The fast lane: Dartmouth Dining introduces a futuristic new biometric palm scanning entry systemThe fast lane: Dartmouth Dining introduces a futuristic new biometric palm scanning entry system

Diners at Dartmouth Dining can now gain entry to the Class of 1953 Commons Dining Hall through new high-tech means. To that end, the college launched its new palm biometric recognition technology this semester. The program is voluntary, and diners are able to still use their physical ID, if they choose.

So far, 2,100 students have enrolled in the program, according to Jon Plodzik, director of dining at Dartmouth College, and he noted that more students continue to join every day. Enrolling is also simple and takes less than five minutes, during which the system will capture fingerprints from each hand. The fingerprints are then changed into a numeric sequence that is unique to each diner and the actual fingerprints themselves aren’t stored in the software.

The software is provided by the technology company, IDEMIA and the team worked with technology solutions company Cbord to bring the system to Dartmouth.

The goal behind this new technology is to speed up the entry process at the dining hall, which often presented challenges, especially during peak meal times.

Plodzik said that in the past, managing entry would often require up to three staff members during peak times, but with this new system the team only needs to have one employee oversee the three entry gates and assist with diners. This change has helped the dining team with labor challenges, he said.

“That reduction in labor needs at our entry yielded improved service in other areas when we relocated the staff that were no longer needed to check students in,” said Plodzik.

The new palm scanning system also simplifies entry as the team no longer needs to verify ID’s, wait while students gather their ID or even touch the diner’s ID at all.

And the team isn’t compromising on security by launching this new system, and it eliminates the risk of a student using an ID card that does not belong to them.

“I like the security of knowing that the person entering the dining hall is the actual holder of the meal plan,” said Plodzik.

The new system, which has been dubbed ‘the fast lane,’ has prompted mixed reactions from diners. Plodzik said that many students seem to enjoy the convenience and high-tech aspects of the new system.

“It’s a fast, efficient, and secure entry process that many students find really ‘cool”, particularly since it has eliminated a delay in getting into the dining hall,” he said.

But Dartmouth College’s student newspaper reported that some students are wary of the biometric system, citing privacy concerns or even just comfortability with the traditional process.

Plodzik has reassured students that they don’t have to be concerned about their data’s privacy due to the fact that fingerprints are not stored in the system.

And Dartmouth’s student newspaper also reported on positive feedback from diners, including one student who stated that the technology made him feel, “like a jedi.”