The most obvious is centralized monitoring of the system. Alarm conditions and activity for all the doors in the system are reported back to the security management system. All transactions are stored on the computer's disk drive and can be recalled for a variety of user-customized reports.
* Smart card systems. Integrating biometrics with smart cards is fast becoming the defacto access control solution that leading resellers are adding onto the systems they sell. For instance, a single smart card can store both the user's ID number and biometric template. Because of this, there is no need to distribute hand templates across a network of readers or require the access control system to manage biometric templates. This means integration to any existing access control application is greatly simplified, eliminating extra network infrastructure costs. Because the template only resides on the card, the solution also eases individual privacy concerns.
A smart card reader is embedded into the biometric reader. A plastic cardholder is affixed to the side of the unit. The verification process takes approximately one second and is virtually foolproof.
* Third-party system integration. The most common way to integrate biometrics is through “card reader emulation.” This method is very effective when the goal of an access control system is to control where people, not credentials, can and cannot go, only a biometric device truly provides this capability to your end user. There are biometric systems available today, which economically meet the needs of almost any healthcare access control application. HBI
Jon Mooney is general manager - Biometrics for Ingersoll Rand Security Technologies. He can be reached at 317-810-3700. Healthcare Building Ideas 2008 April-May;4(4):48-52
