Korean company LG Electronics is using Hong Kong as a launch-pad for the latest in home and commercial security application, using iris recognition biotechnology.
The company has unveiled its IrisAccess 3000 system at the
Integer Pavilion in Admiralty, citing Hong Kong as the gateway to China and an ideal testing ground for high-tech products.
ˇ§LG wants to establish a bridgehead not only for the Chinese mainland, but also for other Asian countries,ˇ¨ said Charlie C.G Cho, senior manager of Security System Export Group, LG Electronics Inc.
ˇ§Hong Kong has the economic and technical infrastructure to be the test-stage for our cutting-edge product ahead of its launch in other markets.ˇ¨
Geographically, Hong Kong is also a hub for companies dealing in high-tech products, Mr Cho said.
ˇ§We see Hong Kong as a fantastic market and a centre for international traffic, trade and finance. The most modern and advanced products are being introduced in Hong Kong, so we have chosen Hong Kong to test our new product to see whether it can be marketable in the mainland and other Asian countries in the near future.ˇ¨
The IrisAccess system introduces to domestic and commercial users the intelligent security technology now used at airports in several countries, including the United States and Germany.
Kevin Wong, business manager at
Golden Apple Biometrics, the Hong Kong dealer for the product, says iris recognition is the most dependable form of security because it uses the most individual feature of the human body.
The iris is fully formed by the age of six months and remains unchanged for the rest of oneˇ¦s life. ˇ§It is impossible to have a false recognition,ˇ¨ Mr Wong said.
Access is gained by looking into a ˇ§mirrorˇ¨, which photographs the iris and cross checks on a computer databank. This process takes around one second.
One system can store data for up to 10,000 people and can be used for more than one building, covering for example multiple housing blocks in a residential complex.
The system can also allow only certain people into defined areas or at designated times, making it easier to control employees in high-security workplaces.
Wong says building owners will quickly realise the systemˇ¦s capacity for reducing security costs, adding that the technology could potentially negate the need for pin numbers or passwords.
The Integer Pavilion is a joint-venture project between the Hong Kong and British governments demonstrating how intelligent and green principles can be used in Hong Kong housing.
