Fingerprint scanners are a rather cool alternative to having to remember passwords and Dell announced an interesting incentive to use it on their new M1330 notebook. As well as one finger acting as the password, the other fingers can be used as shortcuts for other programs

Leaving aside my occasional need to label my hands with an L and R, let alone identify individual fingers, this might just be the kind of gimmick that will promote biometrics.

You might remember my comments about QWERTY and the AK47* and how people are happy to stick with what they know even if it isn't very good. It would be very encouraging if this kind of added extra helps persuade people to use biometrics. The irony is that this kind of utility probably doesn't take very long to write.

Sadly, one UK journalist (who shall remain nameless) felt the need to ask if there was an upper limit to the number of shortcuts that can be set up. The Dell guys responded brilliantly with the answer of 20, though the thought of everyone in the office taking their shoes off to start Notepad is too horrific to contemplate!

*I did give Dvorak another go but then needed to file quite a lot of copy urgently, another day...