Simprints for Developers
Product Overview
What is Simprints' product?
Simprints' product comprises three main elements:
A modality - a mode of biometric capture, either Fingerprint or Facial recognition
An Android app - Simprints ID
A Server - A cloud-hosted back end
Each of these elements can be configured specifically to meet the needs of each project.
Fingerprint Modality
The fingerprint modality is enabled via our flagship product, the Vero scanner. We have been developing this product for over seven years specifically to meet the extreme demands of last mile health and humanitarian aid use cases, with design focus on accuracy, mobility and robustness.
Vero is handheld and wireless, making it convenient for field workers to use. The scanner connects to Android devices via Bluetooth, thus no need for physical connection and issues with wire trips and disconnection. Data capture and matching can be done offline, therefore removing the need for Wi-Fi or data connectivity in rural settings. The device is water resistant, shockproof and dust resistant making it robust in tough environments (IP65 rating).
What it does
Vero collects a good quality beneficiary’s fingerprint template: A field worker scans a beneficiary’s finger using Vero. The scanner checks the quality of the fingerprint image, and if it is a low quality prompts the field worker to retake the scan. Vero generates a unique fingerprint template (string of numbers) and transmits the template to Simprints ID (via Bluetooth). Vero 2.0 can capture and transmit the image as well as the template.
Vero has a flexible and interoperable system: Fingerprint templates extracted using Vero is based on ISO template standards. This means that Simprints is interoperable with other biometric systems. For example, if a client had fingerprint templates from a different provider that were ISO compliant, they will be able to transfer and integrate the data with Simprints. With the wide range of proprietary templates it is critical that we can also support image interoperability, which is now offered in Vero 2.0.
These are two generations of Vero available:
Vero 1.0 - Available in projects live before 2020. For more information, please read through the Vero 1.0 data sheet.
Vero 2.0 - Available in projects from 2020 onwards. For more information, please read through the Vero 2.0 data sheet.
Facial Recognition Modality
The facial recognition modality is enabled within our Simprints ID app, using the camera hardware within the Android device used. The facial recognition algorithm has been extensively tested to ensure it can perform to a high standard in the extreme conditions of the last mile, with a variety of populations.
What it does
The device's camera captures a good quality image of a face: A field worker captures a beneficiary’s face image using the device's built in camera, following the on-screen prompts to ensure the beneficiary is situated the correct distance from the lens and in good lighting. The face recognition algorithm checks the quality of the face image, and if it is a low quality prompts the field worker to retake the photo. The face recognition algorithm generates a unique face template (string of numbers) which is stored on the phone until it is synced to the Cloud.
Simprints ID App
Simprints ID is our Android mobile application that enables a field worker to enrol, identify or verify a beneficiary using their biometrics. Simprints ID is a standalone application but can be easily integrated to any data collection platform. It can be used when offline or online, enabling field workers to reach beneficiaries in some of the most remote settings.
What it does
Links a beneficiary’s record to their biometrics and subsequently id/verify in follow-up visits: The field worker will use Simprints ID to capture the patient’s biometric information. A unique identifier will be generated to link the patient’s record (stored in the data collection app) to their uniquely identifiable biometric data (stored by Simprints). That enrolment will make it easy to use our biometric technology to identify the beneficiary during follow-up visits.
Ability to use biometrics offline: Simprints ID allows the field worker to store data locally on the device when they are in the field without the need to connect to online servers. Storing the biometric templates locally will allow the field worker to enrol new beneficiaries and identify existing ones. When the field worker is within mobile data/Wi-Fi range, the user can sync to the Simprints Cloud database, to update records on their device and send data to the Cloud database.
Enabling field workers secure access to collect biometrics: Privacy and security is integral at Simprints. When Simprints connects with partner applications, a series of authentication and verification steps occur to ensure that Simprints ID is being used securely and that the Android device is not compromised. In addition, whenever a field worker uses Simprints ID, both the field worker and beneficiary have the ability to provide consent to data collection when using Simprints ID.
View Simprints performance via Simprints dashboard: The dashboard enables a user to quickly review Simprints statistics. It prompts a user on the number of records on the device, records to be uploaded and downloaded to/from the Simprints Cloud. The user is also able to get Simprints activity data such as the scanner last used and when the last enrolment, identification or verification occurred.
Fast Facts
Matching speed: On average, 3000 templates per second (on a Samsung J5 matching speed is 3320 templates/second)
Average time spent for enrolment of 2 fingers or to capture face biometrics: 20 - 25 seconds
Internal Available Memory: At least 1GB (The size of fingerprint records for 100k people = ~ 300 MB
Cloud, Analytics, Security
Simprints maintains cloud infrastructure that enables key operations to allow our platform to produce the best results. Our backend handles configuration of our projects, data storage of biometrics and analytics, syncing across devices, and maintains interoperability and top levels of security.
What it does
Securely stores the biometric templates and images: We follow the highest encryption standards throughout our application (from phone to cloud) and ensure that the biometrics and images are stored securely. We conduct regular penetration testing to keep up to date with the latest evolutions in data security. Since our focus is generating templates/images, we minimize other data about the beneficiary (which is stored by the data collection app, not us). In order to protect the data we will ensure that all sensitive data, such as biometric data on individuals, is encrypted throughout its lifecycle, whether on our platform or through others. Our partner applications only receive a randomly generated ID that they store with the patient/beneficiary form, but we do not transmit the biometric templates/images. The templates/images are stored in our secure cloud database.
Handles syncing across devices to make sure each frontline worker has the right data to identify/verify beneficiaries: Our product works offline for registering and subsequent matching. But as soon as the frontline workers reach network connectivity, our system immediately syncs data to the cloud and then pushes any new records to other frontline workers who are conducting work in the same region.
Generates analytics for suggestions on how to improve program performance: There is a lot of activity occurring in Simprints ID. We can learn a lot about how often consent is positive, how long it takes to capture fingerprints, the quality of the fingerprint scans, and the reasons why people may leave the app. We use this information to empower our project managers to work with partners on optimization and program learnings.
Systems Requirements
Recommended requirements for Fingerprint Product:
Installed Software
Google play store support (Huawei devices are NOT supported)
Android Version:
Recommended: 9.0 (Pie)
Minimum: 6.0 (Marshmallow)
Android API Level:
Recommended: 28
Minimum 24
CPU:
Recommended: 2.1 GHz Quad Core or better
Minimum: 1.4 GHz
RAM:
Recommended: 2 GB or more
Minimum: 1GB
Internal Available Memory:
Recommended: 1GB or more
Minimum 300MB
Bluetooth:
Recommended: 4.0
Minimum: 2.0
Recommended requirements for Face Product. It equates roughly to a Samsung A40 or A20 for recommended devices and A10s for minimum viability.
CPU:
Minimum: Octa-core processor (1.6GHz)
RAM:
Minimum: 3 GB of RAM, 4 if available
Memory:
Minimum: 32GB of internal space
Camera
Minimum: 16MP camera with autofocus
Last updated