| The PowerLunch Lines They Are A Changing | | | | Privacy Concerns |
| Biometric software from M2SYS Technology is being | | | | There are many rumors virally circulating about |
| used with PowerLunch point of sale (POS) cafeteria | | | | biometrics and its privacy implications for children. |
| software at various PowerSchool customer district | | | | Some fear that if a hacker breaks into the |
| schools throughout the country for accurate and | | | | PowerSchool computer system and steals a biometric |
| indisputable monitoring of meal credits. Bio-SnapOn, a | | | | template, the damage is irreversible and not able to be |
| biometric fingerprint recognition system from M2SYS | | | | corrected. Others say that once a biometric |
| Technology, enables schools using the PowerLunch | | | | template is established for a child, it gives free reign for |
| module of PowerSchool to setup a secure, reliable | | | | any governmental agency to lawfully access that |
| fingerprint system to more accurately and efficiently | | | | template to create a national registry of biometric |
| identify students. Together, PowerLunch and | | | | identification information. The truth of the matter is |
| Bio-SnapOn help to facilitate quick and unequivocal | | | | that biometric enrollment templates stored on a server |
| lunch line check outs that interface easily with back | | | | are not actually an image of the fingerprint at all. |
| end accounting and inventory systems. | | | | They are a mathematical representation of the data |
| Biometric POS PowerLunch Software Systems | | | | points that a biometric algorithm extracts from the |
| The fast paced world of today's PowerLunch POS | | | | scanned fingerprint. The algorithm then uses the |
| environments demands user-friendly software that can | | | | template to positively identify a child during subsequent |
| handle transactions with speed and accuracy to | | | | fingerprint scans. No image of the fingerprint is ever |
| maximize profits without sacrificing precision or | | | | stored or transmitted across a network. In addition, |
| security. A biometric PowerLunch software system | | | | the algorithm is "one way" which means that the |
| eliminates the need for students to remember a PIN | | | | template that is extracted can never be used to |
| code or use a barcode ID when they get to the | | | | recreate the original fingerprint image. In other words, |
| register. The student simply scans their finger on the | | | | it is nearly impossible to reverse engineer the data that |
| fingerprint reader and immediately their identity is | | | | is sent to positively identify a child and successfully |
| established and transaction recorded. The process is | | | | "steal" their biometric identity. |
| fast, safe, reliable and accurate. It maintains the flow | | | | Biometrics Are The Future For PowerLunch |
| of the PowerLunch line allowing students who | | | | Identification Technology - Bar Codes and PIN's Are |
| sometimes only have 30 minutes or less for their lunch | | | | Not |
| period to get in and get out as quickly as possible. In | | | | As more PowerSchools adopt biometric identification |
| less than 20 minutes, schools can setup and begin | | | | technology with their PowerLunch POS systems, word |
| enrolling students in the system for future | | | | is spreading fast about the distinct benefits that |
| identification. | | | | biometrics creates for efficient cafeteria |
| More PowerSchools Adopting Biometric Technology | | | | management. The focus on PowerLunch line best |
| More and PowerSchools are turning to M2SYS as a | | | | practices over the years has evolved into developing |
| trusted biometric component of their PowerLunch | | | | faster and smarter ways of planning and executing |
| cafeteria management software technology to | | | | tasks with less staff, less overhead and higher |
| incorporate a secure student identification system that | | | | security. Biometric technology fits well into this |
| boosts the accuracy and security of transactions. | | | | evolution because it offers speed and flexibility for |
| Fingerprint recognition has become the mainstream | | | | identifying students and can easily be interfaced into |
| biometric modality of many PowerLunch line POS | | | | existing PowerLunch cafeteria management software |
| systems but as biometric technological advances have | | | | systems at a very affordable price point. It trumps |
| evolved, more PowerSchools are choosing advanced | | | | bar codes (no card to forget with biometric |
| biometric technology such as fingervein, palm vein and | | | | identification) and PIN's (no longer need to memorize |
| iris recognition as their modality of choice due to the | | | | numbers), allowing PowerSchools to implement a |
| inherent benefits that are included in these hardware | | | | modernized mode of student identification with the |
| modalities such as lower False Reject Rates and a | | | | peace of mind that their students are safe and moving |
| more hygienic scanning environment. | | | | quickly through the PowerLunch line. |