IR Recognition Systems HandReaders Secure Assets for Major British Retailer; WHSmith Expands Use of Biometrics to Eliminate ID Cards and Verify Employee Identities

CAMPBELL, Calif.--April 13, 2004--IR Recognition Systems, the biometric component of Ingersoll-Rand's (IR) Security & Safety Group's Electronic Access Control Division (EACD), today announced that major UK retailer WHSmith is expanding its use of HandReaders at its Swindon headquarters in a move to cut costs and improve security.

HandReaders automatically take a three-dimensional reading of the size and shape of an employee's hand and verify the user's identity in less than one second.

Following a long and intensive trial, WHSmith is adding five HandReader units to its existing network. Human Recognition Systems, a British dealer, installed the hand geometry units to secure the server, telecommunications and IT stock room. The technology worked so well that WHSmith management is rolling the system out on a larger scale.

HandReaders provide an added layer of security compared to a traditional swipe card system, because they positively identify employees. At the same time, HandReaders also eliminate the burden and expense of a card-based system.

Coupled with the HandNet software system, security managers at WHSmith headquarters will receive a full audit trail informing them of who has been where, and when. Although the previous system offered similar capabilities, it did not confirm whether the card owner was the person actually using the card, and subsequently led to an environment of distributed security responsibility.

About WHSmith

WHSmith.co.uk offers a massive range of shopping including books, talking books, CDs, DVDs, videos, computer games, magazines, computer accessories, stationery, and selected hardware.

About IR Recognition Systems

With over 75,000 hand geometry units throughout the world reading millions of hands each day, IR Recognition Systems, founded in 1986, is the pioneer of hand recognition technology used in access control, time and attendance and identification applications. The company is the world sales leader of biometric verification devices and serves an international clientele from its headquarters in Campbell, Calif. The hand geometry website is www.handreader.com. Phone is 408-341-4100. Recognition Systems is the biometric component of Ingersoll-Rand Corporation's Security & Safety Group's Electronic Access Control Division. The Ingersoll-Rand website is www.irco.com.

Note to Editors: A downloadable, high-resolution photograph of a HandReader is available at www.brighamscully.com. Click Photographs/IR Recognition Systems.