Biometric FAQ

Question 1

What is biometrics?

Answer

Biometrics identifies people by a unique human characteristic. The size and shape of a hand, a fingerprint, the voice and several aspects of the eye are just some unique attributes. The word "biometric" simply means the measurement of a living trait, whether physiological or behavioral. Biometric technologies compare a person's unique characteristics against a previously enrolled image for the purpose of recognition.

Question 2

What is Hand Geometry?

Answer

HandPunch uses a field-proven technology called hand geometry, which verifies an individual’s identity based on the size and shape of the hand. It does not take fingerprints or handprints.

Question 3

Is Hand Geometry New?

Answer

Hand Geometry has been in use longer than any other biometric. Two-dimensional hand geometry devices have been around since the 1970s. Schlage has sold over 300,000 HandPunch HandReaders since 1986.

Question 4

How does it work?

Answer

The HandPunch measures the unique size and shape of the fingers and hand. More than 90 different measurements are made, such as length, width, thickness and surface area. No fingerprints or palm prints are taken.

To enroll an employee for the first time, the employee puts their hand into the HandPunch three times so that a CCD camera records 3 images of the hand. An algorithm converts these images into one mathematical value (your template). This template is then stored in the HandPunch. Each time an employee puts their hand in the HandPunch to punch in or out of work, the HandPunch takes another image of the hand, the algorithm converts this image to a mathematical value and then compares this new template with the template the HandPunch has stored previously. If the two templates match, identity is confirmed and the punch is recorded.

Each time an employee punches in or out, their template is updated with each successful verification. Basically, the machine “learns your hand.” This allows for changes due to weight gain or loss, aging, etc. This also eliminates the need to re-enroll users.

Question 5

What is buddy-punching?

Answer

Buddy punching is when one employee clocks in for another employee. This usually happens when one employee is running late. That employee will then call into work to ask a coworker/friend to clock them in at their scheduled time to report to work. This is the basis for payroll fraud that costs companies thousands of lost dollars per year.

Question 6

Why HandPunch?

Answer

Badge-based terminals eliminate many of the problems associated with manual time and attendance systems. But there’s one issue that remains: “Buddy Punching,” the practice of employees clocking in other employees who are not at work. HandPunch HandReaders stop buddy punching because, unlike badges and cards, the hand can’t be lost, stolen, or loaned to another person.

Question 7

How many hand templates can be stored in the unit?

Answer

HandPunches hold from 100 employees up to 32,512.

Question 8

Do rings or Band-Aids have an effect?

Answer

Not usually enough to reject a valid user. Just make sure the ring is in the upright position and hand placement is proper and there should not be any issues.

Question 9

What happens if I injure my hand and have it bandaged or in a cast?

Answer

You can be enrolled with your left hand; palm up while the right hand is disabled. It’s not as comfortable but will work fine.

Question 10

My employees are concerned about hygiene issues. How do I address this concern?

Answer

Compare hand placement on the platen to using a door knob/handle, money handling, telephone use, or shaking hands. As of June 2007, every hand reader platen (Where user places their hand) contains an anti-microbial agent. These active agents are incorporated during the manufacturing process and because they cannot leach out or wash off the surface, remain active for the life of the biometric reader. This material does not change the look or the feel of the product but it continually protects the platen’s surface against microbes, making it cleaner and more hygienic.

Question 11

Are there any privacy issues?

Answer

Hand geometry technology has never been reverse-engineered to identify people. Hand geometry units do not store the image of the hand, but instead store a 9-byte template, which is a mathematical representation of the hand image. This mathematical value is meaningless to other devices. In addition, no fingerprint or palm print information is gathered.

Question 12

Is the HandPunch safe?

Answer

The infrared lights used in the hand reader are similar to those used in remote controls for TVs and VCRs. The light’s power level is less than the amount produced by natural sunlight. Schlage has submitted hand reader information to the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). OSHA did not report any hazards.

Question 13

Who is Schlage?

Answer

With more than 300,000 HandPunches installed around the world, Schlage is part of a $10B/year corporation that's been in business for more than 100 years.

Annual Hardware Support Contract Information

Length of Contract? 1 Year
Loaner Units? Yes, On-site or mail-in service
On-Site Repairs? Yes, local only
Cover All Parts & Labor? Yes
On-Site Support? Yes, local only

»Request a support contract for your HandPunch here
Or call (718) 784-4900

Annual Software Support Contract Information

Length of Contract? 1 Year
Software Updates? Yes, if needed
Software Re-Training? Yes, Reduced Cost
Telephone/Remote Support? Yes, unlimited

»Request a support contract for your software here
Or call (718) 784-4900

Question 14

Do I have to connect my TS-3000i® TimeSync Web Clock directly to a computer?

Answer

No. The TS-3000i® TimeSync Web Clocks are connected directly to a network Ethernet connection. They are never connected physically to your computer.

Question 15

Will the TS-3000i® work with a dial-up internet connection?

Answer

No. The TS-3000i® requires a high-speed (broadband) internet connection.

Question 16

Do I have to create a configuration profile to set up my TS-3000i® Web Clock?

Answer

No. Your TS-3000i® comes with a default configuration profile. However, in order to customize your TS-3000i® Web Clock to your requirements, you must first create a unique configuration profile to provide some basic information, like a user name, password, e-mail address, time servers, etc.

Question 17

Do I have to provide an e-mail address to set up my clock configuration profile?

Answer

Yes. But only if you want e-mail notification. When setting up your TS-3000i® clock configuration profile for e-mail notification, you are asked for a from and a to e-mail address. This enables the TS-3000i® Web Clock to automatically direct alerts to these destination addresses, if you choose to enable them.

Question 18

Do I have to create a new configuration profile each time I get another TS-3000i® Unit?

Answer

No. One configuration file is all that is needed for multiple clocks. The shared configuration file can be copied to multiple TS-3000i® clocks using the utility that came with the clock CD.

Question 19

Do I have to connect the TS-3000i® directly to my computer to configure it?

Answer

No. A direct connection is not needed between the computer and the TS-3000i® for configuration. Configuration is completed using the TS-3000i® Web page via a browser, see www.amano.com/time for additional support.

Question 20

Do I need to have my TS-3000i® connected to the internet at all times?

Answer

Yes. If you are using an external NIST NTP Time Server.
The TS-3000i® normally works by regularly requesting and receiving time validation from one of the 18 default NIST NTP Time Servers via the internet. This requires the TS-3000i® to be connected to the internet at all times. However, if this is not possible, you can configure the TS-3000i® to validate time by connecting to an internal Time Server (see Time Sync Time Servers).
No. If you lose Internet [time server] connection, the TS-3000i® will maintain the time for up to 24 hours before notification of time sync validation. Also, if a schedule should occur during the Internet connection failure, time sync validation failure will occur.

Question 21

If I lose my internet connection, will I lose my time data on the clock display?

Answer

No. As long as you retain AC power and/or have the FPR option, the TS-3000i® will remain fully operational with time data displayed on the clock. However, if the Internet connection is lost for greater than 24 hours, you will be notified on the clock display of time synchronization failure. The display is updated at regular intervals (depending on the schedule selected) and maintains its time data until a new time validation is performed. If the TS-3000i® loses its connection to the internet, the data will be updated again when the connection is restored.

Question 22

How long does the built-in coin battery last in my TS-3000i® Unit?

Answer

Estimated built-in coin battery life for an average TS-3000i® Web Clock is 5 years.

Question 23

How often does the time get validated and updated on my TS-3000i® clock?

Answer

A minimum of once every 24 hours, with a maximum of 12 times per day, or once every 2 hours.

Question 24

Will e-mail alerts work if my internet connection is interrupted?

Answer

No. The TS-3000i® only needs to have a connection to the network to produce e-mail alerts.

Question 25

If the power goes out, will my TS-3000i® Web Clock still receive updates?

Answer

As long as the internet connection is live and you have the FPR option, the time validation updates will continue.

Question 26

If the power goes out, and my TS-3000i® Web Clock does not have the FPR and/or PoE options, will I lose my clock configuration and/or transaction reports?

Answer

No. All clock configuration and transaction reports are always stored in flash memory.

Question 27

If the power goes out, and my TS-3000i® Web Clock does not have the PoE and/or FPR option, will I lose Time and Date?

Answer

No. The rolling calendar in the clock is maintained for up to 1 year by a built-in coin battery.

Question 28

If the power goes out, and my TS-3000i® Web Clock has the FPR option, will I still be able to print?

Answer

Yes. The Full Power Reserve (FPR) battery pack, fully charged, can provide up to 400 print cycles and/or 6 hours of completely operational running time.

Question 29

How will the TS-3000i® affect the speed of my internet connection?

Answer

The TS-3000i® uses very small network data packets and should have no noticeable effect on your internet connection.

Question 30

Do I need a special router?

Answer

No. You don't need a special router. The TS-3000i® simply needs to be connected to your local area network by using the Cat5 network cable included with your TS-3000i® TimeSync Web Clock. The TS-3000i® Units communicate through your local area network.

Question 31

Do I need a special router for PoE support?

Answer

Yes. You will need a PoE-Enabled multi-service router for PoE support. The TS-3000i® with the PoE option simply needs to be connected to your local area network by using the network cable included with your TS-3000i® TimeSync Web Clock to receive all the operational power it needs.

Question 32

Does ATVS Enterprise Software work with the TS-3000i®?

Answer

The ATVS Enterprise software will function the same way with the TS-3000i® as it does with the Amano PIX-3000xN and PIX-3000xNT clocks. The TS-3000i® can be auto-discovered using Zeroconf, while the PIX-3000xNT will still utilize the Lantronix utility for discovery.