Future PCs may prevent children from accessing undesirable Internet
sites by using an ultrasound device to gauge their age from a hand
bone. Users simply place a middle finger against a device that
attaches to a computer.
The device uses ultrasound waves to check more than a dozen biometric
attributes, including how much calcium is present . The device can
then determine the probability the user is a child or an adult.
The company has available prototypes of the device.
The technology can be housed in a stand alone device or integrated
into the keyboard of a PC or laptop. The projected sales price will
be about $25. The company plans to complete the product design by
June and intends to market the device for use in PCs in public places
such as libraries, schools and airports.
The company has teamed with security technology firm RSA to develop
the technology for the consumer PC market.
"Both organizations recognize the safety concerns associated with
using the Internet and look forward to collaborating on a solution
that will empower children to protect themselves from inappropriate
Web content and online predators," stated Shmuel Levin, founder and
CEO of i-Mature.
The company didn't reveal how accurate the age estimate would be. The
company envisions the technology as a way to limit access to chat
rooms and Web sites. It could be combined with other
identity-credentials or biometric technology to help identify surfers.
An Israeli company i-Mature, has developed a device that it says can
check the age of a computer user through an ultrasound scan of a bone
in the hand. The technology used by the device is known as Age-Group
Recognition (AGR).