Saturday, July 23, 2011

Is the Gunvault GVB1000 Mini Vault a Good Gun Safe?

So, you're looking for a small but secure biometric (fingerprint recognition) gun safe. Gunvault is one of the premier manufacturers of biometric safes, and the Gunvault GVB1000 Mini Vault is no exception.
Gunvault GVB1000 Mini Vault Overview
  • Dimensions: 8.1 x 4.9 x 12"
  • Weight: 8 lbs
  • Lock: Biometric fingerprint recognition
  • Body: 16-gauge steel
  • Interior: Coated in soft foam
  • Requires 1 9-volt battery or included AC adapter
  • Interior lighting
  • Stores up to 30 different fingerprint profiles
  • Generally fits one handgun and a clip or two
The overall opinion of the Gunvault GVB1000 across the internet and among enthusiasts is very positive. It works very well as a simple but effective personal handgun safe, especially for storing your firearm close to you at night or just for keeping your valuables safe. The safe is mountable to any flat surface, although we'd obviously recommend installing it on something heavy or well built as the safe itself is not very heavy.
So, How Secure is the Gunvault GVB1000 Mini Vault?
Like the other gun safes by Gunvault, this is a biometric gun safe. It uses high tech fingerprint recognition technology for access, and is very accurate. It can store up to 30 different sets of fingerprints (although we're not sure why you'd need to give that many people access) and it will not at all open for anyone whose fingerprints don't match. Gunvault's biometric technology will continually update and refine the fingerprint profiles over time to make sure it is as accurate as possible.
The great thing about biometric safes is that they're easy to access in the dark. Since there is no fumbling around with physical keys or combinations, and all you have to do is press your finger to the pad for 3 seconds, you can have quick access in the case of, say, someone breaking into your house at night. This is one of the things we really like about the GVB1000. It also has a nice, low-intensity interior light, which is handy in a scenario like this, too. If you can convince the wife to let you drill into the night stand to mount this gun safe, you'll have a perfect place to store your hand gun at night.
Unlike many other gun safes, the Gunvault GVB1000 requires a 9-volt battery. This could be a bit of a hassle, as not many electronics use 9-volt batteries these days. It does come with a backup AC adapter, though, and a single 9-volt battery is rated to last about a year in the unit, so it's not a huge problem.
What's the Final Say On The GunVault GVB1000 Mini Vault?
Like most of Gunvault's other products, this is a quality safe if you're using it for its intended purpose. It's inexpensively priced for the technology and Gunvault has great customer service if you have any issue with the product, but you shouldn't have any problems, anyway. In conclusion, we would definitely recommend this gun safe.
What did we like about the Gunvault GVB1000 Mini Vault Gun Safe?
  • Biometric technology is convenient and secure
  • Works well as a bedside gun safe if bolted down
  • Great value for the money
What didn't we like as much?
  • Requires a 9-volt battery
  • Might need to record your fingerprint a few times before it's 100% accurate
This gun safe is for:
  • People looking for a bedside gun safe
  • Those looking for something inexpensive but still secure
  • People with children who want to keep their gun out of their hands
All in all, this is a great buy for the money.
If you're on the market for a gun safe, I would strongly suggest reading my site on gun safe reviews before deciding on a safe. There are many different models on the market, and not all are created equal. Get the unbiased scoop from me, a 20-year gun enthusiast. A biometric gun safe is a great addition to your home if you make the right purchase.
 Gunvault GVB1000 Mini Vault

Barska Biometric Safe - Fingerprint Access To Your Valuables

If you own a handgun and there are children in your household, the Barska Biometric Safe could be the ideal solution. This safe only allows registered people access to the contents. This is achieved by the use of the Biometric Pad that can be programmed to recognise your fingerprints and will allow entry in about 3 seconds. The advantage of this system is because you do not require a key, there is no need to worry about finding it in an emergency, no need to fiddle with the lock, trying to fit the key. The Biometric Safe can even be opened in the dark. Imagine trying to remember a combination number if you are panicking - no need.
Barska Biometric Safe 
  • It is a solidly built unit, weighing 31lbs.
  • The internal measurements are 16.25W x 7H x14.25D
  • Has mounting holes to fit to Floor or Wall complete with Mounting Kit
  • Requires 4 x AA batteries
  • Stores up to 30 fingerprint readings
  • Also includes 2 Access Keys should the Batteries go flat
  • Comes with 1Yr limited Warranty
Considering the size of the safe, it will accommodate a surprising amount of firearms and valuables. Reviews from owners state that it will house two guns with ammo and several spare magazines along with other valuables and documents,
One of the features is a beep when the safe is opened. This appears to be quite controversial with quite a few reviewers. Many said they would like to disable it, and some have gone to the trouble of disconnecting the buzzer. Just be aware this is in breach of the warranty terms. The positive reason for having the buzzer, is that it will sound with any attempt to open the safe, and if for any reason the safe door is left open for more than a minute, the alarm will sound continuously until it is closed.

The Honest Truth on Biometrics in Schools

By now many school principals, superintendents and administrators have probably heard of school lunch biometrics, or the use of devices such as fingerprint readers to recognize students and allow for the automated payment and accounting of school lunch purchases. Some may be wondering how to sort the promise from the hype, the information from the misinformation.

While school lunch biometrics can legitimately address a host of problems from slow lunch lines, lost lunch money, cumbersome payment, lunch fraud and bullying, to falling National School Lunch Program (NSLP) participation, the devil is in the details. Of course, it all comes down to the bottom line: labor, cost efficiency, and return on investment (ROI). Here I'll honestly discuss the pluses and minuses of school lunch biometrics versus more traditional technologies so administrators can decide if it makes sense for their schools.
How do school lunch biometric systems work and do they protect privacy?
In most school lunch biometric systems, students place a forefinger on a small fingerprint reader by the register. In seconds, the system translates the electronic print into a mathematical pattern, discards the fingerprint image, and matches the pattern to the student’s meal account information. Food Service Solutions (FSS) biometric software, for example, plots 27 points on a grid that correspond with the fingerprint's ridges to achieve positive identification, but saves no actual fingerprint image.

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Facial Recognition Gone Wrong

"John H. Gass hadn't had a traffic ticket in years, so the Natick resident was surprised this spring when he received a letter from the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles informing him to cease driving because his license had been revoked. It turned out Gass was flagged because he looks like another driver, not because his image was being used to create a fake identity. His driving privileges were returned but, he alleges in a lawsuit, only after 10 days of bureaucratic wrangling to prove he is who he says he is. And apparently, he has company. Last year, the facial recognition system picked out more than 1,000 cases that resulted in State Police investigations, officials say. And some of those people are guilty of nothing more than looking like someone else. Not all go through the long process that Gass says he endured, but each must visit the Registry with proof of their identity. Massachusetts began using the software after receiving a $1.5 million grant from the US Department of Homeland Security as part of an effort to prevent terrorism, reduce fraud, and improve the reliability and accuracy of personal identification documents that states issue."