Biometrics Term Paper

Biometrics Meredith Thomas Strayer University 1 Biometrics, according to Foster, “is the science of using technology to automatically identify an individual based on physical, biological, and behavioral characteristics. ” There are two classification systems in biometrics and they are: physiological and behavioral. Physiological characteristics pertain to fingerprints, facial recognition, DNA, hand geometry, the shape of your body, iris recognition, etc. Behavioral characteristics pertain to voice recognition, handwriting, the way that you walk, etc.

There are also two categories for the use of this biometric information and they are: access control, and remote identification. Access control pertains to the prevention of others from gaining access to information. Remote identification helps to identify a person through fingerprints or hand geometry. According to globalsecurity. org (2000-2010) they have given biometric technologies the following characteristics: Universality: Every person should have the characteristic. People who are mute or without fingerprints will need to be accommodated in some way.

Uniqueness: Generally, no two people have identical characteristics. However, identical twins are hard to distinguish. Permanence: The characteristics should not vary with time. A person’s face, for example, may change with age. Collectability: The characteristics must be easily collectible and measurable. Performance: The method must deliver accurate results under varied environmental circumstances. Acceptability: The general public must accept the sample collection routines. Nonintrusive methods are more acceptable. Circumvention: The technology should be difficult to deceive. Now let’s get more into biometrics! Fingerprinting is one of the most popular physiological characteristics in biometrics. No two people on this earth have the exact same fingerprint, which helps in distinguishing where a person has been, and what they have touched. Once a criminals fingerprints have been recorded in IAFIS (the Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System), then they are permanently recorded and easily traced. Another physiological characteristic is facial recognition, which is newer to the scene than fingerprints.

While it may be one of the easiest to use, the environment in which it is used definitely controls it. A mug-shot is the ideal way to capture facial recognition, because it is a controlled environment. One of my favorite physiological characteristics is the use of the iris for identification. According to globalsecurity. org (2000-2010), “The technology is based upon the fact that no two iris patterns are alike (the probability is higher than that of fingerprints). The iris is a protected organ which makes the identification possibilities lifelong. Criminals may be able to duplicate fingerprints, but not irises. Some behavioral characteristics associated with biometrics are, handwriting and voice recognition. Every person has their own unique handwriting, it is measured by the rhythm, pressure, and flow that one applies to the paper while writing. Voice verification is tough to analyze, because a person’s voice changes if they have a cold, or if they are over-excited, anxious, nervous, afraid. Background noise is also a factor. All of the above mentioned characteristics can be used in access control and remote identification.

Iris identification is used more and more often for security purposes in passports, hospitals, high profile building access, etc. 3 There are new and emerging technologies in the biometrics field such as: vein scan, facial thermography, DNA matching, blood pulse, skin elements, nailbed identification, gait recognition, and ear shape. Vein scan is a non intrusive scan of the veins on the back of one’s hands hand, they are very unique patterns that are formed before birth, and only change in size throughout one’s lifetime.

Facial thermography is very similar to facial recognition, except an infrared camera is used. Skin elements are an interesting biometric technology because just like fingerprints or irises everyone’s skin makeup is different. Gait recognition is one technology that I would have never thought of, but it makes a lot of sense. According to globalsecurity. org, “A person’s musculature essentially limits the variation of motion, and measuring requires no contact with the person. One disadvantage to gait recognition could be loose fitting clothing, the body is hidden and you don’t have much to compare. Everyday new and different technologies are emerging in the biometrics field. I can’t wait to see what happens in the next ten years, and what I will have to look forward to working with in the future. 4 Foster, Raymond E. (2005). Police Technology. Pearson Prentice Hall. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey. http://www. globalsecurity. org/security/systems/biometrics. htm Site monitored by John Pike.