If you're like me, you probably lie awake at night fearing that somebody will try to cut off your fingers for use in a finger-scanning biometric device.

Futronic, a Hong Kong company, says its new Live Finger Detection technology ends that scenario:

Futronic uses active sensing technology to detect live human finger. In Futronic optical fingerprint scanner, a special signal is emitted to the finger to be authenticated. This signal goes beyond the human skin and then returns to sensor inside the scanner. The returned signal of a live human finger is unique compared to that from any other material. Futronic has developed an algorithm to differentiate the returned signal of live human finger from that of all other material. As a result, Futronic optical fingerprint scanner only captures the fingerprint of live fingers and rejects all other material that puts on it. Fake fingers made from silicone, rubber, play-doh, etc, cannot be used to get access through Futronic optical fingerprint scanner.

And dead, severed fingers, of course.

Now if only they'd do something similar for retinal scanners. I'd hate to have one of my eyeballs plucked out ...