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Glossary & FAQs

Clear explanations of Smytec technology, terminology, and common questions.

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Absortion

Is the reaction that occurs when a material takes in light energy, reducing the light that is reflected back. In practice, a substance appears darker because it absorbs certain wavelenghts of lights as is happens with body fluids when using BlindSite.
AFIS Match

AFIS stands for Automated Fingerprint Identification System and is a feature including within BlindSite, replacing manual fingerprint comparison with digital matching, enabling rapid identification in the field without any connectivity. Our AFIS is provided by ROC, ranked #1 globally for fingerprint recognition speed and accuracy by NIST.

ALS

Alternate Light Sources is a traditional forensic tool which emits light at specific wavelegth causing materials to absorb, reflect or fluoresce in different ways, enabling evidence detection. It typically requires additional external setup at the scene, which can increase examination time and workflow complexity.

Case Management Sytem

A Case Management System is a centralised digital system used to store, organise, manage and document cases, including evidence, reports, and investigative activity, ensuring traceability and efficient coordination. Evidence captured with BlindSite is compatible with all CMS.

Cold case

Refers to investigations that remain unsolved after all active evidence and leads have been exhausted. BlindSite enables the re‑examination of archived evidence, potentially revealing previously undetected latent evidence.

Covert Applications

Involves discreet operational environments where visibility, minimal disruption, and non intrusive deployment are critical. With its handheld design and non contact operation, BlindSite supports discreet evidence detection and documentation.

CT

Counter‑Terrorism refers to the coordinated activities and operations designed to prevent, detect, and respond to terrorist threats. Through remote deployment on EOD platforms or direct use by EOD officers, BlindSite enables the safe recovery of latent fingermarks from suspected IEDs, reducing operator risk while enhancing evidential value in complex scenarios.

Enhancement tecniques

Enhancement techniques refer to physical, chemical (often destructive), and digital (non‑destructive) methods used to reveal or improve the visibility of evidence that may not be clearly observable under normal conditions. BlindSite does not require any physical or chemical enhancement, enabling a safer, non‑contact approach that preserves evidence integrity and reduces the risk of contamination.

Fingermark

Commonly referred to as “fingerprints”, are impressions left when fingers touched a surface. These are formed by the transfer of substances naturally secreted by the skin, primarily sweat and oils, along with other contaminants present on the skin such as dirt, cosmetics, or environmental residues. The friction ridge patterns on the fingertips deposit these materials onto surfaces, creating a unique ridge detail that can be visualised and used for identification.

Fluorescense

Is the reaction that occurs when a material absorbs light at one-wavelength and re-emit it at another (usually longer), producing a visible light. In practice, a substance may glow when illuminated with a specific ligh source, as is happens with body fluids when using BlindSite.
Hyperspectral Imaging

Also abreviated as HSI, is an advanced optical technique, incorporated within BlindSite, which uses very narrow wavelength bands (typically 10 nm or less), providing enhanced sensitivity. This means that the light entering the system is focused on the specific peak wavelength of interest, rather than being diluted by irrelevant light. This enables the visualisation of high‑contrast responses and strong material signatures, revealing evidence that is invisible to the naked eye, such as latent fingerprints.
NIST

National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Is the U.S agency that independently evaluates biometrics systems, such as fingerprint and facial recognition, through rigorous testing and performance across conditions.

Multispectral Imaging

Abreviated as MSI, is an optical technique, which uses broad wavebands typically around 100 nm but minimum around 50nm. The light entering the system is higher, often unable to detect traces with weak response.

NCND

Stands for Non-contact-non-destructive and is the core principle of our technology. By eliminating physical contact with evidence, we preserve its integrity and maximise usability. At the same time, the non‑destructive approach ensures that evidence remains intact for subsequent testing and interpretation, supporting the addition of information throughout an investigation.
Non-contact scale bar

Is a proprietary feature integrated into BlindSite that automatically overlays a digital scale bar into every captured image. This eliminates the need for a physical ruler at the scene reducing contamination risk.
Scene camera

BlindSite incorporates a secondary scene camera that can be activated to record video from the moment it arrives at a crime scene. The system operates simultaneously with the imaging capture, providing continuous visual documentation. It also automatically captures a contextual image with each forensic capture, enhancing context and integrity.

Scene Camera Overlay

Is a proprietary feature integrated into BlindSite that automatically overlays the evidences capture into the scene, facilitating the mark up process, adding integrity and relevant context to the evidence analyst.

Latent Evidence

Refers to evidence that is not immediately visible to the naked eye under natural lighting conditions. Includes traces such as fingerprints, body fluids, trace DNA, and other materials that are present at a scene that can be revealed with BlindSite scene.

Minutiae points

Are the unique ridge characteristics found in a fingermark, and are used for identification purposes. BlindSite enables minutiae calculation at the scene, enabling immediate assessment of fingermark quality. This is linked to the AFIS comparison, supporting suspect identification.

Post-Blast IED Fragments

Post‑blast IED refers to an improvised explosive device (IED) and its surrounding environment after detonation, including any remaining fragments, residues, and evidence left at the scene. BlindSite is capable to recover Post-Blast fingermarks from this context with the highest success rate in the industry.

PPI

Pixels Per Inch (often confused with DPI) refers to the resolution of a digital image, indicating number of pixels contained within one inch of the image. PPI can vary depending on the working distance between the device and the object, influencing the level of detail. BlindSite provides the PPI for each captured image within the associated metadata, enabling assessment of image quality and suitability for forensic analysis.

Trace DNA

Commonly referred to as touch DNA, describes small amounts of genetic material transferred through contact. It is often invisible to the naked eye but can be revealed using BlindSite, enabling more targeted recovery and analysis for identification purposes, rather than relying on speculative swabbing.
ISR

Stands for Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance, encompassing the collection and analysis of information to support decision‑making and operational awareness.

Word
Definition
Absortion
Is the reaction that occurs when a material takes in light energy, reducing the light that is reflected back. In practice, a substance appears darker because it absorbs certain wavelenghts of lights as is happens with body fluids when using BlindSite.
AFIS Match
AFIS stands for Automated Fingerprint Identification System and is a feature including within BlindSite, replacing manual fingerprint comparison with digital matching, enabling rapid identification in the field without any connectivity. Our AFIS is provided by ROC, ranked #1 globally for fingerprint recognition speed and accuracy by NIST.
ALS
Alternate Light Sources is a traditional forensic tool which emits light at specific wavelegth causing materials to absorb, reflect or fluoresce in different ways, enabling evidence detection. It typically requires additional external setup at the scene, which can increase examination time and workflow complexity.
Case Management Sytem
A Case Management System is a centralised digital system used to store, organise, manage and document cases, including evidence, reports, and investigative activity, ensuring traceability and efficient coordination. Evidence captured with BlindSite is compatible with all CMS.
Cold case
Refers to investigations that remain unsolved after all active evidence and leads have been exhausted. BlindSite enables the re‑examination of archived evidence, potentially revealing previously undetected latent evidence.
Covert Applications
Involves discreet operational environments where visibility, minimal disruption, and non intrusive deployment are critical. With its handheld design and non contact operation, BlindSite supports discreet evidence detection and documentation.
CT
Counter‑Terrorism refers to the coordinated activities and operations designed to prevent, detect, and respond to terrorist threats. Through remote deployment on EOD platforms or direct use by EOD officers, BlindSite enables the safe recovery of latent fingermarks from suspected IEDs, reducing operator risk while enhancing evidential value in complex scenarios.
Enhancement tecniques
Enhancement techniques refer to physical, chemical (often destructive), and digital (non‑destructive) methods used to reveal or improve the visibility of evidence that may not be clearly observable under normal conditions. BlindSite does not require any physical or chemical enhancement, enabling a safer, non‑contact approach that preserves evidence integrity and reduces the risk of contamination.
Fingermark
Commonly referred to as “fingerprints”, are impressions left when fingers touched a surface. These are formed by the transfer of substances naturally secreted by the skin, primarily sweat and oils, along with other contaminants present on the skin such as dirt, cosmetics, or environmental residues. The friction ridge patterns on the fingertips deposit these materials onto surfaces, creating a unique ridge detail that can be visualised and used for identification.
Fluorescense
Is the reaction that occurs when a material absorbs light at one-wavelength and re-emit it at another (usually longer), producing a visible light. In practice, a substance may glow when illuminated with a specific ligh source, as is happens with body fluids when using BlindSite.
Hyperspectral Imaging
Also abreviated as HSI, is an advanced optical technique, incorporated within BlindSite, which uses very narrow wavelength bands (typically 10 nm or less), providing enhanced sensitivity. This means that the light entering the system is focused on the specific peak wavelength of interest, rather than being diluted by irrelevant light. This enables the visualisation of high‑contrast responses and strong material signatures, revealing evidence that is invisible to the naked eye, such as latent fingerprints.
NIST
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Is the U.S agency that independently evaluates biometrics systems, such as fingerprint and facial recognition, through rigorous testing and performance across conditions.
Multispectral Imaging
Abreviated as MSI, is an optical technique, which uses broad wavebands typically around 100 nm but minimum around 50nm. The light entering the system is higher, often unable to detect traces with weak response.
NCND
Stands for Non-contact-non-destructive and is the core principle of our technology. By eliminating physical contact with evidence, we preserve its integrity and maximise usability. At the same time, the non‑destructive approach ensures that evidence remains intact for subsequent testing and interpretation, supporting the addition of information throughout an investigation.
Non-contact scale bar
Is a proprietary feature integrated into BlindSite that automatically overlays a digital scale bar into every captured image. This eliminates the need for a physical ruler at the scene reducing contamination risk.
Scene camera
BlindSite incorporates a secondary scene camera that can be activated to record video from the moment it arrives at a crime scene. The system operates simultaneously with the imaging capture, providing continuous visual documentation. It also automatically captures a contextual image with each forensic capture, enhancing context and integrity.
Scene Camera Overlay
Is a proprietary feature integrated into BlindSite that automatically overlays the evidences capture into the scene, facilitating the mark up process, adding integrity and relevant context to the evidence analyst.
Latent Evidence
Refers to evidence that is not immediately visible to the naked eye under natural lighting conditions. Includes traces such as fingerprints, body fluids, trace DNA, and other materials that are present at a scene that can be revealed with BlindSite scene.
Minutiae points
Are the unique ridge characteristics found in a fingermark, and are used for identification purposes. BlindSite enables minutiae calculation at the scene, enabling immediate assessment of fingermark quality. This is linked to the AFIS comparison, supporting suspect identification.
Post-Blast IED Fragments
Post‑blast IED refers to an improvised explosive device (IED) and its surrounding environment after detonation, including any remaining fragments, residues, and evidence left at the scene. BlindSite is capable to recover Post-Blast fingermarks from this context with the highest success rate in the industry.
PPI
Pixels Per Inch (often confused with DPI) refers to the resolution of a digital image, indicating number of pixels contained within one inch of the image. PPI can vary depending on the working distance between the device and the object, influencing the level of detail. BlindSite provides the PPI for each captured image within the associated metadata, enabling assessment of image quality and suitability for forensic analysis.
Trace DNA
Commonly referred to as touch DNA, describes small amounts of genetic material transferred through contact. It is often invisible to the naked eye but can be revealed using BlindSite, enabling more targeted recovery and analysis for identification purposes, rather than relying on speculative swabbing.
ISR
Stands for Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance, encompassing the collection and analysis of information to support decision‑making and operational awareness.

Frequently Asked Questions

Quick answers to common questions. If you don’t see what you’re looking for, please get in touch.

How do I request a demo of BlindSite™ Scene?

You can request a demo directly via our Request a Demo page. Demos are tailored to your operational environment and use case.

Is BlindSite™ Scene available outside the UK?

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Who is BlindSite™ Scene designed for?

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Do you offer training and support?

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Can I become a distributor or partner?

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