Fifth Generation unveils access control device

Chennai:
23 September 2002

Chennai: The city-based Rs 2-crore turnover Fifth Generation Technologies (FGT) will soon launch a cost-effective access control device suitable for small offices. The device will be economical compared to card-based access control systems in the case of small outfits.

“Our product Access Vision is suitable for offices with 20 and odd employees or to places where access is allowed to only as many employees,“ says FGT director Ananth Seshan.

According to him, the product consists of a camera (fixed atop of the room door to which access is restricted) and is connected to a computer where the images of persons (in different angles) empowered to enter the restricted area are scanned and stored. So when people authorised to enter an area approaches the door, the camera will transmit the image to the computer, which in turn will study the face as well as other unique features of the body and if satisfied will give access.

“In addition to the person's face, our software stores the unique body features of authorised persons so that even a masked person — if not authorised — is restricted from gaining entry and vice versa,“ says Seshan.

The company is trying to make the product as economical as possible. “We can interface our programme with closed circuit TV (CCTV). We are also looking at the possibility of using web camera for the purpose so that the end cost is cheaper,“ he adds.

Unlike card-based access control systems, Access Vision doesn't need much of maintenance. But he agrees that for large organisations card-based access control systems work out cheaper.