New Biometric Ignition Lock

Hitachi, one of those forward thinking Japanese companies, recently released details on this new type of ignition lock for cars.

A biometric fingerprint ignition lock, effectively does away with the need for mechanical car keys completely.

You will never lose the keys to your car again (unless you lose your finger).
The one drawback, could be, when taking the car to your mechanic for service or repair. You would need to program their fingerprint into the biometric reader.

This will be one surefire method to prevent auto theft or even the kids from taking mommy and daddy's car for a joyride.

The company’s finger-vein biometric technology has been around for a while, most notably in Japanese banks, but the latest attempt to expand the identity-authentication technology goes public this week at the Tokyo Motor Show.

Hitachi already has a far simpler system that works as a key to open car doors, but the update, which uses a reader embedded in the steering wheel, goes much further.

Aside from acting as an ignition key, each driver’s finger can be linked to their own preferences for seat position, mirror angles and so on. Additionally, Hitachi reckons a driver’s different fingers could be used to adjust different aspects of the car - middle finger to switch on the GPS, little finger for the air-con and the like.