Nanotech Security gets first commercial client

Canada's Nanotech Security has secured the first commercial client for its KolourOptik security feature, providing access IDs for this year's TED conference in Vancouver.

The 30th TED (Technology, Entertainment and Design) event got underway yesterday and one of the premier events in the technology calendar, with the 1,200 attendees paying $7,500 for the privilege whilst also having to write an essay on why they should be present.

With attendance at such a premium, TED and related event TEDactive in Whistler enlisted the aid of Nanotech Security to provide a secure access card which carries the firm's optical nanotechnology inspired by the wings of the Blue Morpho butterfly.

The approach using an electron beam to drill holes smaller than the wavelength of light into a material so - when light catches the holes at the right angle - a bright, flickering image is revealed. The KolourOptik technology requires no pigment or dye, said the British Columbia-based company.

For TED, the security feature (pictured) shows the organisation's logo and high resolution (50,000 dpi) lettering "recognising TED's 30-year milestone delivering 'Ideas Worth Spreading'," it added.

"Every TED event brings together amazing people from around the world to witness and discuss ideas that are worth spreading," commented Nanotech Security chief executive Doug Blakeway.

"This collaboration demonstrates one of the many diverse applications of our world-class security product, and we are excited to see KolourOptik nanotechnology showcased first-hand to such a top-tier audience," he added.

Last year, Nanotech Security demonstrated how the security technology could be incorporated into commercial scale manufacturing processes at full production speeds.