To take a local example, Intelitrak's core voice technology, called SpeakerKey, was originally licensed from a Pittsburgh company, Moscom, that has since folded. We're really ripe for a Microsoft. There's a viable potential market out there. But it needs to be built, and applications need to be found. But there's volatility at the birth of every industry.
Testing is also a major challenge.
For most biometric systems, scores of human subjects must be recruited and tested over long intervals. Still, many feel the time for a biometrics explosion is now, and Intelitrak and BAC are positioning themselves to cash in on it. BAC is selling SecureTouch through VARs, integrators, OEMs and other distributors. BAC executives say they've achieved their two biggest development goals, ease of use and low cost. Shepard says he became intrigued by biometrics while working at a company that makes gateway firewalls, a breed of security software.