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ID Cards / Identification Cards

Hmmm a lot of government IT is in the hands folks such as EDS (now part of HP), IBM, Qinetiq, Serco and the like. These folks like to make money.

To be honest, I think the problem is not that the government is sold trailing edge IT it is that the existing technologies are not built upon or future proofed. Too many companies adapt the solution to fit whichever software/systems architecture is considered cutting edge rather than designing a solution to fit the process being replaced.

A company bidding on an IT project which is going to last 15 years has to make a lot of educated guess as to what will be available. How many systems survive 15 years?

The government should try to keep the important contracts in-house, managed, implemented and maintained by their own staff. The HA, for example, got rid of a lot of experienced engineers who then joined companies such as Qinetiq, Serco, PEEK, Mouchel, IPL etc. and then were hired by the HA as consultants, often not even moving desks. How deranged is that?
 
lupinwick said:
Hmmm a lot of government IT is in the hands folks such as EDS (now part of HP), IBM, Qinetiq, Serco and the like. These folks like to make money.

A company bidding on an IT project which is going to last 15 years has to make a lot of educated guess as to what will be available. How many systems survive 15 years?
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A). Paper.

The Government seems to be in the habit of buying computer systems in the manner of a vulnerable old lady being offered to have her drive tarmacked.

New Red Cross War Dead Archive Uncovered
Saturday March 14, 2009
An estimated 20 million sets of details on the capture, death or burial of servicemen from over 30 nations during World War I have just been discovered "virtually untouched since 1918" in the basement of the Red Cross headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. British historian, Peter Barton, made the discovery during his research into the identities of World War I casualties discovered in a mass grave at Fromelles in France. Copies of these records were sent to the soldiers' home countries but, in many cases such as the UK, these copies no longer exist, making the original records discovered in the Swiss basement a virtual treasure trove.
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http://genealogy.about.com/b/2009/03/14 ... overed.htm
 
Indeed. A lot of magnetic media from the 70s and 80s is barely readable without specialist kit. And as the amount of data/information stored increases the problems of maintaining it just keep getting bigger.
 
The Government seems to be in the habit of buying computer systems in the manner of a vulnerable old lady being offered to have her drive tarmacked.
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You're not joking.

Just after i left the Highways Agency in 2002, a colleague was telling me about how much chaos they were having with their new accounting system, which was designed for dealing with large numbers of low value items, rather than small numbers of very large value items, so the only way they could get meaningly stats out of it was to put the price in as the amount and the amount in as the price :roll:

that, and a year or so back i was speaking to the staff at the morguary at Leeds General Infirmery, trying to find out some info on my stepfathers death in 1999. they couldn;t tell me anything because the new computer system they had put in 4 years ago can;t open any records from the old system, so any info older than 4 years is still there but entirely useless.

you couldn;t make it up :(
 
Jerry_B said:
Well, I stand by what I've said. If any of it ever works in any concerted way I'll be very much surprised. But I'm not going to hold my breath about it. And I wouldn't say I have a laissez-faire attitude towards it - that would imply that I think any of it will ever work. Which I don't ;)
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Police want to keep the DNA, fingerprints and photographs of innocent men and women until they are 100, a memo reveals.

Officers say that even if an individual is cleared of wrongdoing after their samples have been taken, there is no reason to remove their details from the database.

The police memo was uncovered by Tory immigration spokesman Damian Green. He wrote to police on behalf of two constituents whose samples were taken by police but were never convicted of an offence - and asked Nottinghamshire Police to remove the samples.

But the force replied that 'records will be retained on the Police National Computer until that person is deemed to have attained 100 years of age'.
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Full article here...

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... s-old.html

Now.
While it is clearly not the point that people of 98 or thereabouts commit the most crimes, it can be assumed that the DNA samples of those detained and swabbed members of the public would crop up in some form in their relatives and children in some definable way.

Given that the last 100 years saw major worldwide economic unrest, all-out world wars and the death of millions in those wars and under the scrutiny of extreme dictatorships, how can we assume that our data will not be purloined by a future dictatorship?

Is it safe to assume that the Uk shall not be visited by some dystopian horror in the future? Can we afford to think it will never happen in the first place, or is it better to ensure the concept and execution of this database never gets off the ground in the first place?
 
jimv1 said:
Police want to keep the DNA, fingerprints and photographs of innocent men and women until they are 100, a memo reveals.

Officers say that even if an individual is cleared of wrongdoing after their samples have been taken, there is no reason to remove their details from the database.

The police memo was uncovered by Tory immigration spokesman Damian Green. He wrote to police on behalf of two constituents whose samples were taken by police but were never convicted of an offence - and asked Nottinghamshire Police to remove the samples.

But the force replied that 'records will be retained on the Police National Computer until that person is deemed to have attained 100 years of age'.
Click to expand...

Full article here...

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... s-old.html

Now.
While it is clearly not the point that people of 98 or thereabouts commit the most crimes, it can be assumed that the DNA samples of those detained and swabbed members of the public would crop up in some form in their relatives and children in some definable way.

Given that the last 100 years saw major worldwide economic unrest, all-out world wars and the death of millions in those wars and under the scrutiny of extreme dictatorships, how can we assume that our data will not be purloined by a future dictatorship?

Is it safe to assume that the Uk shall not be visited by some dystopian horror in the future? Can we afford to think it will never happen in the first place, or is it better to ensure the concept and execution of this database never gets off the ground in the first place?
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I wholeheartedly agree. What constitutes criminal behaviour can be changed overnight, and given this governments prolific changes of legislation anyone could find themselves on the sharp end.
 
Those government emails.

An interesting viewpoint from Derek Draper on Radio 4's PM programme (saturday) where the weasily bastard was actually bleating about the fact that these 'juvenile' missives smearing other MPs were PRIVATE email.

Apart from the fact that senior politicians still seem unable to grasp the point that security of computer data is in the hands of people...dur...with their own agenda...er... and um...once again we have the heavy irony of Labour MPs painted into a corner by the slack intent of their own policies. In this case, the release of private emails - the very scrutiny they wish the rest of the population to bend over to and accept up the bottom works against them.
First the expenses, then the bill for the pron of Jacqui Smith's husband's viewing habits and the turning of the cameras against the police in the Tomlinson incident - since no CCTV footage of the most eagerly anticipated street ruck of 2009 materialised.

It's weird. It's almost like V is working in there and releasing stuff on a daily basis.






[/quote]
 
jimv1 said:
The Government seems to be in the habit of buying computer systems in the manner of a vulnerable old lady being offered to have her drive tarmacked.
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Totally agree - and it's not just the UK. Here in Australia, there are often stories about government departments rolling out new systems which, according to the end-users, are near-useless; or government departments cancelling system development contracts because the vapourware they've spent years pouring millions of dollars into just doesn't exist.

I worked in a project to implement a major computer system in a large Australian federal government department, and I couldn't believe what I saw. Everyone started off with the best intentions; but pretty early on, the higher-level project managers on the government side started changing objectives, timetables and resource allocations in a way that indicated clearly they did not understand the effect of the decisions they were making. The operatives undergoing training to implement the system understood, because they were close to the actual system; and they communicated their alarm to their managers, who also understood - but refused to tell the higher-level managers, "This won't work", "This compromises these objectives", "This can't be done in the amount of time you've allocated." Instead, the lower-level managers hung on grimly, telling their staff, "We know it doesn't work, but this element of the plan isn't negotiable, so we'll just meet the objectives which are possible, and somewhere along the line, someone will fix the errors."

Except that no-one got around to fixing the errors, because whenever it became possible for some manager to do so, they passed the buck too.

So the system went online in time for the big launch presentations - and did nothing. Users were told, "You have this new system - but don't use it yet, because it's not ready."
 
It seems that J Smith is insistent on the go-ahead for the ID cards plan despite opposition from pilots, Darling, Blunkett and all sides.
Anyway, the plan always was to involve the private sector as far as selling our personal details on but it's become pretty transparent that they don't even care about security at the point of collection - or has the Man in Jessops signed the Official Secrets Act?

Jacqui Smith enlists high street help for ID cards scheme

High street chemists, post offices and photo shops are to be used to record the electronic fingerprints and other biometric data needed for the national identity card scheme, the home secretary, Jacqui Smith, is to announce today.

The decision to use high street shops sidesteps the need for the Home Office to set up a network of enrolment centres with mobile units to operate in rural areas.

The move comes as the latest Home Office report to parliament on the costs of the scheme show they have risen by a further £221m to a total of £5.3bn over the next 10 years. That figure excludes the costs to other government departments and agencies of scanners and other equipment for verifying the identity of those trying to access public services.

The home secretary is to confirm in a speech today that Manchester will be the first city where citizens – particularly younger people – will be invited to apply for an ID card from this autumn before the national roll-out in 2012. They will be charged £30 for a standalone card that will be valid for travel through Europe.

Britain's commercial airline pilots are meeting MPs and ministers to object to an initial scheme requiring 20,000 airside workers at Manchester and London City airports to sign up to the ID card scheme as a condition of employment.

Smith is to meet businesses today who are keen to sign up with the Identity and Passport Service to undertake the work of recording electronic fingerprints and facial photographs for those who apply for ID cards or a new generation passport.

The Home Office expects more than 12m such documents to be issued each year when the scheme is fully operational.

"While private companies will clearly benefit from the increased footfall from offering this service, their customers will benefit from being able to quickly provide their biometrics while they are out doing their shopping," said Smith.

The Post Office, the National Pharmacy Association and the Photo Marketing Association are all in talks with the Home Office over the contract.

The cost report puts the figure for issuing ID cards to British and Irish citizens in the UK at £4.945bn, and to foreign nationals at £372m.


http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2009 ... tity-cards
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jimv1 said:
It seems that J Smith is insistent on the go-ahead for the ID cards plan despite opposition from pilots, Darling, Blunkett and all sides.
Anyway, the plan always was to involve the private sector as far as selling our personal details on but it's become pretty transparent that they don't even care about security at the point of collection - or has the Man in Jessops signed the Official Secrets Act?

...
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I suspect a lot of parliamentary NuLabor Borg, are now waiting to see what happens with the vote on the Post Office privatisation wheeze.

The jig may be up.
 
Here in Sweden, ID cards are issued by the police, as are passports. You can also order ID cards through the post office or your bank.

If you lose one, it's not great shakes - you just pay a fee for a replacement just like you would for a passport. They contain personal data but no chip or biometric data. They have you identification number, your photo and your signature. They are such a common thing here, not a guarded secret that I don't care who sees or handles mine.

Maybe ordering through your bank might feel more secure for some people.
 
I think Smith is going to get the boot in the next cabinet re-shuffle so she's been made to push I.D. cards through ... er ... put them on trial so a new Home Secretary gets less flak for an unpopular move.

I agree that if an ID card just had a number, your name and a photo then there would be less fuss. But, firstly, there's more personal - and sensitive - info to be stored on these; a sort of one-stop shop for ID theft (considering the Gubmint's past records on "secret" information handling and storage, there's probably advanced orders being placed). Secondly, we have enough items of photo identity including passports and european driving licences without needing another. Thirdly - and this one sticks in my own craw - this idea is being pushed through using scare tactics by linking it in the Fight Against Terrorism, despite such a device being utterly pointless in combatting terrorism.
 
Ringo_ said:
Here in Sweden, ID cards are issued by the police, as are passports. You can also order ID cards through the post office or your bank.

If you lose one, it's not great shakes - you just pay a fee for a replacement just like you would for a passport. They contain personal data but no chip or biometric data. They have you identification number, your photo and your signature. They are such a common thing here, not a guarded secret that I don't care who sees or handles mine.

Maybe ordering through your bank might feel more secure for some people.
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Just pay a fee? They're talking about 30 quid for the biometrics to be logged as well as £30 to purchase one. Not so great if you're stupid enough to want to go for one, even less so if we regard this as a price that will only ever increase. Also, if it becomes compulsory, (and there's not really much point to the UK version if it's not) there'll be fines for a broken card and fines if you fail to report it lost or stolen.

Besides. It's not the plastic. They could easily put the data in a little cuddly teddy bear on a key ring. It doesn't change the main concern which is the extensive database behind the system. We would have to have the faith that the private details which make up our identity are stored in an unhackable system accessible to only those with the purest of intentions who will never misplace or lose or sell it on to a private concern.

The daily evidence of misuse in the handling of our data which now seems potentially compromised at the point of (private industry) collection makes this a very different case from the Swedish example.

I am stifling a fit of the giggles over how our faith in the banks may give credence to the project. Thanks for that. :p
 
jimv1 said:
Just pay a fee? They're talking about 30 quid for the biometrics to be logged as well as £30 to purchase one...

It doesn't change the main concern which is the extensive database behind the system...

I am stifling a fit of the giggles over how our faith in the banks may give credence to the project. Thanks for that. :p
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Fair points all. They only cost £20 here - for a new onr or a replacement.

Regarding an expensive database and misuse, there already is one that holds all UK passport information. That has private data and biometric info, logging all your journeys but no-one seems to be bothered about that. It gets handled on a daily basis without much fuss.

And true, I wouldn't trust a bank as far as I could throw it but at least they have some security protocols in place.

I'm British BTW and thank the Lord every morning that I have escaped the dreary and backwards Isle.[/quote]
 
Ringo_ said:
Regarding an expensive database and misuse, there already is one that holds all UK passport information. That has private data and biometric info, logging all your journeys but no-one seems to be bothered about that. It gets handled on a daily basis without much fuss.
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On that point, look at today's announcement and the disregard the Government have for the European Court of Human Rights' decision that the DNA of the innocent and children must be destroyed.
It seems that in this country there are now two kinds of innocence. Those who have never commited a crime and the SuperInnocent who have never had contact with the police.

Ministers keep innocent on DNA database. Government accused of flouting court ruling over retention of data
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http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2009 ... -retention
 
The soon-to-be Mrs BG & I registered our intention to marry next year this morning at the registras.

We had to produce ID in a multitude of ways but by far the most important piece was our passports.

And this thought popped into my head:

Most people in the UK have passports and/or driving licenses, right?

They're currently used to confirm ID, why have another form?

But, more to the point, why resist when we're already on some database here or there?
 
It is already the case that travel within the UK requires photo ID.

Using domestic flights last year I checked the relevant websites, and even called the customer services line to verify I did not need ID. Luckily, being of a mildly paranoid nature I took some anyway. I was stopped at every airport, boarding and changing flights, in both directions. At one I had my marriage certificate demanded, as my name had changed from that still on my passport (yes, I had been paranoid enough to take it along).

To use the "lifeline" Northlink ferry to Orkney and Shetland it has been essential to have photo ID for the past couple of years. Opposition from many local people, and the local MP has been utterly ignored.

The problem is that those who live on islands don't have a choice. I, personally, completely oppose the ID card scheme, and bravely declared I would never get one no matter what happened. Then I needed surgery as a matter of urgency. In Aberdeen.
To fly or sail direct, to be able to keep my appointment, I needed new photo ID. Applying for a passport would have taken far too long, as well as needing interviews and -at that time- all manner of data provision for the very database I objected to. My cowardice about risking my own health is evidently stronger than my principles, as I am sure is the case for a great many people. I am now therefore, the proud owner of a Validate UK photo ID card to prove I am over 18 and can legally buy alcohol, as can my oldest child! This, apparently is enough to allow me to travel, however meaningless and even ridiculous it is in every other way.

It also allows the govt. to claim another individual 'voluntarily' taking up their kind offer of ID to 'simplify' their life and allow smooth access to services. Another little point on the statistics to 'prove' how popular these schemes are, and erode public opposition.

The point is, now it is assumed thato Photo ID is necessary to travel at the extremities of the country, how long before the same logic is applied to rail journeys, coach trips, even bus rides? After all the same farcical arguments about stopping terrorism, antisocial behaviour and immigration violations could be applied to any form of transport.

Permit to Travel, anyone?

There is one ferry operating which doesn't ask for ID, presumably since it gets no subsidy from the Government they have less influence over the situation. Even they will probably be forced to start data-harvesting soon -
from this weeks Orcadian newspaper;




MP slams ID proposals
Northern Isles MP Alistair Carmichael has slammed the Home Office’s plans to force residents to undergo further ID checks to board island ferries.

In March, Home Secretary Jacqui Smith MP, published the Home Office’s counter-terrorism strategy, known as CONTEST. On page 113 of the 174 page document is the announcement that there will be: "new police powers to collect advanced passenger data on some domestic air and sea journeys."

Mr Carmichael said: "It is wholly unacceptable that people living in the Northern Isles are to have their access to lifeline transport restricted for no good reason. It is already in my view excessive that we should have to produce photo ID on the ferries, that the Home office now wants to prescribe what that photo ID should be takes it to a new level.

“This is something which requires the broadest opposition from local people and I shall be encouraging as many local people and organisations as possible to respond to the Home Office.
 
I reckon the reason why ID cards are being launched in Manchester, its revenge for the congestion charge/metro link bribe being rejected. Or it just maybe a coincidence. (yeah right *rolleyes* )
 
The Brilliant Harriet Harman is of the opinion that if you are against the DNA database, you are against Justice. I kid you not.

Fury as Harriet Harman claims opponents of DNA database are 'against justice'
By Matthew Hickley
Last updated at 12:28 AM on 08th May 2009

Outburst: Harriet Harman has accused those opposed to the Government's DNA database policy of 'putting themselves against justice'

Harriet Harman provoked outrage yesterday by accusing opponents of the Government's DNA database policy of 'putting themselves against justice'.
Labour's deputy leader waded into the database row following the announcement this week of Government plans that innocent people will have to wait up to 12 years before their DNA is erased.
In the Commons yesterday, Lib-Dem spokesman David Heath accused ministers of showing an 'inability to understand what the word innocent means'.
And Shadow Commons Leader Alan Duncan claimed the Government had 'little regard for civil liberty and justice'.
Miss Harman countered: 'I would say quite the opposite - this is us having regard for justice.'
She said the database was vital to combat rapists, arguing they were often repeat offenders and that having the details of accused men stored 'protected women'.
She added: 'So you put yourself against justice when you argue against keeping DNA on the database.'
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http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... stice.html

This is almost bordering on number 9 of the even brillianter Naomi Wolf's list of 10 steps to fascism.

1. Invoke a terrifying internal and external enemy
2. Create a gulag
3. Develop a thug caste
4. Set up an internal surveillance system
5. Harass citizens' groups
6. Engage in arbitrary detention and release
7. Target key individuals
8. Control the press
9. Dissent equals treason
10. Suspend the rule of law

No prizes for guessing which ones have already been ticked off.
 
At a guess, I'll say No 10., the day before the general election. As there'll be an alledged "huge terrorist thread/attack using Mexican flu" somewhere in the UK.
 
Mr_Nemo said:
At a guess, I'll say No 10., the day before the general election. As there'll be an alledged "huge terrorist thread/attack using Mexican flu" somewhere in the UK.
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Yes, what's the betting we don't get a general election...
 
There was an interesting science piece on Radio4 the other evening. There were a few articles on tracking technology and contributions from MIT.

As an aside, it was proposed that in future, given that all our communications and movements will be tracked, there would be a possibility that you could opt out of the system...at a price.

So...Freedom and anonymity? At what price? - A standing order?

I'm editing this post to include the latest development in the function creep of ID cards. This should make them more popular.

Taxman can use database of ID cards to track our spending habits and bank accounts

HM Revenue and Customs officials will be able to trawl through a person's financial transactions for hints of any undeclared earnings or bank accounts.
The revelation last night renewed fury about the £5.5billion ID cards project.
There was already widespread concern that the Home Office, police and security officials would have access to the scheme's database.
But campaigners said handing information to tax inspectors was a sinister development.
The powers that give 'Commissioners for Revenue and Customs' access to the ID cards audit log were buried away in orders laid before Parliament earlier this week - at the same time as the full extent of the expenses scandal was emerging.
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http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... ounts.html
 
So, in theory, the rich could opt for anonymity whereas the poor (and assumed criminal masses) are forced to comply to identity registration.

This will be passed by our government - all parties currently agree that privacy is paramount ... especially when you want to submit fraudulent expense claims.
 
Light at the end of the tunnel?

Alan Johnson eyes ID card U-turn
Jonathan Oliver, Political Editor

ALAN JOHNSON, the home secretary, has launched an urgent review of the £6 billion identity card (ID) scheme, paving the way for a possible U-turn on one of Labour’s flagship policies.

Johnson, who was promoted in Gordon Brown’s latest cabinet reshuffle, is understood to be “sympathetic” to critics who claim identity cards will undermine civil liberties.

The home secretary told officials that he wanted a “first principles” rethink of the plan, which was launched by Tony Blair following the 9/11 attacks in 2001 and has since been championed by Brown as a way of fighting terrorism.

“Alan is more sympathetic to the civil liberties arguments than previous home secretaries,” said an insider.

“He is genuinely open minded. He wants to see all the evidence and then he will make his decision before the end of the summer.”

This comes as another key policy, the part-privatisation of Royal Mail, is on the verge of being abandoned amid a revolt by Labour backbenchers.

Dumping the identity card programme would make Johnson popular among party backbenchers and could boost his chances of becoming the next leader.

Ministers have shelved plans to push a series of regulations through the Commons that would allow the government to move forward with the next phase of the identy card scheme. The statutory instruments were due to be debated on Wednesday but the debate has been postponed until next month.

The introduction of bio-metric passports, containing fingerprint data and iris scans, will continue even if the £35 cards and the identity database are scrapped.

The Conservatives believe about £2 billion could be saved by scrapping the ID scheme.

A spokesman for No 10 said: “As you would expect, the new home secretary has asked for full and detailed briefing across a range of key issues including the principles and the progress of the identity cards.”

Johnson said in a statement last night that ID cards remained a “manifesto commitment”. He added: “We remain on course to bring in a policy that we believe has widespread public support.”

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/p ... 493943.ece
 
Tories warn companies on ID cards

Firms bidding for the new ID card contract have been told by the Conservatives not to sign any long term contracts because the scheme could be scrapped if the party comes to power.

Shadow Home Secretary Chris Grayling has written to the five firms in the bidding for the ID card contract to warn them against making any long term investments in the programme. A Conservative government would almost immediately scrap the plan, Grayling said.

'I want companies to be cautious and recognise that if they invest large amounts of money preparing for this business, it may not happen,' Grayling told BBC Radio 4.

He said that he hoped the revelation would slow down the programme.

Later this year foreign nationals renewing their visas and workers at London City and Manchester airports will receive ID cards. In the autumn, residents of Manchester will be able to apply for ID cards on a voluntary scheme.

The new Home Secretary Alan Johnson may not be as ardent a supporter of ID cards as his predecessor Jacqui Smith. He announced a general review of the scheme but also told reporters that he was fully committed to the programme.

http://www.publicservice.co.uk/news_story.asp?id=9807
 
Speaking of J Smith, here's a link to a picture on her website promoting the local Remploy with gayly-coloured balloons.
I want a gayly-coloured balloon when I get to pay £60 for an ID CARD.


http://www.jacquismithmp.co.uk/images/u ... 103166.jpg


Apart from this, look at the tawdry nature and woeful clipping of text and links from the webpage of the ex Home Secretary - and let's be honest, as a custodian and guardian of our online data this seems pretty poor even for a casual website. I wonder what the attention to detail would be in a secure database of all our ID eggs in one basket?

Less porn and bathplugs.... more design would have been my suggestion.

Annnnnnnnnnnnnyway. At the moment, the efficient embodiment and aspiration of the Centralised Database and its quality control looks a lot like this.....

http://www.jacquismithmp.co.uk/photo_gallery

Draw your own conclusions.
 
David Cameron hit precisely the right note to my ears when asked what the first thing he'd do on arrival at Number 10 was.

His answer (I paraphrase): Call up my new home-secretary and tell him to go round to the Home office, find the plans for ID cards, and tear them up.
 
They start with chickens but soon they'll tattoo allos us with a barcode on the nose...

Chickens to get 'barcode on beak' ID

SEÁN Mac CONNELL, Agriculture Correspondent

Thu, Jun 25, 2009

A TEAM of Irish scientists has devised a method of identifying individual chickens by putting miniature barcodes on their beaks and legs, and older hens by their combs.

Working at the UCD Bioresources Research Centre, the researchers achieved a 97 per cent accuracy rate in experiments on identifying individual bird parts with barcodes.

The team which last year discovered they could identify individual sheep by their eyes and cattle by muzzle patterns, also believe they can identify laying hens by their comb profile.

Led by Prof Shane Ward, the group set out to find novel, accurate, tamper-proof and cost-effective systems to track and trace animals using among other things, biometric identification.

Biometric identification uses a physical characteristic that is unique to an individual such as a fingerprint, retinal or iris scanning and voice identification.

While laying hens do not have fingerprints, they discovered they have individual comb profiles.

The researchers developed specific biometric algorithms to isolate the comb profiles using mathematical modelling techniques.

According to a research update from Relay, which circulates research for the food industry, this method delivered an 84 per cent accuracy rate.

The group opted for barcodes for chickens and experimented with two types of barcodes, a miniature linear barcode such as we see on products we buy in shops and a two-dimensional data matrix barcode.

“They succeeded in printing the barcodes on to both beaks and legs of the chickens.

“The barcodes were read a number of times using a barcode scanner to assess its accuracy, speed and readability,” the report says. They also finetuned the best position for the barcodes and the optimal reading conditions for the scanner and the results obtained were promising with accuracy as high as 97 per cent.

“Although these experiments were carried out in the laboratory, real chicken body parts, sourced at poultry processing plants were used,” the research report continued.

“No animals were purposely culled for this research programme as per UCD ethical committee directives,” it says.

“In real life situations, ways will have to be found to imprint the barcodes on to live poultry whilst ensuring the safety and wellbeing of the bird,” it said.

The team has asked companies interested in the commercial opportunities to contact Prof Ward for more details.

© 2009 The Irish Times
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