Sony Goes from eReader to USB Finger Vein Reader

Sony's stretching into the security market with an alternative to the fingerprint scanner, the FVA-U1 USB Vein Authentication Device‏. You're a beautiful little snowflake just like everyone else and Sony is taking advantage of it now. This USB connected system uses the vein patterns in your finger as a unique identification token. Many of Sony's laptops contain fingerprint scanners, and while those provide an infallible method of identifying a human being, they are easily defeated and confused. You leave your fingerprints everywhere. Fingerprint security is something akin to having a 256-bit strength password and chiseling it on the bottom of your shoes. In contrast, vein patterns are purportedly as unique as fingerprints and are contained within the skin and not available for easy interception.

Sony vein reader is based on their Mofiria technology, which was unveiled earlier this year as a very low power identification device suitable for institutional use or low power mobile use (e.g. cell phones). This mini-USB version is the first piece of hardware released based on Mofiria. Sony is pitching this as more than just a personal security token, but hoping it will be adopted by large corporations by releasing an SDK for public consumption. The SDK opens the device up for developers to customize and obscure their security systems. Sadly the FVA-U1 is similar in cost to already available vein scanners at $350, and won't be released until December 18th.