2008 Woodie Awards
New Blue ID card will be required for Rec center access
Students must swap old identification card
Amanda Harris
Issue date: 4/21/08 Section: News
New Recreation Center hand geometry technology requires all MTSU students to get a new Blue ID card in order to access the facility and confirm user identity.
"Hand geometry technology doesn't scan fingerprints," said James Taylor, ID office employee. "It takes a picture of the outline of your hand."
Around 27,000 people have to be re-carded and only about 4,000 of those are faculty and staff.
Campus ID office manager Shawn Alverson said that the new technology is primarily for the Recreational Center.
Alverson said people not affiliated with the university are getting access to the Recreational Center by using other people's IDs, but the new hand scanning process should eliminate the problem.
"With this setup you will punch in the last four numbers on your ID card, then scan your hand to get in," Alverson said. "There will be six turnstiles to enter and one old swipe machine will stay for handicapped people."
Alverson also explained how the hand scanning process protects user identity.
"You can't identify someone from the shape of their hand; you have to have prints for that," Alverson said. "Hand shapes are not as unique as prints. Prints also become unreliable because they wear away after time, especially with people who do hard labor and work with chemicals."
Taylor said that this is part of MTSU converting to Banner.
"Banner is our new administrative system that stores all student and faculty information," Taylor said. "It has replaced Student Information System."
He also said that this conversion keeps students from being identified by their social security number, which protects identity. Student identities are even secure from agencies like the FBI and IRS.
"This technology uses 16 points of reference when it takes the picture of your hand. Each impression scans your hand 30,000 times," Taylor said. "You won't even need you card to get into the Rec Center anymore."
Charlie Gregory, Recreation Center Director, said, "We have been looking at this system for at least 10 years now, but then it would have cost close to half a million dollars."
"By waiting we have spent around $60,000 on the entire project," Gregory said. "The hand readers only cost about $1,500 a piece, which we have six of. For new technology that's a really good deal."
To get a new ID, students, faculty and staff need to go to the MTSU Blue ID office located in room 306 in the James Union Building. The University is asking people to come by before May 2nd to avoid new coming freshmen who will be going through Customs.
"My classes start at 6 p.m. and I live in Nashville. I get here as early as I can at 5:30 p.m. [so] I don't know when I'll get my new ID," said Adam Linton, night class student.
The office will be busy with the fall semester approaching, but it will remain open throughout the summer.
The office hours are Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
"Hand geometry technology doesn't scan fingerprints," said James Taylor, ID office employee. "It takes a picture of the outline of your hand."
Around 27,000 people have to be re-carded and only about 4,000 of those are faculty and staff.
Campus ID office manager Shawn Alverson said that the new technology is primarily for the Recreational Center.
Alverson said people not affiliated with the university are getting access to the Recreational Center by using other people's IDs, but the new hand scanning process should eliminate the problem.
"With this setup you will punch in the last four numbers on your ID card, then scan your hand to get in," Alverson said. "There will be six turnstiles to enter and one old swipe machine will stay for handicapped people."
Alverson also explained how the hand scanning process protects user identity.
"You can't identify someone from the shape of their hand; you have to have prints for that," Alverson said. "Hand shapes are not as unique as prints. Prints also become unreliable because they wear away after time, especially with people who do hard labor and work with chemicals."
Taylor said that this is part of MTSU converting to Banner.
"Banner is our new administrative system that stores all student and faculty information," Taylor said. "It has replaced Student Information System."
He also said that this conversion keeps students from being identified by their social security number, which protects identity. Student identities are even secure from agencies like the FBI and IRS.
"This technology uses 16 points of reference when it takes the picture of your hand. Each impression scans your hand 30,000 times," Taylor said. "You won't even need you card to get into the Rec Center anymore."
Charlie Gregory, Recreation Center Director, said, "We have been looking at this system for at least 10 years now, but then it would have cost close to half a million dollars."
"By waiting we have spent around $60,000 on the entire project," Gregory said. "The hand readers only cost about $1,500 a piece, which we have six of. For new technology that's a really good deal."
To get a new ID, students, faculty and staff need to go to the MTSU Blue ID office located in room 306 in the James Union Building. The University is asking people to come by before May 2nd to avoid new coming freshmen who will be going through Customs.
"My classes start at 6 p.m. and I live in Nashville. I get here as early as I can at 5:30 p.m. [so] I don't know when I'll get my new ID," said Adam Linton, night class student.
The office will be busy with the fall semester approaching, but it will remain open throughout the summer.
The office hours are Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
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