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STAR TREK LIVE!
Computer User Recognition Learning Center Cards
Learning center #3— Hand Recognition
Did you know:
The blood vessel pattern in our hands is different in every person? It is like a fingerprint, but
inside the body. Special cameras can pick up the blood vessel or palm vein prints. Some computer security systems
use palm vein scanners.
You cannot see the blood vessels, but you can see the lines on the palm of your hand. Can you
use palm line scans to identify your group members?
Try it out:
1 One member from each team sits behind a bristol board. There is a hole large enough for a hand to fit
through the screen. These members hold a sheet of paper and a pen and are their team’s computer security
system, or “security.” The security members must identify the palms of team members.
2 Each member rolls up their sleeve, fits their hand palm-up through the hole up to the wrist, and says their
name twice. The security members memorize the palms and record the name.
3 Switch three members between both teams without letting the security
members see them.
4 Repeat step 2 without speaking. The security members have to determine
whether the person’s palm is on their team. The security members
say either the person’s name and “access cleared” or “access denied.”
The team with the highest hand recognitions gets a point.
Discuss findings:
Which palms were easiest and most difficult to recognize?
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