New Vibration-based System can Increase Vehicle Security

Researchers have come up with a system that grants access based on finger vibrations in order to enhance security. This low-cost security system called VibWrite can be used to give access to anything with a solid surface and is based on the premise that everyone’s fingerbone structure is unique and the pressure their fingers apply on surfaces is unique.

The sensors use subtle physiological and behavioral variations to identify and authenticate a person, according to Yingying(Jennifer) Chen, Professor at Rutgers University-New Brunswick in New Jersey, US. Currently, smart security access systems depend mainly on intercoms, cameras, cards or fingerprints for authentication. However, all of these require the installation of expensive equipment, complex hardware and have different maintenance needs.

VibWrite integrates passcode, behavioral and physiological characteristics and permit user authentication when fingers touch any solid surface. It uses a touch-sensing technique comprising vibration signals for authentication and is different from password-based systems, where the emphasis is on checking the accuracy of the password rather than on whether the user is the legitimate user. Biometrics based solutions like fingerprint scanning on the other hand involve touchscreens, fingerprint readers or other costly hardware and have given rise to concerns about privacy.

Chen said that Smart access systems that use fingerprinting and iris-recognition are very secure, but are very expensive, whereas the VibWrite system, is ten times cheaper, especially if it is to be deployed on a large scale. With VibWrite, the authentication process does not need touch screens and can be done with any screen size. All it needs is an inexpensive vibration motor and receiver. The power needed is also minimal.

Both hardware installation and maintenance are easy, and “VibWrite probably could be commercialized in a couple of years,” Chen said