ANSI Standards address louver blinds and biometric technology.
Press Release Summary:
ANSI/WCMA A101.1-2008 Standard expands requirements of WCMA's Commercial Item Description 1029, which describes commercial 1 and 2 in. horizontal slat venetian blinds. Using durability, pull force, pull apart, rigidity, and flexibility tests, standard lists minimum requirements for such devices. ANSI INCITS 442-2008, Information technology - Biometric Identity Assurance Services defines set of biometric services used for identity assurance that are performed over services-based framework.
Original Press Release:
Voluntary Standards Cover the Spectrum: from Louver Blinds to Biometric Identity
In an effort to communicate the vital role that standards play in daily life, the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) will publish, on an ongoing basis, a series of snapshots of the diverse standards initiatives undertaken in the global and national standards arena, many of which are performed by ANSI members and ANSI-accredited standards developers. Two of the latest selections follow:
Louver Blinds
Used to reduce entering sunlight, insulate rooms, and give privacy, blinds can have a strong impact on the atmosphere and appearence of a place.
With many choices available in the market, buyers seeking a product that is reliable for performance, quality and durability can refer to an American National Standard published by the Window Covering Manufacturers Association, Inc. (WCMA).
ANSI/WCMA A101.1-2008 Standard for Corded Horizontal Louver Blinds with Metal Slats, expands and updates the requirements of WCMA's Commercial Item Description 1029, which described commercial one and two inch horizontal slat venetian blinds.
Using tests such as durability, pull force, pull apart, rigidity and flexibility, the standard lists minimum requirements for such devices.
An ANSI organizational member and accredited standards developer, WCMA represents the interests of the window covering industry manufacturers, fabricators and assemblers. Industry products include blinds, shades, shutters, curtains, curtain rods, drapes, drapery hardware, and other window treatments.
Biometric Identity
With public and private-sector entities widely relying on biometric technology to authenticate an individual's identity, biometric systems are increasingly being used in large-scale settings built on a service-oriented architecture (SOA). This has led to an increasing need for data sharing and reuse of resources and services within and across organizations.
Aiming to facilitate these operations, the InterNational Committee for Information Technology Standards (INCITS), has developed ANSI INCITS 442-2008, Information technology - Biometric Identity Assurance Services (BIAS), an American National Standard that defines a set of biometric services used for identity assurance that are performed over a services-based framework (e.g., web services).
Separate standards will cover the binding of these services to specific frameworks. The first such standard intended for a web services framework will be developed by OASIS through its BIAS Integration Technical Committee (TC).
Specification of single-platform biometric functionality (e.g., client-side capture, etc.) and integration of biometric services as part of an authentication service are not within the scope of ANSI INCITS 442-2008. Although focused on biometrics, this standard will include support for other related identity assurance mechanisms such as biographic and token capabilities.
A proposed revision to INCITS 442-2008 will take into account additional technical requirements related to biometric data transformations and other services as requested by the user community.
INCITS is an ANSI member and accredited standards developer.
