Each of our fingerprints is unique and that makes fingerprint recognition an ideal way to confirm a person’s identity. It’s much better than an ID card (which can be lost or stolen) or a PIN and password you have to remember. But when it comes to having parents check their children in, some people have concerns about using their fingerprint.
Fingerprints and Privacy
Some people are concerned that using their fingerprint to check a child in is a privacy issue, that the fingerprint could somehow be used for another, less benign, purpose. In fact, when using a system like the Procare ID Pad, the actual fingerprint is not recorded and the system does not store any fingerprint images. Instead, the software creates a mathematical template which can only be used to identify a person for the purpose of checking in. It cannot recreate the original fingerprint and the information is fully encrypted. For these reasons there are neither privacy issues nor any exposure to identity theft.
Hand Washing, Hand Sanitizer and Fingerprints
Fingerprint scanners rely on the natural oils in your skin to help make the fingerprint recognizable. Fingers that have been scrubbed or are overly dry may not be read as easily. So although it’s not recommended to use hand sanitizer or wash your hands just prior to using a fingerprint reader, it’s perfectly fine to do so afterwards. Touching a fingerprint reader is similar to opening a doorknob, playing with shared toys or any other task where a surface is touched by multiple people.
Cleaning a Fingerprint Reader
Fingerprint readers are easy to clean. For the Procare ID Pad, just press the sticky side of a piece of Scotch tape to the window and peel it away. Or you can gently dab the reader with a cloth dampened with mild ammonia-based glass cleaner. Don’t use a paper towel though, as that can scratch the surface of the reader.
See How do I clean the fingerprint reader? support article for more information.
Child Care Security
Using a stand-alone USB fingerprint reader or one integrated into a check-in computer, like the Procare Touch Computer, ensures proof-positive identification of the people dropping off and picking up the children. It’s quick, safe and effective, and it can even be combined with a Door Controller—allowing secure door access only to authorized pickup people.
