If one based his impression simply on the ease with which the term security is used in conversation at trade shows and in meetings, it would be logical to assume that most people understand the basic concepts of access control technology. However, that is not the case. In this rapidly changing arena, it is easy to get caught up in the latest trend and newest technology. But these are of little value without a solid understanding of the operational building blocks. So bear with me as I use this column to setup the foundation for this special security issue of CR80News. 

ASIS International is an industry leading organization for professionals in the security industry. With more than 33,000 members around the world, ASIS helps define and shape the security policies and practices of the modern enterprise. In mid-September, the ASIS 49th Annual Seminar and Exhibits was held in New Orleans, Louisiana. More than 135 educational sessions and 2,000 booth spaces gave the estimated 17,000 attendees a chance to learn about and see the latest in both physical and logical security technologies. 

On campuses across the country, metal keys are disappearing in favor of plastic cards. As witnessed by the hotel industry in the preceding two decades, these offline electronic locks are revolutionizing door access in college dormitories. And the growing flexibility of these systems is taking them beyond the dorms and into a variety of multi-access areas such as labs, recreational facilities, offices, and classrooms. 

Project Securely Monitors Entrance and Exit of 120,000 Daily Workers

Cupertino, CA– August 20, 2003 – On Track Innovations, Ltd., (OTI) (NASDAQ: OTIV; Prime Standard [Frankfurt]: OT5), a global leader in contactless microprocessor-based smart card systems, announced today that it has completed another stage in the delivery of the infrastructure toward the installation of the Basel Project, a cross-border contactless access control system, with the first border center at the Erez checkpoint between Gaza Strip and Israel, scheduled to go live later this year.  When fully operational, the system will monitor the entrance and exit of approximately 120,000 daily workers while assuring a completely secure, exceptionally fast border crossing.  The project, awarded by the Israel Ministry of Defense (MoD) and the Israeli National Police, is the first border control system in the world to use both hand and facial biometrics with contactless chip technology as the primary methods of identification. 

Lets Users Implement Presently-Installed Conventional and Proprietary BID Formats in New Upgraded Access Control Systems

BOCA RATON, FLA. – August 12, 2003 – GE Interlogix Access and Integration Group (NYSE:GE) today announced that its new Wiegand Interface Unit -Two State Card (WIU-2) supports a wide range of magnetic stripe, Wiegand, proximity, Mifare smart card and biometric readers that employ Wiegand formats. The WIU-2 features a Wiegand data converter, which can accommodate both conventional and proprietary Wiegand reader protocols. It includes a 2 Amp relay for door strike control activities. 

The US Navy is testing a new contactless access control system called SmartGate to more accurately, securely, and easily track and control access to Navy bases. Under the new system, security personnel at entrance points use hand held readers to identify incoming vehicles and cardholders based on their contactless ID. They validate both the vehicle and the cardholder on both entrance and exit significantly enhancing the base’s perimeter security. 

MINNEAPOLIS (July 22, 2003) – Fargo Electronics, Inc. (Nasdaq: FRGO) and ImageWare Systems, Inc. (AMEX:IW) have entered into an agreement that will establish Fargo as a master distributor of ImageWare’s off-the-shelf photo ID badge design and management software. ImageWare develops software solutions for the creation of secure photo IDs and credentials that are used for driver’s licenses, passports, national IDs, secure access control and more. Fargo creates innovative printing systems that personalize plastic identification cards, complete with digital images and text, lamination and electronically encoded information.