Dive Brief:

• Engineers at Rutgers University have developed a security access system, called VibWrite, that uses vibrations in a person's finger bones to verify their identify.
• The technology can be used on any size touchscreen or on any solid surface. Its usage versatility means it could be applied to digital devices, buildings, cars or appliances for gaining security access.
• Developers say VibWrite is about 10 times more reasonably priced than fingerprint or iris-detection technologies, and they believe it could be commercialized in a couple of years.

Dive Insight:

The engineers behind VibWrite say that every person's bone structure is unique and everyone applies pressure to surfaces differently. A device enabled with the VibWrite technology would use sensors to detect a user's tiny differences and miniscule finger vibrations to verify a person's identity. It can be used in conjunction with more traditional typed passcode systems, but the vibration receiver would prevent other users from gaining access.

VibWrite tackles one of the nagging problems with innovation: Many advances are too expensive for the average person or organization to adopt, and this is especially true with security measures. This new technology reportedly doesn't use expensive, maintenance-intense equipment for verification. In the quickly evolving digital age when new security threats pop up daily, having a reliable security system in place is important not just for protecting personal property, but also for avoiding data breaches. 

Considering that municipalities regularly face financial shortfalls and therefore often have to put projects on hold, more reasonably priced — yet high-functioning — technology is a welcome change. Besides price, one of cities' holdbacks of moving forward with some innovative projects is citizen concern over data gathering and breaches. If VibWrite performs as described and is as low-priced as developers claim once it hits the commercial market, it could provide municipalities with a ground-breaking way to secure assets and advance smart city status.