[Updated Oct. 3] — A biometric device vendor specializing in fingerprint readers has ported its software development kit to Linux for the first time. DigitalPersona says its “One Touch for Linux” SDK will enable developers to create fingerprint-enabled C/C++ applications that run on PCs, embedded… computers, and POS (point-of-sale/service) terminals.

The SDK supports DigitalPersona's “U.are.U” products, including the standalone 4000B Reader and the bare-bones 4000B Module. Both products connect via USB.

U.are.U Reader and Module
(Click to enlarge)

The One Touch SDK includes source code for a proprietary kernel-mode Linux driver, enabling developers to build the driver within the 2.6-series kernel source tree of their choosing. Additionally, pre-built drivers appear to be supplied for:

• Novell SUSE NLPOS v9 SP 2/3
• Novell SUSE SLED 10 SP 1
• Slackware 11

DigitalPersona calls the SDK “particularly well suited” for embedded Linux platforms, including “standalone systems deployed in retail, financial, healthcare, and time & attendance applications.” Touted features include:

• Perform feature extraction and user enrollment
• Perform matching of an enrolled fingerprint template to a supplied fingerprint

According to Chip Mesec, senior product marketing manager, “Linux is becoming increasingly adopted through embedded and dedicated computers because third-party developers can offer low-cost customer targeted solutions.”

In a statement released by DigitalPersona, Mark Wallace, product line director at NCR, said, “The SDK will enable our customers on Linux to take advantage of biometric options featured on several of our products for hospitality and retail.”

Availability

The DigitalPersona One Touch for Linux SDK is available now, priced at $1,000, direct from DigitalPersona and its worldwide resellers. The SDK includes sample code, documentation, a freely distributable runtime environment, kernel mode driver source code, and “unlimited” support, DigitalPersona said. DigitalPersona U.are.U 4000B Readers and U.are.U 4000B Modules are available separately.

 
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