New Advancement in Fingerprint ID Capture for Babies

Capturing a baby’s fingerprint is difficult because the patterns are small, densely compacted and soft, resulting in a faint and low contrast print. A team at Michigan State University led by Professor Anil Jain has developed a prototype device to capture baby fingerprints using high resolution scans with complex feature enhancement.

Baby fingerprints can be captured for a number of reasons: preventing babies from being switched at hospitals, tracking childhood vaccination schedules, and helping to find missing children. Many parents in the US are already capturing their children’s fingerprint for child safety, to have on hand in case of emergency.


Fingerprint ID System for Babies Being Developed

by Alia Hoyt, June 23, 2016

New Use for Ancient Pigment: Illuminating Fingerprints

A boon to modern forensics comes in the form of an ancient Egyptian Blue pigment whose use dates back to 3200 BCE. The Egyptian Blue pigment absorbs energy from light and reflects it back in the near infrared spectrum of light. The pigment glows brightly, even on difficult surfaces, when illuminated by white light. Simple and easy to use.

This discovery comes from the field of art conservation, where white light is used to detect ancient pigments. Egyptian Blue pigment is recreated with a recipe of copper-containing material, sand and a strong alkaline, which is then heated to 800°C to 900°C. For use in fingerprint detection, the pigment is refined into a much smaller size.

Ancient Egyptian pigment provides modern forensics with newcoat of paint

May 30, 2016 by Ivy Shih, The Conversation

SmartMetric has created the first ISO/industry compatible credit card with a built in fingerprint scanner

The same biometric technology used on smart phones has been shrunk down small enough to fit into a credit card. The SmartMetric credit card conforms to ISO standards for thickness, and therefore would be able to be issued by banks. The biometric card is built around EMV chip technology, which is becoming the global standard for credit card purchases and debit payments.

SmartMetric Presented Its New World First BiometricFingerprint Activated Credit Card With Built Inside the Card Fingerprint Readerat the Smart Card Alliance Payments Forum in Orlando Florida

SmartMetric press release, April 07, 2016 11:13 ET

SmartMetric has  a video of their biometric credit card on their website

www.smartmetric.com.

An update on the progress of the Medical Marijuana Industry in Illinois

Governor Bruce Rauner is expected to sign off on an extension to Illinois’ Medical Marijuana Pilot Program, extending it to July 2020, giving Illinois medical marijuana dispensary owners reason for optimism. The Illinois state legislature has also approved the addition of post traumatic stress disorder (PSTD) and end stage terminal illness to the list of 39 qualifying diseases and conditions.

Medical marijuana suppliersoptimistic about Illinois program's future

Jack Cullen, Quad City Times, June 11, 2016

Bill to ExpandIllinois Medical Marijuana Program Awaits Governor’s Signature

Scott Gacekon, medicaljane.com, June 06, 2016

An Illinois healthcare entrepreneur  shares from experience a simple yet comprehensive 5-point action plan to help dispensaries grow their businesses. Highlight points include:

1) Educating the Community

2) Partnerships with Thought Leaders

3) Close Ties with Patient Service Providers

4) Alliances with Disease Specific Associations

5) Physician Outreach

Illinois Dispensary Owner TakesCreative Approach to Overcoming State’s Stymied Medical Cannabis Market

Nicole van Rensburg, Partner at Midwest Compassion Center in Romeoville, Illinois, May 16, 2016