Report

Teaser, summary, work performed and final results

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - SignSigma (Launching the next generation of mobile and multi-platform signature system based on biometric parameters)

Teaser

Sigma Technologies wants to exploit a very powerful unique biometric technology that can authenticate signatures for first time from any touch-screen (smartphones, tablets) with a performance similar to the complex, intrusive and expensive iris scan technology, which will open...

Summary

Sigma Technologies wants to exploit a very powerful unique biometric technology that can authenticate signatures for first time from any touch-screen (smartphones, tablets) with a performance similar to the complex, intrusive and expensive iris scan technology, which will open a new range of opportunities and markets. Smartphones, tablets and the growing access to mobility will accelerate identification needs, and ease its introduction through various applications like banking, health sector, insurance, digital preservation, etc. This technology will permit to reduce paperwork, reduce costs, save time in operations, and decrease fraud by bio-identity, consequently having a significant impact on the economy.
The SignSigma solution allows to verify the identity of a person by using the dynamic parameters of their biometric signature with an extremely low error ratio for first time merely using a common tablet or smartphone. The technology is not based on the image of the signature but on its dynamic biometric parameters such as pressure, velocity, acceleration. This technology has been recognised as the best technology in the First International Signature Verification Competition. The range of applications is huge, as this disruptive technology creates new markets as it will permit to be identified at any time, and anywhere.
The current innovation business project was submitted and approved on June 2014 as a SME Instrument (SMEI) Phase 1 with a total score of 14.02 (4.61 / 4.64 / 4.77). After the execution of Phase 1, during three months, all the objectives has been achieved as scheduled.
The outputs for each one of the task demonstrate that the SignSigma solution is free to operate. During the execution of this action we have been able to compare our solutions with others. Similarly, we have studied several devices suitable for the SignSigma solution in order to have them as references for further development and commercialization activities. That said our solution still shows to be relevant in the current market with room for development in order to offer a complete set of tools for our customers.
From the legal point of view, we have carried out a depth analysis of the European Legal framework. The old EU Directive (1999) was the starting point for laws in European contrived offering some hints of legality of our solution. The new European directive (enacted on July 2014) gives much more legal power to biometric signatures in Europe as in the US.

Work performed

Overview of the Work done
The current report is an overview of the work done during the execution of this phase 1. In the proposal five tasks where defined. Each one of this task served for the preparation of a feasibility study, which is the main output of this phase 1 and also is the starting point to prepare a phase 2 proposal.
During the execution of this phase 1 a platform comparison was made in order to define the best technology to be used for the SignSigma solution. Secondly, the legality of the biometric signature was analyse at a European level and in three European countries. Based on the competition, key market applications were also defined and one market has been selected as main market to position the SignSigma technology. Regarding IPR issues, a patent search was carried out and the design, selection and registration of the SignSigma brand is being conducted at this moment. Lastly, an updated business plan, as well as a detailed work plan for a phase 2 execution has been created.

T1.1 Extensive Platform Comparison
When talking about current technologies used as platforms where to insert the biometric handwritten signature, we should use the generally used term “touchscreen”.
A touchscreen is a visual screening device that is controlled by the user by touching / making graphical gestures on the screen, using for that a special pen or just directly one or several fingers. i.e., it will reflect and capture what we write on it.
Touchscreens are composed by a series of sensors that transform a physical magnitude into an electric signal. Depending on the physical magnitude measured, we can consider different technologies: resistive, capacitive, acoustic, optical, etc. The 5 considered are shown in the table below, vs. the relevant parameters in the market.
In a nutshell, all technologies have different advantages and disadvantages when talking about resolution, responsiveness (processing speed), degradation, consumption, robustness, and cost.
Table 1 shows a comparison between all the technologies mentioned. A dash (-) indicates that the specific parameter is not supported and four stars (****) is the highest rating. In the particular case of pointing devices, one star means that only one kind of pointing device is supported and four stars indicate that all the pointing devices (including bare or gloved fingers) are supported by the specific technology.
From Table 1, it is easy to understand why almost all the existing touchscreen in the market are following one of the 3 last technologies: capacitive (projected mutual, to cover multi-touch), NFI and Bending wave. Resistive touchscreen are not considered basically because they don’t offer multi-touch functionality, key nowadays to support current applications. Optical ones, on the other hand, have shown to be extremely sensitive to dirt, and therefore causing multiple faults and error accesses.

T1.2 Legal Framework study
The main output of this has been to perform a legal analysis/validity of the SignSigma technology. In depth legal framework study at European level of digital signature was carried out. Furthermore, three EU countries have been evaluated in-depth. Legal aspects concerning the digital signature at a European level are crucial to determine the best applications.
EU Legal Framework
The European Union is currently finalizing regulation, which will increase the legal value of advanced electronic signatures and remote electronic signing services by offering the possibility to generate a qualified digital signature using a remote signing system. The regulation has been enacted in early July 2014.
The European legislation is predominantly based on Directive 1999/93/EC , which stipulates common obligations for certification service providers and common rules on liability and cooperative mechanisms in order to secure trans-border recognition of signatures and certificates throughout the European Community. The Directive addresses three forms of digital

Final results

Sigma Technologies wants to exploit a very powerful unique biometric technology that can authenticate signatures for first time from any touch-screen (smartphones, tablets) with a performance similar to the complex, intrusive and expensive iris scan technology, which will open a new range of opportunities and markets.
The current innovation business project was submitted and approved on June 2014 as a SME Instrument (SMEI) Phase 1 with a total score of 14.02 (4.61 / 4.64 / 4.77). After the execution of Phase 1, during three months, all the objectives has been achieved as scheduled.
The outputs for each one of the task demonstrate that the SignSigma solution is free to operate from the legal and IPR point of view. We have been able to benchmark our solutions with other solutions to offer a starting point regarding the selection of the most suitable devices for SignSigma. That said our solutions still shows to be relevant in the current market with room for development in order to offer a complete set of tools for our customers.
In addition, from the legal point of view, we have carried out a depth analysis of the European Legal framework. The old EU Directive (1999) and the recently updated regulation (July 2014) creates a floor of security for the validity of our solution. Also, during this Phase 1 we have identified a market segment in which SignSigma will be positioned as a lead solution.
Following our corporate identity several logos have been created and a trade mark registration will be on the next steps once we decided for one sample. Regarding the IPR issues the results from the Patent Search Report guarantee the freedom to operate, the commercial viability and the innovation of our complete solution.
In view of the positive results of the execution of this Phase 1. We are now submitting the SMEI Phase 2 in order to reach our goal outlined in the Phase 1 Feasibility Study. After a detailed analysis during Phase 1, SignSigma project will firstly be focused on insurance sector, particularly on the health sector.