This entry is submitted by Gloria Gamat, via Creative Reporter.Luminetx, a small medical supply company in Memphis, Tenn., has developed a new method of palm-reading: a technology based on an infrared scan of the blood cells running through veins, which is then analyzed by a computer. This method hopes to rival fingerprinting or retinal scans as a way to perfectly identify individuals.

"Our vein structures are completely different, especially when you look at the palm," said Luminetx Chief Executive Officer Jim Phillips. "In a way, it's like looking at a bar code. We convert your veins to a bar code."

The drive for technology that can uniquely identify individuals has been given new urgency by the ongoing threat of terrorist attacks and the growing incidence of identity theft.

Is this freaking you out? This is truly a science that's both exciting and frightening. If you're thinking "mark of the beast", in the context of religious fright factor. In this one, no chip is going to be implanted under the skin. The "chip" was already built-in: the very blood running down your veins.

Reproducing a three-dimensional model of a human vein system, complete with blood, could be more difficult, however.

Luminetx isn't the only group of researchers to pinpoint vein structure as a biometric breakthrough. Fujitsu is has already launched its own "Contactless Palm Vein Authentication" system and has sold more than 5,000 units in .

Luminetx was granted a patent for the biometric applications of the technology last September.

Source and Photo: News.comAbout Gloria Gamat: Gloria is a proud single-mom to Raine (Rainier Brando: born 29 December 2002) and a Chemist. Gloria also blogs about motherhood at EMothersOnline and about life and travel in the Philippines at The Philippine Culture Blog and at Pinoy Travel Blog respectively.