Thales Passes NIST Contactless Fingerprint Testing
Thales has completed the first phase of NIST FastCAP qualification testing, moving mobile contactless fingerprint capture closer to broader operational use.
Thales said its contactless fingerprint technology met the requirements of NIST Special Publication 500-339, which defines qualification testing for systems that capture fingerprints without traditional contact sensors. The technology allows fingerprints to be acquired using the camera of a mobile device.
The significance of Phase One is not simply that the technology works. NIST used the first phase to evaluate biometric acquisition capabilities, refine performance metrics and test advanced prototypes and products for rapid contactless tenprint capture.
In practical terms, the qualification testing asked whether these systems could meet standardized quality requirements for contactless fingerprint acquisition and establish a comparable technical baseline across different vendors.
Phase One established whether contactless fingerprint systems could meet defined technical requirements.
Phase Two will move toward continuous testing and wider adoption of the technology.
From qualification to ongoing testing
According to NIST’s FastCAP program, Thales was one of 12 companies that completed qualification testing and met the requirements of the SP 500-339 framework. Other qualified vendors include IDEMIA, TECH5, Veridium and several specialist biometric technology companies.
NIST said the completed testing provides a baseline for the current capabilities of rapid identity-capture hardware and software. The results will also inform future evaluation metrics and updates to the testing framework.
Phase Two is intended to take that process further. NIST plans to continue working with industry to support adoption of contactless biometric capture technologies and expand FastCAP qualification into an ongoing testing framework. Detailed Phase Two objectives and participation guidelines have not yet been published.
Contactless biometrics in the field
For Thales, the technology is particularly relevant to its Mobile Biometric Identification system, which supports fingerprint, facial and iris acquisition for law enforcement, public security and defense operations.
Contactless fingerprint capture could allow personnel to perform biometric checks using the camera of a standard mobile device instead of carrying a dedicated fingerprint scanner, while conventional sensor-based acquisition can still be used when required.
NIST notes that qualification under FastCAP does not constitute certification, recommendation or endorsement of a commercial product.
