21-03-2012, 04:04 PM
Biometrics
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INTRODUCTION
While the word “Biometrics” sounds very new and “High -Tech”, it stands for a very old and simple concept: Human Recognition. In technical terms, Biometrics is the automated technique of measuring the physical characteristics or personal trait of an individual and comparing that characteristic or trait to a database for purpose of recognizing that individual.
Examples of physical characteristics used in Biometrics include:
• Chemical composition of body odor
• Facial features
• Features of the eye
o Retina
o Iris
• Finger prints
• Hand geometry
Examples of personal traits used in biometrics include:
• Handwritten signature
• Keystrokes/Typing patterns
• Voiceprint
Every person can be distinguished by these traits. So biometrics is best defined as measurable physiological and / or behavioral characteristics that can be utilized to verify the identity of an individual.
HOW BIOMETRIC SYSTEMS WORK ?
Biometric systems consist of both hardware and software; the hardware captures the salient human characteristic, and the software interprets the resulting data and determines acceptability. Practically all biometric systems work in the same manner. First a person is enrolled into a database using the specified method. Information about a certain characteristic of the human is captured. This information is usually placed through an algorithm that turns the information into a code that the database stores. When the person needs to be identified, the system will take the information about the person again, translates this new information with the algorithm , and then compares the new code with the ones in the database to discover a match and hence, identification.
For example, a guy’s fingerprint is scanned. An algorithm turns the fingerprint into a code which is stored in the database. Later, a person needs to be identified to gain access into an area.
His/Her fingerprint is scanned again. The system turns the fingerprint into a code. The code is compared with the other codes in the database. Look, the new code matches the code of a guy. The person must be Guy! Hence Guy is identified and allowed into the area.
BIOMETRICS METHODOLOGIES
The various Biometrics methodologies available now or should be available for the near future is the following:
1. Fingerprint Recognition.
Fingerprints have long been used as means of recognition. Current methods of fingerprints will, likely to be replaced by finger imaging, a technology that involves physically placing a finger on a small optical scanner. This “live” fingerprint is electronically read and converted into a unique byte code stored in a database which can be compared to other finger images for identification purposes.
A major advantage of finger imaging is the long time use of the finger print and its wide acceptance by the public and law enforcement communities as a reliable means of human recognition. Disadvantages of finger imaging includes the need for physical contact with the optical scanner, the possibility of poor quality images due to residue on the finger such as dirt and body oils as well as eroded fingerprints from scrapes, years of heavy labor, or mutilation.
2. Retinal Scanning
Retinal scanning involves an electronic scan of the retina – the innermost layer of the wall of the eyeball. By emitting a beam of incandescent light that bounces off the person’s retina and returns to the scanner, a retinal scanning system quickly maps the eye’s blood vessels pattern and records it into an easily retrievable digitized database. Since this pattern is unique in each person, identification can be precise.
3) Iris Scanning
Iris recognition uses the iris-the colored circle that surrounds the pupil of the eye-as the physical characteristics to be measured. The pattern of the iris is complex and unique in each person. Using standard video technology, its features can be quickly recorded from about nine inches away, thus eliminating the need for invasive physical contact. Software captures the identifying information from the iris and stores it in a 256 byte code.