By the SightShield team · · 3 min read
A different kind of biometric
Most attendance machines use a fingerprint or a face. Palm and vein recognition use the hand instead: either the visible lines of the palm, or the pattern of veins under the skin, captured with near-infrared light. Several mainstream access control brands now offer palm readers, often in the same terminal as face recognition.
Types
| Type | What it reads | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Palm print | Lines and texture on the palm surface | Contactless on many readers; often combined with palm vein |
| Palm vein | Vein pattern under the palm, by near-infrared light | Very hard to copy; contactless |
| Finger vein | Vein pattern inside a finger | Used in some banking and high-security applications |
Palm and vein compared with face and fingerprint
| Fingerprint | Face | Palm / palm vein | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contact | Touch sensor | Touch-free | Usually touch-free |
| Spoofing resistance | Moderate | High with liveness detection | Very high for vein |
| Worn or dirty hands | Often fails | Not affected | Works well |
| Masks, helmets, beards | Not affected | Can affect some models | Not affected |
| Speed | Fast | Fast | Fast once users learn the hand position |
| Device choice | Very wide | Very wide | Narrower |
| Cost | Lowest | Moderate | Higher |
Strengths
- Veins are inside the body, so they are very hard to copy or spoof.
- Works for people whose fingerprints are worn by manual work, cement, chemicals or age.
- Contactless palm readers are hygienic.
- Not affected by masks, beards, glasses or makeup the way face recognition can be.
Where vein biometrics are already trusted
Vein recognition is not new. Banks in Japan have used palm vein and finger vein readers at ATMs and branches for many years, and vein readers are used for patient identification and secure access in hospitals and data centres in several countries. That track record is why palm vein is often specified for the highest-security rooms.
Attendance Systems for Hospitals and Clinics →Limitations
- Users must hold the hand in the right position, which takes a little training.
- Fewer models and integrations than face or fingerprint.
- Generally higher cost per reader.
- Bright sunlight on outdoor readers can affect performance; mount under shade.
How enrolment and daily use work
- Enrolment takes a few seconds: the user holds the hand open, flat and steady over the reader, usually a few centimetres away.
- The reader captures several images to build a reliable template.
- Daily use is the same motion; a guide or on-screen prompt helps new users.
- Accessories such as rings and gloves should be removed, at least during enrolment.
- A short demonstration at rollout avoids early rejections.
Where it fits
Palm and vein readers suit high-security areas such as server rooms, labs, pharma clean areas and strong rooms; workforces where fingerprints fail often; and hygiene-sensitive sites like hospitals and food plants. For general office attendance, face recognition is usually the simpler and cheaper choice.
See our biometric service →Combining palm with other methods
Several current terminals combine face and palm recognition in one device, so an organisation can use face for general attendance and palm, or face plus palm, for restricted rooms. This keeps one software platform and one enrolment process while raising security only where it is needed.
Data protection
Palm and vein templates are biometric personal data. Store them encrypted, preferably on the device or a secure server, restrict access, and delete them when an employee leaves.
Quick answers
Is palm vein more secure than fingerprint?+
Generally yes. Veins are under the skin and much harder to copy than a fingerprint.
Does palm recognition work for labourers?+
Yes. It is a good option where worn or dirty fingerprints cause rejections.
Is palm recognition contactless?+
Most palm vein and modern palm readers are contactless.
Should we choose palm over face?+
For most offices face is simpler. Palm suits high-security or hygiene-sensitive areas.
Can palm recognition be used for attendance as well as door access?+
Yes. Palm terminals record attendance and can release door locks or turnstiles through an access controller.
Does palm vein work for people with cold hands?+
Very cold hands can reduce vein visibility on some readers; a second attempt after warming the hand usually works.