The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is recommending the elimination of password usage in favor of biometrical recognition, reports Government Computer News.

DARPA said on its Active Authentication site that complex passwords are too cumbersome to create, remember and manage, nor do active sessions have the capability to recognize whether the current user is the one who was originally authenticated.

DigitalPersona released a new version of its Pro Enterprise authentication device. It now contains the ability to support a number of new authentication credentials, enabling organizations to mix and match the ways in which employees securely identify themselves to Microsoft Windows and other applications.

Beta testers for Sensible Vision’s new FastAccess Anywhere facial recognition password replacement app are praising its speed, accuracy and reliability.

FastAccess Anywhere is available on both iOS and Android and replaces traditional passwords with a secure combination of the user’s face and a gesture. This enables the user to replace login password information and quickly log in to devices, applications and Web sites. Users can also synchronize the app settings between devices.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology announced a competition to award a approximately $10 million for pilot projects to accelerate progress toward improved systems for interoperable, trusted online credentials that go beyond simple user IDs and passwords.