Biometrics technology could make home care more secure

Working in collaboration with Kent University’s School of Engineering and Digital Arts (EDA), information specialist Inmezzo is developing methods to identify individuals through face and voice-pattern recognition.

In recent years there has been growing emphasis on the delivery of at-home telecare for people living alone. As this technology becomes more widespread and integrated into existing healthcare models, security and sensitivity of data will become paramount, explained EDA’s Prof Michael Fairhurst.

‘If you are delivering medical advice or perhaps taking measurements to assess the state of health in the home, where the environment is less controlled, you need to be pretty sure the person you think you’re exchanging information with is the right person,’ he said ’Biometrics allows you to do that in the most fundamental and reliable way.’

The project, which is supported by the Technology Strategy Board (TSB), is exploring various ways to make it easier for clients to access telecare systems and also to authorise service providers and visitors using voice and face recognition.