Biometrics

Description

Biometrics are automated methods of recognizing a person based on a physiological or behavioral characteristic. Among the features measured are face, fingerprints, hand geometry, handwriting, iris, retinal, vein, and voice. Biometric technologies are becoming the foundation of an extensive array of highly secure identification and personal verification solutions. As the level of security breaches and transaction fraud increases, the need for highly secure identification and personal verification technologies is becoming apparent. Biometric-based solutions are able to provide for confidential financial transactions and personal data privacy.

Enablers:

- Advancements in science

- Advancements in technology

- Research

- Need for higher security

- Terrorism

- Hacking

- Espionage

Inhibitors:

• Cost

Biometric devices are more expensive to deploy than traditional password based systems.

• Accuracy

Although the accuracy of the biometric devices has improved considerably over the last few years, there are still problems of false rejects.

• Fear of Discrimination

There are concerns that the personal data obtained from biometric systems could be misused.

• Physical Danger to Authorized Personnel

Robbers and other miscreants could potentially assault an authorized user to gain access to areas secured using biometric devices. In such cases, the damage caused to the user could even be irreversible. For Example: Malaysian car thieves cut the finger of Mercedes S Class owner in order to steal his car.

Paradigms:

Balancing the need for security versus the need for privacy and anonymity.

Web Resources:

Biometric Consortium

http://www.biometrics.org/