CIA
Wants Next Phase In Scanners Identification
Wright State University Research Institute is
one of a dozen groups chosen from a field of
500 applicants to submit plans to the Central
Intelligence Agency for cutting-edge
technology to identify potential terrorists
and other suspects. University researchers
working to develop what they believe is the
nation’s first bone-scanning identification
system should know next year whether the CIA
will opt to use their biometric identifier.
Each skeletal structure is unique and can be
identified with X-rays by measuring bones, the
distance between them and bone density.
Existing identification systems like
fingerprints and facial recognition software
can be tricked, say researchers tasked with
developing the new technology. “We think
this is spoof-proof,” said Julie Skipper, an
associate professor and biomedical engineer,
who expects a prototype to be ready by this
time next year. Skipper is working with fellow
researcher Phani Kidambi to develop the idea
of S. Narayanan, the dean of the engineering
and computer science college, who envisions
the technology being used at points of entry
into the country.