Neurotechnology (company)
{{Infobox company
| name = Neurotechnology
| logo = Neurotechnology logo.jpg
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| industry = AI
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| founded = 1990
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| hq_location_city = Vilnius
| hq_location_country = Lithuania
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| website = {{URL|https://www.neurotechnology.com}}
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Neurotechnology (previously known as Neurotechnologija) is an algorithm and software development company founded in Vilnius, Lithuania in 1990.{{Cite web |title=Lithuanian Neurotechnology Introduces SentiSculpt SDK for Development of 3D Models Using Standard 2D Images |url=https://investlithuania.com/news/lithuanian-neurotechnology-introduces-sentisculpt-sdk-for-development-of-3d-models-using-standard-2d-images/ |access-date=2023-01-05 |website=Invest Lithuania |language=en}}{{Cite journal |year=2008 |title=Neurotechnology adds iris to its portfolio |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S096947650870167X |journal=Biometric Technology Today |volume=16 |issue=4 |pages=12 |doi=10.1016/S0969-4765(08)70167-X |via=Science Direct|url-access=subscription }}
Neurotechnology provides algorithms and neural network services to government agencies and commercial clients,{{Cite book |last1=Wright |first1=David |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/891447560 |title=Surveillance in Europe |last2=Kreissl |first2=Reinhard |date=2015 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-317-91547-8 |location=London |pages=402 |oclc=891447560}} Presently, the company focuses upon multi-biometric smart card fingerprint, face, iris, voice, and palm print identification.{{Cite web |title=GovTech Lab Lithuania |url=https://govtechlab.lt/ecosystem/neurotechnology-2/ |access-date=2023-01-05 |website=govtechlab.lt}}
History
Neurotechnology was formed in 1990 in Vilnius, Lithuania, with the primary goal of exploiting neural networks for applications such as computer vision, biometric person identification, and artificial intelligence. In 1991, the company released its first fingerprint identification technology for criminal inquiry in 1991. The following research by the company resulted in the first fingerprint identification algorithm for civil usage, which was made public in 1997. Since then, the company has created over 200 products, earning recognition from worldwide organisations such as the US National Institute of Standards and Technology.{{cite web |title=Multifactor biometrics: the solution to authentication and security in a fast-paced world |url=https://lithuania.lt/news/business-and-innovations-in-lithuania/multifactor-biometrics-the-solution-to-authentication-and-security-in-a-fast-paced-world/ |website=lithuania.lt}}
In 2009, the Polish Security Printing Works used the Neurotechnology VeriFinger fingerprint recognition technology to issue the E-Passports that were required by all countries in the Schengen Agreement under EU Law.{{Cite book |last=Das |first=Ravindra |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=loVHDwAAQBAJ&dq=neurotechnology+Lithuania&pg=PT177 |title=Adopting Biometric Technology : Challenges and Solutions |date=2017 |publisher=CRC Press |isbn=978-1-315-36228-1 |edition=First |location=Boca Raton, FL |oclc=1303499838}}
In 2017, the company unveiled an ultrasonic particle manipulation 3D printing method that could be used to 3D print entire electronic objects, such as a smartphone.{{Cite web |last=Clarke |first=Corey |date=2017-06-26 |title=Lithuanian company Neurotechnology unveils ultrasonic particle manipulation 3D printing method |url=https://3dprintingindustry.com/news/lithuanian-company-neurotechnology-unveils-ultrasonic-particle-manipulation-3d-printing-method-116924/ |access-date=2023-01-05 |website=3D Printing Industry |language=en-US}}
The DRC's Independent National Electoral Commission deployed the Neurotechnology MegaMatcher ABIS during the 2018 Democratic Republic of Congo general election, uncovering 5.3 million duplicate voter records.{{Cite web |title=Democratic Republic of the Congo Voter Deduplication Project - case study |url=https://www.neurotechnology.com/case-study-dr-congo-voter-deduplication.html |access-date=2023-08-15 |website=www.neurotechnology.com}} Corneille Nangaa Yobeluo, President of the National Independent Electoral Commission (CENI) stated: "Neurotechnology helped us achieve our goals and exceeded our expectations by starting and completing the deduplication process in record time, and they were able to identify millions of duplicates".{{cite web |title=Fingerprints and Money Trails |url=https://thesentry.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/FingerprintsMoneyTrails_TheSentry_January2021.pdf |website=thesentry.org}}{{Cite web |title=Neurotechnology Uncovers Millions of Duplicate Records for Congo Election Commission |url=https://findbiometrics.com/neurotechnology-congo-election-commission-504246/ |access-date=2023-01-27 |website=findbiometrics.com}}
Since 2019, Neurotechnology has held first place in the US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Proprietary Fingerprint Template (PFT) evaluations, up against 39 algorithms submitted from 22 vendors.{{cite web |title=Evaluation of Latent Friction Ridge Technology (ELFT) |url=https://pages.nist.gov/elft/elft_1_x/results/Neurotechnology+0105/Neurotechnology+0105.pdf |website=nist.gov}}
MegaMatcher ABIS was used alongside fingerprint and/or facial recognition during the 2020 Ghanaian General Election. It was used to de-duplicate the database of 17,027,641 eligible voters, identifying 15,860 attempted multiple registrations.
In March 2021, The Neurotechnology product MegaMatcher was used in the Indian Aadhaar ID scheme,{{Cite web |year=2021 |title=Multifactor biometrics: the solution to authentication and security in a fast-paced world |url=https://lithuania.lt/business-and-innovations/multifactor-biometrics-the-solution-to-authentication-and-security-in-a-fast-paced-world/ |website=Lithuania Co-create}} described as "the most sophisticated ID programme in the world" by the World Bank Chief Economist Paul Romer.{{Cite web |title='Adhaar' most sophisticated ID programme in the world : World Bank |url=https://www.daijiworld.com/news/newsDisplay.aspx?newsID=442948 |access-date=2023-01-05 |website=www.daijiworld.com |language=en}} Neurotechnology, alongside consortium partner Tata Consultancy Services, were selected to provide a deduplication system for the Aadhaar scheme using fingerprint, face and iris biometric recognition.{{Cite web |last=Macdonald |first={{!}} Ayang |date=2021-03-23 |title=Neurotechnology to provide biometric de-duplication software for India's Aadhaar program {{!}} Biometric Update |url=https://www.biometricupdate.com/202103/neurotechnology-to-provide-biometric-de-duplication-software-for-indias-aadhaar-program |access-date=2023-01-05 |website=www.biometricupdate.com |language=en-US}}
Criticisms
In 2014, the Neurotechnology's product VeriFinger was used by hacker Jan Krissler to recreate the German defense minister Ursula von der Leyen's fingerprint, using only a few high-definition images{{Cite web |date=2014-12-30 |title=Hacker fakes German minister's fingerprints using photos of her hands |url=http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/dec/30/hacker-fakes-german-ministers-fingerprints-using-photos-of-her-hands |access-date=2023-01-05 |website=the Guardian |language=en}} taken using a “standard photo camera”.{{Cite news |date=2014-12-29 |title=Politician's fingerprint 'cloned from photos' by hacker |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-30623611 |access-date=2023-01-05}}