Biometric fingerprint capture
The biometric capture of the fingerprint can be done for time recording with special fingerprint readers. Data entry takes place directly in the Hypersoft employee master. For this purpose, the fingerprints are recorded and assigned to the corresponding employees. Employees can then record their time at the checkout stations or in the MCP, or gain access to the MCP via fingerprint. The Fingerprint Scanner programme can be started from the Printers & Interfaces programme group. An icon then appears in the notification area of the taskbar. When the programme is running and a fingerprint is scanned, the time recording dialogue for the corresponding employee automatically appears. To set up an automatic start on a workstation, use the Remote Commander.
Further documentation: Fingerprint Reader for employee recognition
Information on biometrics and data protection (Germany)
Against the background that biometric data is special personal data, we recommend informing the employee of this in a separate written statement and obtaining separate written consent. The biometric data, in turn, should only be used for the purposes agreed with the employee. In addition, we generally recommend particularly careful handling of this data. For this purpose, please use your own security precautions and those recommended by Hypersoft GmbH to prevent unauthorised access by third parties to the special personal data.
The use of biometric data to record working time is not a natural right of a German employer. Proportionality must be assessed and workers must agree (preferably in writing and of course voluntarily). Ultimately, it is you as the entrepreneur and not Hypersoft or its specialist dealer partners who decide whether this is the case.
Hypersoft Data Use Statement...
Hypersoft explains that the biometric fingerprints are NOT stored as fingerprints. The data is converted into a hash code within the fingerprint manufacturer's proprietary system. No fingerprint can be calculated back or reconstructed from the stored hash codes, so the hash code cannot be used reversibly. When a fingerprint is later recognised, a hash code is generated again and compared with the stored hash codes. In addition, we would like to point out that even in the case of branch central systems, the fingerprint data is not transmitted from the branch to the central office or vice versa. The data is stored at the point of capture as described.
Notes on Austria
In Austria, the Supreme Court ruled that biometric finger scans can only be used to record working time in companies that have a company agreement to this effect. OGH, judgment of 20. December 2006, 9 ObA 109/06d - ArbVG § 96, ABGB § 16, DSG 2000 § 4 .
How does the program learn the fingerprints of employees?
When the programme has been started as described above, the button Capture fingerprintappears in the employee master:
When pressed, the Biometric Analyser appears:
| Element / Switch | Function / Description |
|---|---|
| Employees for time recording |
Activate Employees for time recordingif you want to set up an employee for time recording and select the employee from the list. You can also activate the Start automatically option if you want the time recording program to be displayed automatically when you place a finger on the Fingerprint Reader. However, you cannot use this option to allow the employee to access the MCP without further ado. Inactive employees can be displayed and selected via the button. If you use the Start automatically option for this and want to set up the employee for both time recording and access to the MCP, you must use another employee record and then teach other fingers - but not the same ones! Under no circumstances may you teach a finger more than once, unless you first delete the information of the learned finger from the database. |
| Employees for MCP registration |
Select the employee for the MCP logon and make sure that you select the same employee as for time recording if you want to support both functions. If you want to grant an employee access to the MCP for time recording purposes, you must first delete the information about the fingerprint and then teach it again with the appropriate settings. |
| Teaching the fingers | Follow the instructions of the program and learn the same finger of the right and left hand. Herewith you have "replacement" if a finger is not available at the moment. |
| Reset selected person | Deletes the selected employee's fingerprint information. |
| Reset entire database |
Use this feature only if you really want to remove all fingerprint information from all employees. |
Unfortunately, the fingerprint reader does not provide general information about a finger to be assigned. But when detecting existing fingers, a so-called score is output, which states how many matches a detected finger consists of. This information is used to evaluate incorrect assignments in the program. Depending on the tolerance, however, incorrect allocations can also occur.
If you open the calibration dialog, the dialog is not filled. This happens only with the laying on of various fingers. It is displayed whether an existing person was recognized and with which score this happened. The min / max values are displayed in the fields.
By placing fingers of different types, one gets an overview of how to achieve the best reading results. Especially suitable for testing are, of course, people who already know that the wrong person is indicated when a finger is placed on the finger. In our tests, a threshold of 90 gave quite good results, but it may be different for you.
If a person is detected, the programme checks whether the value falls below the set threshold (if the check mark is set). If this is the case, the programme behaves as if the person was "not found". Of course, this does not improve the detection of "problem persons", but it does prevent false detections.
If misrecognition still occurs, one should simply reset the person who triggered this and the person who was misrecognised and carefully retrain.
Technical problems with fingerprint readers
The finger must lie flat on the reader. The last limb of the finger must rest completely and centrally on the reader. The fingertip must not be applied.
If "fingertips" have already been read in, they must be reset and read in again. The fingertip usually allows recognition, but the uniqueness is no longer given and incorrect output can occur, even if the rest of the people have been read in correctly. If the situation is unclear, you can delete all fingerprints to be on the safe side. The more purple lines are displayed, the better the recognition. Example of a perfectly placed finger:
Example for incorrectly scanned fingers. This is not how it should look:
It shouldn't look like that either:
Deleting all fingerprints can only be done with a Hypersoft support code which can be obtained by calling Hypersoft Support.
Fingerprint Reader Tips from Device Manufacturers
When using the Fingerprint Reader, difficulties may occur which can easily be avoided with the following tips. The source used is a document from Microsoft ©, but it is also suitable for fingerprint readers from other manufacturers:
- The reader has problems if the fingers are "too dry". Microsoft recommends applying cream/oiling. We recommend to moisten the fingers briefly.
- The reader should be cleaned regularly (1-2 times a day). Either with the adhesive tape of a "Post It" block or a special cleaning cloth (monitor cleaner etc.). ).
- The correct placement of the finger is also important. Quickly press the entire fingertip lightly onto the disc. After approx. 0.5 seconds the reader flashes and is "ready". Then take your finger off the glass. If the reader is permanently lit - the finger was not recognized. Then it helps to moisten the finger and put it on again. If the reader flashes as desired after placing a finger on it, the reading process was successful. If nothing happens on the screen of the terminal even though it is flashing, it is a software problem. If the reader does not flash, it is a problem with the reader (see above).
According to our test results, many reading problems can be traced back to this phenomenon. Even the "wet cleaning" recommended by some manufacturers before each reading process is, in our view, nothing more than moistening the reader and thus the finger.
Further documentation: Fingerprint Reader for employee recognition
Back to the parent page: Time recording