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Since 1982, Sun Microsystems has grown from a Silicon Valley start-up to a $4.7 billion maker of advanced computer hardware and software. With over 12,000 employees in offices around the world, Sun needed a reliable identification system to provide flexible employee access while protecting the company's property.
Sun's new photo identity system combines security with convenience by using computer-based images captured from video. Created by Apunix Computer Services, the BadgeMaker system uses live video as the source for high quality image capture in a single step process.
Steve Kruschke of Sun's Security Department says, "Security can easily verify the identity of an employee or contractor who has left his badge at home, by locating his picture in the on-line database of images." If an employee loses her badge, she can get a replacement at a badging station in just a few minutes.
With the new system, Sun employees can get badges with pictures they like, in just five minutes. A video camera sends video into the system operator's workstation through an XVideo card. XVideo also sends the video out to a TV monitor in front of the employee. The employee can use this virtual mirror to look his best.
"The Parallax video output function offers employees and contractors a selection of captured images to choose from, allowing them to choose their favorite picture for their badge ," says advanced technologies specialist Kruschke. The system operator then sends the badge data to a plastic card printer, which prints everything in a single step.
These new badges carry a great deal of data: a color photo of the employee, text, a magnetic stripe, a bar code, and even a debit card for cash-less purchases. In fact, the new badge replaces two old cards that Sun employees used to carry -- an ID card and a separate magnetic "key" card to get into offices. Employees can even use the debit card to buy lunch at company cafeterias.
System operators have encrypted passwords to control and secure access to BadgeMaker and on-line data. Captured video images and other data are automatically backed up to a local database, a central image server, and a tape archive. Because image data is stored centrally on a server, security guards can call up the color photograph of anyone whose identity is in doubt. Since the plastic badges are not laminated, they are difficult to counterfeit or alter.
"This video badging system offers Sun the benefit of having employee and contractor pictures digitally on file," says Kruschke. "We are very happy with the new system."
Because BadgeMaker is so flexible, it can be used in a wide variety of situations -- from police and security agencies, to corporate headquarters and manufacturing facilities.
BadgeMaker is scalable from small offices to large organizations, by adding image capture and printing stations to the network. The system keeps records so the system administrator can create reports tracking use of the badging system. With one-step image capture and one-step printing, workflow is faster than most badge systems, saving time and labor. The graphical interface and on-line help designed by Apunix make the system easy to learn.
To go back to the article about the Subic Bay Airport/APEC security badge application, click here
Apunix is a value added reseller and system integrator specializing in imaging systems and software applications such as BadgeMaker, TruePrint, OpenScan, and Animator. For more information (including detailed articles about BadgeMaker), contact Apunix at:
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