Infrared palm scanning Irish students for registration

A school in Ireland, Coláiste an Chraoibhin in Fermoy, is considering infrared palm scanning for their pupils in order to register them at school.  How widespread is this infrared palm scanning in Irish schools or schools in the UK?

Back in 2006, Amey & Fujitsu introduced infrared palm scanning to a Scottish primary school, Todholm Primary school.  However, infrared palm scanning technology never spread here in the UK and emerged in schools in the USA around 2011.  After extensive Googling (yes I know I shouldn't use it) I can see no companies here in the UK or Ireland selling infrared palm scanning technology for registration or otherwise.

However the various reporting in the press of Coláiste an Chraoibhin School considering infrared palm scans is ambiguous.  One report states that:

"Almost 100 schools around the country, including 12 in Cork, are already using swipe card technology to record pupil attendance.  However only six schools nationwide are using biometric scanning technology."

So only 6 schools use biometric scanning technolog... or do they? - this from the Head Teacher, Mr Healy:

"To be honest, I don't know what all the fuss is about. This is a system that is already widely used across the country. In fact one supplier I spoke to said he is working with more than 100 schools"

So who is supplying biometric palm scanners to 6 or is it 100 schools in Ireland?  Clearly (or unclearly in this case) a company or companies that decide to have little or no web presence about the fact they offer infrared palm scanning solutions for schools - strange? 

Will schools in the UK be offered infrared palm scanning technology too? And will infrared palm scanning be an easier sell  to schools and parents, now that parents and child consent is required in the UK, as a 'softer' biometric technology rather than harvesting a child's biometric fingerprint?

Gathering biometrics from the population whether it be fingerprint or palm vein scanning is still reaping incredibly personal data about a person.   With less data invasive methods around, using biometric technology in schools is completely unnecessary.  If the argument being used (which this is in this case) is that swipe cards have a cost to replace, then use a pin system or password system instead.  It could be argued that a swipe card's ability to be lost actually teaches a child to look after the card/identity and that there are consequences if carelessly loosing it.  

Mr Healy states that "there will be no data protection issues involved" and "says he's been told they [infrared palm scans] don't contravene data protection laws".  Mr Healy may well be right and that data gathering such personal information does indeed have the potential to be fine - but it also has the potential not to be fine if it falls in the wrong hands or abused.  

After recent news about Prism, our society does not have a great track record of honesty regarding data collection, keeping data safe and secure or using it for good.   Personally, I would refuse to use.

Maryland introduce a bill Prohibiting Collection of Biometric Information from Students

USA - Maryland Schools stopped the implementation of biometric palm scanners for cashless catering in December 2012 after privacy concerns were aired by parents. 

After a Board of Education meeting, Carroll County Public Schools Superintendent Steve Guthrie told WBAL  “I made the decision to suspend it after concerns were being expressed by the community.  There was division on those who were for the palm scanner and those who were against it. It is not my intent to alienate any segment of our community. It is my job to unify the community, not to create divisions.”   A respectful and fairly unique stance taken by the school district with regards to the implementation of biometric systems.  They are looking into an alternative system.

On February 7th 2013 a Bill, SB855, was introduced by Senator Getty to the US Maryland Government which reads:

Public Schools – Collection of Biometric Information from Students – Prohibited 

FOR the purpose of prohibiting a county board or a person subject to the direction and control of the county board from collecting biometric information from students enrolled in a public school; defining a certain term; and generally relating to the collection of biometric information from students enrolled in public schools.

The scanners in Maryland were supplied by PalmSecure, a Fujitsu property.  The above Bill is probably not the desired effect Fujitsu envisioned when they first trialed the infra-red vein scanning technology on primary school children in Scotland in 2006.  The desired effect was articulated by Mike Nelson's the General Manager of Fujitsu Europe in 2006, who said at the time:

"Biometric solutions will increasingly allow us to move towards a cashless society and this project is one of the first real examples in the UK of an innovative and truly practical biometric solution in operation. I fully expect this to be the first of many similar implementations across Europe"

(The original link to the news article quoting Mike Nelson on Fujitsu's site has been removed (it was 7 years ago) but his comments are also reported here.)

Thankfully Fujitsu's vision of a cashless society, aided by infra-red palm scans, has not yet materialised and the existence of this Bill proves society's reluctance to use such technologies.

Is there a coincidence that these technologies are being aimed at the next generation in schools to get them young?  ...to prepare for technology companies, and possibly a government's, dream of a cashless society? 

Children embrace technology without the mature questioning that an adult mind brings, in this case the parents have intervened and a Senator introduced a Bill on the use of biometric technology in schools with children.  Whether the Bill becomes enacted or not, a public debate will be had on the topic, which has to be a positive and healthly process for our society.

Infrared palm scans out-biometric fingerprints for school lunches

What is so wrong with school fingerprint biometrics that warrants over $100,000 being spent on biometric palm scanning equipment to replace an existing fingerprint payment system?  Source Palm Harbor News, Florida

Did the fingerprint system break down, is it not secure enough or perhaps the new vogue in biometrics for kids is the infrared palm scanner?

Or maybe fingerprint biometrics are just not fast enough to propel students at the desired speed through cafeterias as "this high-tech scanning system will make the lunch line move faster" ...faster even than fingerprint biometrics?   Undoubtedly, biometric vendors will be selling differing biometric systems to school by 'miles per hour' lunch line speeds!

"The new palm-scanning program, piloted at Boca Ciega High School, cost the district $105,000. It replaces a finger scan system used in county middle and high schools since 2005.

"Pinellas County Schools are the first in the nation to use a palm scanning system"

A proud claim indeed. Of course, we have Scottish children to thank for Boca Ciega High School's first infrared claim, although competition is hot on their heels by kids in Reading Schools District, Ohio.

The Amey/ Fujitsu palm scanning technology was first introduced to Scottish primary schools back in 2007.  Presumably the Scottish trials went well enough to market infrared palm scanning to the US.  After all the US had around 49 million school children as opposed to an approximate meagre 9 million in the UK.  A more lucrative US market, especially when imminent legislation here in the UK may require full parental consent to be gained by schools for biometrics to be used with students.

The speed of which school lunch queues move seems to be an ever evolving, publicly expensive, obsession held by schools and biometric companies on both sides of the pond.

Here's an idea, maybe the thousands of pounds and dollars spent on such systems could be invested in childrens education instead?