The company believes that biometrics is finally ready for this type of wide-scale adoption, Clain Anderson, IBM program director of security and wireless  technology, told NewsFactor.

"In the past, there were problems with fingerprint recognition," Anderson said. "The technology wasn't where it needed to be. But we think many of those problems have been addressed." IBM is considering using the technology for subsequent notebooks and other hardware if consumers embrace it, he added.

Fingerprinting Press

The ThinkPad's new reader will be on a wrist rest below the arrow keys on select models of the T42. To log on to systems, software applications, databases or Web sites, users must swipe a finger across a small, horizontally oriented sensor.

The process takes only seconds, according to IBM. This type of fingerprint reader captures more data than a traditional "picture" capture window, says the company, because it scans more of a fingertip's surface area.

A new version of IBM Client Security Software will coordinate with the reader to protect encryption  keys, electronic credentials and passphrases, along with other sensitive information. The combination of sensor, software and an embedded security chip deliver a compelling level of security for notebook users, Anderson noted.

Prime Time

Although there are a number of biometric technologies available, including iris and facial recognition, it appears that fingerprint recognition will trump its other security-driven kin. There are more fingerprint products available in the marketplace than those using all other biometric technologies combined, according to the International Biometric Group.

The growing acceptance of fingerprint recognition, combined with consumer desire for more security, makes IBM optimistic about the new ThinkPad's chances for wide adoption, Anderson said.

"Security is uppermost in people's minds, especially as they travel and take their notebooks everywhere," he said, adding that the new sensor is a vast improvement over password protection.