Russia plans self-service passport control

Russia plans to introduce a self-service system, with a test period planned for next year at airports and some sea ports, according to Russian border control authorities, reports Barents Observer.

It will allow a person to place their passport in the scanner, which cross-checks the biometric with a fingerprint or face camera, after which a gate opens with a voice saying: 'welcome to Russia'.

The border control authorities say such scenarios can become a reality soon. The automatic biometric passport control system will be tested in 2011.

The integrated oncology company US Oncology has selected PatientPoint, a provider of multi-channel self-service applications for the healthcare industry, to provide it with self-service technologies, states Trading Markets.

US Oncology will implement the PatientPoint solution as part of its soon-to-be-released Patient Portal, which will give patients a single point of access to their providers through online self-service applications, including appointment scheduling and pre-registration, online bill payment and secure messaging.

These capabilities provide patients with the ability to complete registration forms prior to a doctor's visit; review and update their medical history; and access and pay bills online.

US consumers have made self-service kiosks a part of every day life and will transact $740 billion in business through the devices this year, according to a new research study conducted by the IHL Group, writes Self-Service World.

However, while the use of kiosks has risen in recent years, growth rate will slow as consumers turn to their mobile phones for certain transactions.

That massive transaction figure includes certain airline tickets, DVD rental, transit, self-checkout at retailers, food orders, bill payment, hotel check-in, cinema tickets, and other transactions, according to Lee Hohlman, co-author of the '2010 North American self-service kiosks' study from IHL Group.