Remember back in the day when USB flash drives were handed out as freebies at tech conferences? They were useful little gadgets sporting a corporate logo and held about 256MB – or maybe if you really got lucky – 512MB of memory. Today, USB flash drives are snappy accessories bedazzled with Austrian crystals and potentially enough memory to back-up your entire system. With all of this storage capacity, the need for security has become critical. Ennova Direct has taken the password protection of some security-conscious USB flash drives to the next level with biometric technology.
It was recently announced that Ennova was awarded a patent for a new USB flash drive that uses biometrics. Biometrics is the use of a measurable biological characteristic – in this case a fingerprint – to secure the data on the flash drive. In addition, the flash drive has a retractable USB connector and integral cover that protect the drive's OLED screen. The OLED screen not only functions as the fingerprint reader, but it also lets you choose files from the drive.
"With USB flash drive memory capacities now reaching 64GB and higher, users are now utilizing their USB flash drives as full external backup drives, making it even more important for users to secure the large amounts of personal data they are storing on their USB flash drives," according to Peter Garrett, Executive VP of Ennova Direct. "To that end, we incorporated a biometric fingerprint scanner function into the design of our new Patented Retractable USB flash drive, while keeping with the popular theme of our signature retractable USB connector. We paid special attention to the design of the retractable USB connector, adding an integrated cover that when closed protects the USB connector and OLED screen-biometric fingerprint scanner at the same time."
According to the Ennova Direct, Inc. website, they invent, develop and market new consumer technology products under their consumer brands. Ennova Direct is best known for its ION Technologies brand, which distributes computer-related gadgets such as mouse pads/hubs, mice, wireless stereo headsets, and wireless computer and mobile phone headsets as well as USB flash drives. The most popular of its consumer products is the ION Illuminated Keyboard with its other worldly blue glow.
This new retractable biometric USB flash drive is expected to be available for purchase sometime in the beginning of 2010.
