Barry Turnbull meets NEIL NORMAN, chief executive officer, Human Recognition Systems
BIOMETRIC recognition systems are no the longer the preserve of nuclear power stations or sensitive military installations.
These days, you can get into Disneyworld Orlando using just your fingerprint, and soon an American chain will enable you to pay for goods in the same way.
Growing problems with identity theft will mean more organisations, businesses and government departments moving towards biometrics – individuals recognised by fingerprint, hand geometry or iris.
And that all spells good news for Neil Norman and Human Recognition Systems, the Liverpool provider of biometric technology. It's their software that controls the movement of “staff traffic” in and out of the restricted zones at Manchester Airport, for instance.
"When I looked at this technology in the early days, I always felt the potential was immense, but I could also see that it wasn't really being commercially applied,” said Norman.
“When you think about it, you have to prove your identity in so many situations and the risk of fraud is so great that it seems obvious that a new way of looking at things was required.
“When we started in 2002, the first six months was spent figuring out what the market was and visiting businesses across Europe and the US. I also went to manufacturers and said I will write the software if you can provide the hardware.
“There was also a lot of educating to do, getting customers to understand the benefits that this technology can bring. Of course, it is now being more widely applied and I would forecast that within three to five years, you will be unable to get on a plane without an identity test.
“Identity management is a major cause of concern for governments and businesses alike, resulting in increased spending on security issues.
“Until the recent past, the identity of people has traditionally been associated with paper-based documentation, identity cards and passports – implying that a person’s identity was confirmed against the information carried on these documents.”
However, numerous recent incidents have highlighted the ease with which these documents can be forged and stolen resulting in identity theft.
The idea of using iris patterns for personal identification was originally proposed in 1936 but it wasn't until 1987 that two ophthalmologists, Aran Safir and Leonard Flom, patented this idea, and in 1989 they asked John Daugman to try to create actual algorithms for iris recognition.
These algorithms, which Daugman patented in 1994, are owned by Iridian Technologies/ Securimetrics and are the basis for all current iris recognition systems and products.
Norman, 35, from Maghull, launched into a consulting career with global giant Accenture after Sheffield University, a high-pressure environment that taught him how businesses succeed and the value of the hard work ethic.
“It was a cut-throat environment, people were worked hard and many burnt out. On the other hand, it was well-rewarded and I always had the vision of creating my own business. During the course of the job, I came across a hand geometry reader and that's what sparked it all off.
“Also, I was working in the US but my heart was in Liverpool so it was my intention to return and start up here, which is what happened six years ago.”
Norman began doing the groundwork and didn't pay himself for three years as he began to get established. It was a challenge to get up and running under his own steam after rejecting the city's grant culture.
“I investigated all the various avenues for public sector funding and found it intrinsically flawed and certainly not geared up to helping fast-moving, progressive enterprises. All the form-filling and waiting for an answer just makes you lose focus on what you are supposed to be doing.”
The first product launched was a time management system for businesses with a hand-reader that was installed at companies like Quantum. Since then, Human Recognition Systems has grown quickly and been profitable for four years, with turnover more than £3m.
Norman added: “The potential of the market is enormous. With extensive experience in the development of new applications, we are constantly striving to develop innovative solutions across airports, healthcare, hospitality, defence, etc.
“Over the years, our capability to deliver solutions has grown many folds and today we are the only company in the UK that has the capability of developing solutions across all available biometric technologies.
“We are growing at a rapid pace and new business plans include setting up an international office in the Middle East to capture the growing identity management and biometrics market. On the technology front, we continue to develop more robust, secure and cost-effective solutions to help you achieve greater business benefits.”
The high-flying businessman is also a great believer in utilising technologies in his own life. His home, for instance, is bristling with modern gadgetry.
All entry, including the cleaner, is via iris recognition and, in addition, he can monitor security from his mobile phone and is alerted whenever somebody is close to the building. If it’s an unidentified person, he can even issue a warning via loudspeakers.
Last December, the company moved into new premises at Wavertree Technology Park, suitable for hosting blue chip clients and government officials.
However, he is underwhelmed by the creation of Liverpool Innovation Park, projected to be a centre of excellence for science and technology at the former Marconi plant on Edge Lane.
He said: “As far as innovation is concerned, there have been so many changes of leadership, a lack of a coherent strategy and an inability to articulate objectives.
“We must be one of the most innovative companies on Merseyside and they haven’t approached us about moving there but I wouldn’t want to be located in a ghost town anyway.”
Q&A
Best Advice: Stay true to your own beliefs on important issues, even in a sea of contrary advice – and always be driven by your passion and what you’re good at (and never by money).
Biggest Decision: Turning my back on a high-paid executive career and putting my heart and soul into creating HRS back in 2002, when biometrics was far from being the growth industry it is today.
Proudest achievement: The incredibly talented, capable and supportive team that I have around me.
Ambition: To create an iconic business for Liverpool.
