According to technology firm Hitachi Group, the answer to both questions is a definite yes. In fact, the company said it can even usher in a new technology era that would bring the country at par with other progressive nations.

The cost factor -- the main issue that usually hinders the deployment of advanced technologies -- can be overridden by the fact that a forward-looking implementation of the technology could save the company huge amounts in the long run.

With this as the selling point, the Japan-based company is now at the forefront in promoting biometrics as the best technology yet to come out in the area of security.

Hitachi is demonstrating this resolve by actively educating the market and by participating in trade shows such as the recently concluded 4th Philippines Semiconductor and Electronics Convention and Exhibition (PSECE) held at the PICC Forum in Pasay City where it showcased the numerous applications for biometrics.

At the PSECE, the company displayed its revolutionary biometric technology which makes use of a person’s unique finger vein pattern to identify and authenticate the user. The technology allows the user access when his scanned finger vein pattern matches the pattern stored in the system’s database.

Nobuaki Furuse, general manager of Hitachi Asia Ltd. Philippine Branch, said areas where biometric solutions are applicable include entry points in buildings, PC log-in systems, keyless car ignition, and grip-type authentication for doors.

The finger vein authentication, said the Japanese official, makes a compelling case for businesses because of its advantages over traditional security systems.

These strong points are high acceptability (suitability of all skin types, including dry skin), easy and hygienic system (minimum physical contact), security of data (non-traceable and non-vestigial), tamperproof and reliable, precision of certification, eliminate transferability, and integration with other smart card systems.

Right now, Furuse said Japan has the biggest deployment of biometric solution in the world. Japanese use biometric primarily to access their ATM accounts, he said.

Taiwan and Singapore are next to Japan in the use of biometrics with their installation of the technology in condominiums and railway stations.

Apart from biometrics, Hitachi also showcased at PSECE the TM 100, a powerful tabletop microscope that can be used just like a digital camera and is designed with energy-saving function.