Abstract: A composition for making a polyurethane foam includes a non-fugitive tertiary amine urethane catalyst and an ester alcohol or substituted carbamate thereof. Foams prepared from the reaction of a polyol and an organic isocyanate in the presence of these ingredients show excellent resistance to deterioration of physical properties upon humid ageing.

Abstract: A composition for making a polyurethane foam includes a non-fugitive tertiary amine urethane catalyst and an aromatic diacid ester diol or substituted carbamate thereof. Foams prepared from the reaction of a polyol and an organic isocyanate in the presence of these ingredients show excellent resistance to deterioration of physical properties upon humid ageing.

Abstract: A self-service kiosk includes a biometrics data input for inputting biometrics of a user of the kiosk, a reader for recovering biometrics data stored on a portable storage device such as an optical card, the portable storage device also containing information necessary to carry out a transaction, and a controller capable of comparing the input biometrics data with the stored biometrics data and authorizing a transaction based on a result of the comparison. Alternatively, or in addition to the above, the self-service kiosk may include a device for capturing an image of a customer/registrant, a biometrics capture device, and a data input device for enabling registration information to be entered and stored on a portable storage device such as an optical memory card together with the image and/or biometrics data, the portable storage device being dispensed to the customer/registrant immediately upon registration.

Abstract: A modular point-of-sale image display terminal combines magnetic stripe and optical card technology to ensure compatibility with existing networking systems while permitting images stored on the optical card to be decoded and displayed in order to provide additional security for sales and other transactions or services which require authentication of the card and/or verification of the identity of the cardholder. The design of the terminal is modular, permitting flexibility for different applications and simple upgradeability. In addition, the terminal is provided with modem communications while also being capable of functioning as a stand-alone terminal.