REPORT ON BIOMETRICS 1

BIOMETRICS - Introduction

The word biometric can be defined as "life - measure." It is used in

security and access control applications to mean measurable
physical characteristics of a person that can be checked on an
automated basis.

The term "Biometrics" has been used to refer to the emerging field of
technology devoted to identification of individuals using biological traits,
such as those based on retinal or iris scanning, fingerprints, or face
recognition. Neither the journal "Biometrics" nor the International Biometric
Society is engaged in research, marketing, or reporting related to this
technology. Likewise, the editors and staff of the journal are not
knowledgeable in this area.

Biometrics refers to methods for uniquely recognizing humans based upon

one or more intrinsic physical or behavioral traits. In information
technology, in particular, biometrics is used as a form of identity access
management and access control. It is also used to identify individuals in
groups that are under surveillance.

Biometric characteristics can be divided in two main classes:

• Physiological are related to the shape of the body. Examples include,

but are not limited to fingerprint, face recognition, DNA, hand and
palm geometry,iris recognition, which has largely replaced retina, and
odor/scent.
• Behavioral are related to the behavior of a person. Examples include,
but are not limited to typing rhythm, gait, and voice. Some
researchers[1] have coined the term behaviometrics for this class of
biometrics.

Strictly speaking, voice is also a physiological trait because every person has
a different pitch, but voice recognition is mainly based on the study of the
way a person speaks, commonly classified as behavioral.
REPORT ON BIOMETRICS 2

Biometrics

Biometrics is the automated method of recognizing

a person based on a physiological or behavioral
characteristic. Biometric technologies are
becoming the foundation of an extensive array of
highly secure identification and personal
verification solutions.
Biometrics is expected to be incorporated in solutions to provide for
Homeland Security including applications for improving airport
security, strengthening the United States' national borders, in travel
documents, visas and in preventing ID theft. Now, more than ever,
there is a wide range of interest in biometrics across federal, state,
and local governments. Congressional offices and a large number of
organizations involved in many markets are addressing the important
role that biometrics will play in identifying and verifying the identity of
individuals and protecting national assets.
There are many needs for biometrics beyond Homeland Security.
Enterprise-wide network security infrastructures, secure electronic
banking, investing and other financial transactions, retail sales, law
enforcement, and health and social services are already benefiting
from these technologies. A range of new applications can been found
in such diverse environments as amusement parks, banks, credit
unions, and other financial organizations, Enterprise and Government
networks, passport programs and driver licenses, colleges, physical
access to multiple facilities (e.g., nightclubs) and school lunch
programs

What is a Biometrics system?

There are two main modules in a biometrics system. "Storing" and

"comparing". The systems must first store your information before it can use
this stored information to compare and verify. The storing process however
differs between different systems.
REPORT ON BIOMETRICS 3

For instance, if the biometrics system uses thumb impression as the mode of
verification, then your thumb impression will be first captured in film and
stored in the biometrics database system. Instead of storing as it is, the
system will compress and store it.

If for instance your face is used as the mode of verification, then your face
will be photographed in different angles and stored in the biometrics
database systems. The same goes for voice recording and eyes mode of
verification.

Once this storing process is done, the 'comparing' process is done daily or as
and when required. For example let us assume that your company uses
finger print biometrics systems. When you come to office daily, there will be
a finger print reader at the entrance. You will have to put your finger on this
finger print reader which will capture your finger print and send to the
biometrics system. The biometrics system will then 'compare' this finger
print to the finger print that was previously stored in the database. If both of
them match then you are authenticated.

Biometric-based authentication applications include workstation,

network, and domain access, single sign-on, application logon, data
protection, remote access to resources, transaction security and Web
security. Trust in these electronic transactions is essential to the
healthy growth of the global economy. Utilized alone or integrated
with other technologies such as smart cards, encryption keys and
digital signatures, biometrics are set to pervade nearly all aspects of
the economy and our daily lives. Utilizing biometrics for personal
authentication is becoming convenient and considerably more
accurate than current methods (such as the utilization of passwords
or PINs). This is because biometrics links the event to a particular
individual (a password or token may be used by someone other than
the authorized user), is convenient (nothing to carry or remember),
accurate (it provides for positive authentication), can provide an audit
trail and is becoming socially acceptable and inexpensive.
Biometric authentication requires comparing a registered or enrolled
biometric sample (biometric template or identifier) against a newly
captured biometric sample (for example, a fingerprint captured during
REPORT ON BIOMETRICS 4

a login). During Enrollment a sample of the biometric trait is

captured, processed by a computer, and stored for later comparison.
Biometric recognition can be used in Identification mode, where the
biometric system identifies a person from the entire enrolled
population by searching a database for a match based solely on the
biometric. For example, an entire database can be searched to verify
a person has not applied for entitlement benefits under two different
names. This is sometimes called "one-to-many" matching. A system
can also be used in Verification mode, where the biometric system
authenticates a person's claimed identity from their previously
enrolled pattern. This is also called "one-to-one" matching. In most
computer access or network access environments, verification mode
would be used. A user enters an account, user name, or inserts a
token such as a smart card, but instead of entering a password, a
simple touch with a finger or a glance at a camera is enough to
authenticate the user.

Biometric-based authentication applications include workstation and

network access, single sign-on, application logon, data protection,
remote access to resources, transaction security, and Web security.
The promises of e-commerce and e-government can be achieved
through the utilization of strong personal authentication procedures.
Secure electronic banking, investing and other financial transactions,
retail sales, law enforcement, and health and social services are
already benefiting from these technologies. Biometric technologies
are expected to play a key role in personal authentication for large-
scale enterprise network authentication environments, Point-of-Sale
REPORT ON BIOMETRICS 5

and for the protection of all types of digital content such as in Digital
Rights Management and Health Care applications. Utilized alone or
integrated with other technologies such as smart cards, encryption
keys and digital signatures, biometrics are anticipated to pervade
nearly all aspects of the economy and our daily lives. For example,
biometrics is used in various schools such as in lunch programs in
Pennsylvania, and a school library in Minnesota. Examples of other
current applications include verification of annual pass holders in an
amusement park, speaker verification for television home shopping,
Internet banking, and users' authentication in a variety of social
services.
Using biometrics for identifying human beings offers some unique
advantages. Biometrics can be used to identify you as you. Tokens,
such as smart cards, magnetic stripe cards, photo ID cards, physical
keys and so forth, can be lost, stolen, duplicated, or left at home.
Passwords can be forgotten, shared, or observed. Moreover, today's
fast-paced electronic world means people are asked to remember a
multitude of passwords and personal identification numbers (PINs) for
computer accounts, bank ATMs, e-mail accounts, wireless phones,
web sites and so forth. Biometrics hold the promise of fast, easy-to-
use, accurate, reliable, and less expensive authentication for a variety
of applications.
There is no one "perfect" biometric that fits all needs. All biometric
systems have their own advantages and disadvantages. There are,
however, some common characteristics needed to make a biometric
system usable. First, the biometric must be based upon a
distinguishable trait. For example, for nearly a century, law
enforcement has used fingerprints to identify people. There is a great
deal of scientific data supporting the idea that "no two fingerprints are
alike." Technologies such as hand geometry have been used for
many years and technologies such as face or iris recognition have
come into widespread use. Some newer biometric methods may be
just as accurate, but may require more research to establish their
uniqueness.
Another key aspect is how "user-friendly" a system is. The process
should be quick and easy, such as having a picture taken by a video
camera, speaking into a microphone, or touching a fingerprint
scanner. Low cost is important, but most implementers understand
REPORT ON BIOMETRICS 6

that it is not only the initial cost of the sensor or the matching software
that is involved. Often, the life-cycle support cost of providing system
administration and an enrollment operator can overtake the initial cost
of the biometric hardware.
The advantage biometric authentication provides is the ability to
require more instances of authentication in such a quick and easy
manner that users are not bothered by the additional requirements.
As biometric technologies mature and come into wide-scale
commercial use, dealing with multiple levels of authentication or
multiple instances of authentication will become less of a burden for
users. An indication of the biometric activities.
As of March 2005, NIST and NSA have co-sponsored and
spearheaded a number of biometric-related activities including the
development of a Common Biometric Exchange File Format (CBEFF)
, NIST Biometric Interoperability, Performance, and Assurance
Working Group, a BioAPI Users' and Developers' Seminar, and the
NIST BioAPI Interoperability Test Bed. CBEFF describes a set of
data elements necessary to support biometric technologies in a
common way independently of the application and the domain of use
(e.g., mobile devices, smart cards, protection of digital data, biometric
data storage). CBEFF facilitates biometric data interchange between
different system components or between systems, promotes
interoperability of biometric-based application programs and systems,
provides forward compatibility for technology improvements, and
simplifies the software and hardware integration process. CBEFF was
developed by a Technical Development Team, comprised of
members from industry, NIST and NSA and in coordination with
industry consortiums (BioAPI Consortium and TeleTrusT) and a
standards development group (ANSI/ASC X9F4 Working Group).
CBEFF is described in detail in NISTIR 6529, "Common Biometric
Exchange File Format (CBEFF)", January 3, 2001. The International
Biometric Industry Association (IBIA) is the Registration Authority for
CBEFF format owner and format type values for organizations and
vendors that require them.
The NIST Biometric Interoperability, Performance and Assurance
Working Group supports advancement of technically efficient and
compatible biometric technology solutions on a national and
international basis. It promotes and encourages exchange of
REPORT ON BIOMETRICS 7

information and collaborative efforts between users and private

industry in all things biometric. The Working Group consists of eighty-
five organizations representing biometric vendors, system
developers, information assurance organizations, commercial end
users, universities, government agencies, national labs and industry
organizations. The Working Group is currently addressing
development of a simple testing methodology for biometric systems
as well as addressing issues on biometric assurance. In addition, the
Working Group is addressing the utilization of biometric data in smart
card applications by developing a smart card format compliant to the
Common Biometric Exchange File Format (CBEFF).

Characteristics of biometrics
Biometric technologies should be considered and evaluated giving full
consideration to the following characteristics:

 Universality: Every person should have the characteristic.

People who are mute or without a fingerprint 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.

 Collectibility: The characteristics must be easily collectible and

measurable.
REPORT ON BIOMETRICS 8

 Performance: The method must deliver accurate results under

varied environmental circumstances.

 Acceptability: The general public must accept the sample

collection routines. Non-intrusive methods are more acceptable.

 Circumvention: The technology should be difficult to deceive.

The following factors are needed to have a successful biometric

identification method:

• The physical characteristic should not change over the course

of the person's lifetime
• The physical characteristic must identify the individual person
uniquely
• The physical characteristic needs to be easily scanned or read
in the field, preferably with inexpensive equipment, with an
immediate result
• The data must be easily checked against the actual person in a
simple, automated way.

Other characteristics that may be helpful in creating a successful

biometric identification scheme are:

• Ease of use by individuals and system operators

• The willing (or knowing) participation of the subject is not
required
• Uses legacy data (such as face recognition or voice analysis).
REPORT ON BIOMETRICS 9

BIOMETRIC IDENTIFICATION SYSTEMS

Biometric identification systems can be grouped based on the main
physical characteristic that lends itself to biometric
identification:-

FINGERPRINT

Fingerprint ridges are formed in the womb; you have fingerprints by

the fourth month of fetal development. Once formed, fingerprint
ridges are like a picture on the surface of a balloon. As the
person ages, the fingers get do get larger. However, the
relationship between the ridges stays the same, just like the
picture on a balloon is still recognizable as the balloon is
inflated.

The patterns of friction ridges and valleys on an individual's

fingertips are unique to that individual. For decades, law
enforcement has been classifying and determining identity by
matching key points of ridge endings and bifurcations.
Fingerprints are unique for each finger of a person including
identical twins. One of the most commercially available
biometric technologies, fingerprint recognition devices for
desktop and laptop access are now widely available from many
different vendors at a low cost. With these devices, users no
longer need to type passwords - instead, only a touch provides
instant access. Fingerprint systems can also be used in
identification mode. Several states check fingerprints for new
applicants to social services benefits to ensure recipients do
not fraudulently obtain benefits under fake names. New York
State has over 900,000 people enrolled in such a system.

Hand geometry

Hand geometry is the measurement and comparison of the different

REPORT ON BIOMETRICS 10

physical characteristics of the hand. Although hand geometry does

not have the same degree of permanence or individuality as some
other characteristics, it is still a popular means of biometric
authentication.

Hand and Finger Geometry

These methods of personal authentication are well established. Hand

recognition has been available for over twenty years. To achieve
personal authentication, a system may measure either physical
characteristics of the fingers or the hands. These include length,
width, thickness and surface area of the hand. One interesting
characteristic is that some systems require a small biometric sample
(a few bytes). Hand geometry has gained acceptance in a range of
applications. It can frequently be found in physical access control in
commercial and residential applications, in time and attendance
systems and in general personal authentication applications.

Palm Vein Authentication

This system uses an infrared beam to penetrate the users hand as it

is waved over the system; the veins within the palm of the user are
returned as black lines. Palm vein authentication has a high level of
authentication accuracy due to the complexity of vein patterns of the
palm. Because the palm vein patterns are internal to the body, this
would be a difficult system to counterfeit. Also, the system is
contactless and therefore hygienic for use in public areas.

Retina scan

A retina scan provides an analysis of the capillary blood vessels

located in the back of the eye; the pattern remains the same
throughout life. A scan uses a low-intensity light to take an image of
REPORT ON BIOMETRICS 11

the pattern formed by the blood vessels. Retina scans were first
suggested in the 1930's.

Iris scan

An iris scan provides an analysis of the rings, furrows and freckles in the
colored ring that surrounds the pupil of the eye. More than 200 points are
used for comparison. Iris scans were proposed in 1936, but it was not
until the early 1990's that algorithms for iris recognition were created
(and patented). All current iris recognition systems use these basic
patents, held by Iridian Technologies.

This recognition method uses the iris of the eye which is the colored area
that surrounds the pupil. Iris patterns are thought unique. The iris patterns
are obtained through a video-based image acquisition system. Iris
scanning devices have been used in personal authentication applications
for several years. Systems based on iris recognition have substantially
decreased in price and this trend is expected to continue. The technology
works well in both verification and identification modes (in systems
performing one-to-many searches in a database). Current systems can be
used even in the presence of eyeglasses and contact lenses. The
technology is not intrusive. It does not require physical contact with a
scanner. Iris recognition has been demonstrated to work with individuals
from different ethnic groups and nationalities.

Face recognition

Facial characteristics (the size and shape of facial characteristics, and their
relationship to each other). Although this method is the one that human
beings have always used with each other, it is not easy to automate it.
Typically, this method uses relative distances between common landmarks
on the face to generate a unique "faceprint."

The identification of a person by their facial image can be done in a number

of different ways such as by capturing an image of the face in the visible
REPORT ON BIOMETRICS 12

spectrum using an inexpensive camera or by using the infrared patterns of

facial heat emission. Facial recognition in visible light typically model key
features from the central portion of a facial image. Using a wide assortment
of cameras, the visible light systems extract features from the captured
image(s) that do not change over time while avoiding superficial features
such as facial expressions or hair. Several approaches to modeling facial
images in the visible spectrum are Principal Component Analysis, Local
Feature Analysis, neural networks, elastic graph theory, and multi-resolution
analysis.

Some of the challenges of facial recognition in the visual spectrum

include reducing the impact of variable lighting and detecting a mask
or photograph. Some facial recognition systems may require a
stationary or posed user in order to capture the image, though many
systems use a real-time process to detect a person's head and locate
the face automatically. Major benefits of facial recognition are that it is
non-intrusive, hands-free, continuous and accepted by most users.

Signature Verification:

Although the way you sign your name does change over time, and
can be consciously changed to some extent, it provides a basic
means of identification.

This technology uses the dynamic analysis of a signature to

authenticate a person. The technology is based on measuring speed,
pressure and angle used by the person when a signature is
produced. One focus for this technology has been e-business
applications and other applications where signature is an accepted
method of personal authentication.

Speaker Recognition:

The analysis of the pitch, tone, cadence and frequency of a person's

voice.
REPORT ON BIOMETRICS 13

Speaker recognition has a history dating back some four decades,

where the output of several analog filters were averaged over time for
matching. Speaker recognition uses the acoustic features of speech
that have been found to differ between individuals. These acoustic
patterns reflect both anatomy (e.g., size and shape of the throat and
mouth) and learned behavioral patterns (e.g., voice pitch, speaking
style). This incorporation of learned patterns into the voice templates
(the latter called "voiceprints") has earned speaker recognition its
classification as a "behavioral biometric." Speaker recognition
systems employ three styles of spoken input: text-dependent, text-
prompted and textindependent. Most speaker verification applications
use text-dependent input, which involves selection and enrollment of
one or more voice passwords. Text-prompted input is used whenever
there is concern of imposters. The various technologies used to
process and store voiceprints includes hidden Markov models,
pattern matching algorithms, neural networks, matrix representation
and decision trees. Some systems also use "anti-speaker"
techniques, such as cohort models, and world models.
Ambient noise levels can impede both collection of the initial and
subsequent voice samples. Performance degradation can result from
changes in behavioral attributes of the voice and from enrollment
using one telephone and verification on another telephone. Voice
changes due to aging also need to be addressed by recognition
systems. Many companies market speaker recognition engines, often
as part of large voice processing, control and switching systems.
Capture of the biometric is seen as non-invasive. The technology
needs little additional hardware by using existing microphones and
voice-transmission technology allowing recognition over long
distances via ordinary telephones (wire line or wireless).

Biometric authentication: what method works best?

There does not appear to be any one method of biometric data

gathering and reading that does the "best" job of ensuring secure
authentication. Each of the different methods of biometric
REPORT ON BIOMETRICS 14

identification have something to recommend them. Some are less

invasive, some can be done without the knowledge of the subject,
some are very difficult to fake.

• Face recognition
Of the various biometric identification methods, face recognition
is one of the most flexible, working even when the subject is
unaware of being scanned. It also shows promise as a way to
search through masses of people who spent only seconds in
front of a "scanner" - that is, an ordinary digital camera.
Face recognition systems work by systematically analyzing
specific features that are common to everyone's face - the
distance between the eyes, width of the nose, position of
cheekbones, jaw line, chin and so forth. These numerical
quantities are then combined in a single code that uniquely
identifies each person.

• Fingerprint identification
Fingerprints remain constant throughout life. In over 140 years
of fingerprint comparison worldwide, no two fingerprints have
ever been found to be alike, not even those of identical twins.
Good fingerprint scanners have been installed in PDAs like the
iPaq Pocket PC; so scanner technology is also easy. Might not
work in industrial applications since it requires clean hands.
Fingerprint identification involves comparing the pattern of
ridges and furrows on the fingertips, as well as the minutiae
points (ridge characteristics that occur when a ridge splits into
two, or ends) of a specimen print with a database of prints on
file.

• Hand geometry biometrics

Hand geometry readers work in harsh environments, do not
require clean conditions, and forms a very small dataset. It is
REPORT ON BIOMETRICS 15

not regarded as an intrusive kind of test. It is often the

authentication method of choice in industrial environments.

• Retina scan
There is no known way to replicate a retina. As far as anyone
knows, the pattern of the blood vessels at the back of the eye is
unique and stays the same for a lifetime. However, it requires
about 15 seconds of careful concentration to take a good scan.
Retina scan remains a standard in military and government
installations.

• Iris scan
Like a retina scan, an iris scan also provides unique biometric
data that is very difficult to duplicate and remains the same for
a lifetime. The scan is similarly difficult to make (may be difficult
for children or the infirm). However, there are ways of encoding
the iris scan biometric data in a way that it can be carried
around securely in a "barcode" format. (See the SF in the News
article Biometric Identification Finally Gets Started for some
detailed information about how to perform an iris scan.)

• Signature
A signature is another example of biometric data that is easy to
gather and is not physically intrusive. Digitized signatures are
sometimes used, but usually have insufficient resolution to
ensure authentication.

• Voice analysis
Like face recognition, voice biometrics provide a way to
authenticate identity without the subject's knowledge. It is
REPORT ON BIOMETRICS 16

easier to fake (using a tape recording); it is not possible to fool

an analyst by imitating another person's voice.

Biometric data that does not change

Security personnel look for biometric data that does not change over
the course of your life; that is, they look for physical characteristics
that stay constant and that are difficult to fake or change on purpose.
Most of us can remember when biometric security checks were the
stuff of science fiction or action movies like James Bond. However,
biometric identification is becoming commonplace as hardware and
software come down in price.
REPORT ON BIOMETRICS 17

History of biometrics

The term "biometrics" is derived from the Greek words bio (life) and metric
(to measure).

Biometrics is becoming an interesting topic now in regards to computer and

network security, however the ideas of biometrics have been around for
many years. Possibly the first known example of biometrics in practice was
a form of finger printing being used in China in the 14th century, as reported
by explorer Joao de Barros. He wrote that the Chinese merchants were
stamping children's palm prints and footprints on paper with ink to
distinguish the young children from one another. This is one of the earliest
known cases of biometrics in use and is still being used today.

In the 1890s, an anthropologist named Alphonse Bertillion sought to fix the

problem of identifying convicted criminals and turned biometrics into a
distinct field of study. He developed 'Bertillonage', a method of bodily
measurement whichgot named after him. The problem with identifying
repeated offenders was that the criminals often gave different aliases each
time they were arrested. Bertillion realized that even if names changed, even
if a person cut his hair or put on weight, certain elements of the body
remained fixed, such as the size of the skull or the length of their fingers. His
system was used by police authorities throughout the world, until it quickly
faded when it was discovered that some people shared the same
measurements and based on the measurements alone, two people could get
treated as one.

After this, the police used finger printing, which was developed by Richard
Edward Henry of Scotland Yard, instead. Essentially reverting to the same
methods used by the Chinese for years. However the idea of biometrics as a
field of study with usefull identification applications, was there and interest
in it has grown.
Today we have the technology to realise the aims, and to refine the accuracy
REPORT ON BIOMETRICS 18

of biometric identification, and therefore the possibility of making it a viable

field.

Advantages

Biometrics allows you to replace "what you have" and "what

you know" security adages with the all important "who you
are" byword, hence contibuting one of the most substial
benefits to the security arena.

Advantages of biometrics will help in your quest to curb the

"Why Biomterics" question. We have enlisted some of the
most sought after advantages of biometrics for you;

Advantages of Biometrics :

* Increase security - Provide a convenient and low-cost

additional tier of security.

* Reduce fraud by employing hard-to-forge technologies and

materials. For e.g. minimize the opportunity for ID fraud,
buddy punching.

* Eliminate problems caused by lost IDs or forgotten

passwords by using physiological attributes. For e.g. Prevent
unauthorized use of lost, stolen or "borrowed" ID cards.

* Reduce password administration costs.

* Replace hard-to-remember passwords which may be

shared or observed.

* Integrate a wide range of biometric solutions and

technologies, customer applications and databases into a
robust and scalable control solution for facility and network
access
REPORT ON BIOMETRICS 19

* Make it possible, automatically, to know WHO did WHAT,

WHERE and WHEN!

* Offer significant cost savings or increasing ROI in areas

such as Loss Prevention or Time & Attendance.

* Unequivocally link an individual to a transaction or event.

• Biometric identification can provide extremely accurate, secured

access to information; fingerprints, retinal and iris scans
produce absolutely unique data sets when done properly
• Current methods like password verification have many
problems (people write them down, they forget them, they make
up easy-to-hack passwords)
• Automated biometric identification can be done very rapidly and
uniformly, with a minimum of training
• Your identity can be verified without resort to documents that
may be stolen, lost or altered.

Disadvantages of biometric system

• The finger print of those people working in Chemical industries are
often affected. Therefore these companies should not use the finger
print mode of authentication.
• It is found that with age, the voice of a person differs. Also when the
person has flu or throat infection the voice changes or if there there
are too much noise in the environment this method maynot
authenticate correctly. Therefore this method of verification is not
workable all the time
REPORT ON BIOMETRICS 20

• For people affected with diabetes, the eyes get affected resulting in
differences.
• Biometrics is an expensive security solution.

The disadvantages are numerous however: criminals have been known to

remove fingers to open biometric locks, Biometrics requires a lot of data to
be kept on a person, these systems are not always reliable as human beings
change over time if you are ill; eyes puffy, voice hoarse or your fingers are
rough from laboring for example it maybe more difficult for the machinery
to identify you accurately. Every time you use Biometrics you are being
tracked by a database bringing up a range of privacy issues. The final
disadvantage is the expense and technical complexity of such systems.

Biometric security and business ethics

A variety of ethical concerns with biometric identification methods

have been registered by users:

• Some biometric identification methods are relatively intrusive

(like retina scans)
• The gathering of biometric information like fingerprints is
associated with criminal behavior in the minds of many people
• Traditionally, detailed biometric information has been gathered
by large institutions, like the military or police; people may feel a
loss of privacy or personal dignity
• People feel embarrassed when rejected by a public sensor
• Automated face recognition in public places could be used to
track everyone's movements without their knowledge or
consent.

Areas where biometric is being currently applied

• In making of identity cards, passport, driving license etc.
• In defense services.
• In secret services.(CBI, KGB, FBI, RAW etc)
• In police investigation.
• In computer systems and laptops.
• In nuclear research center.
REPORT ON BIOMETRICS 21

• In few R&D department.

• In ammunitions center.
• Number of companies has installed biometric security at
their workplace.
• In banking system.
• In some of the cars launched by many international
companies
• Fighter planes and submarines
• Registration of sale deed.

CHALLENGES
There are also many questions about how the biometric data will be
stored and used:

• How will masses of biometric data be stored? These are not

fingerprint cards stored in a secured building; this is easily
moved and duplicated electronic information. How will this
information be safeguarded?
• Who will have access to this information? Will companies be
allowed access to face biometrics, letting them use security
cameras to positively identify customers on a routine basis?
How would you feel about walking into a store you've never
been in before, only to be greeted by name by a sales
associate who has just read a summary of all of your recent
purchases?
• What if the stored is altered or tempered through any condition?

MAJOR PROBLEM BEFORE INSTALLATION OF BIOMETRICS

COST – it is the main hurdle, for instance, an iris recognition

module costs US$ 2000 and a fingerprint scan module costs US$
250. thus technology has to be made available for widespread
use.
REPORT ON BIOMETRICS 22

AWARENESS – A large number of people are not even aware

about the use and application of biometrics.

AVAIBILITY – Biometric devices and security system are not

easily available in different parts of the world.

PRIVACY – The technology should be non-invasive and non-

intrusive. For e.g. the iris recognition technique may reveal that
you are a drinker or a smoker or even worse a drug addict and you
may not want to reveal this………..thus people have to be
sensitized that only requisite information would be extracted from
their eyes.

FUTURE OF BIOMETRICS
The future is bright and sunny!!!!
A system that analyses body odour is under development.Each human smell
consists different amount of volatiles…In this system the sensors try to
obtain odour from non intrusive parts of the body like back of hand.
Currently DNA testing by latest methods takes atleast 10 minutes and ergo
it cannot be taken as a biometric tool,but it holds a great promise in the
future.

Ear shape is also considered to be unique and the technology involved is

currently under development.

Do you know that each human being has got a unique tongue print!!!!

How about sticking out your tongue in front of a machine at a public place
to identify yourself !!!!Now that is intrusive technology for you…..

CONCLUSION
REPORT ON BIOMETRICS 23

The science of biometrics although in it’s infancy is advancing rapidly. Just

as aeronautical engineering took decades to catch up with Wright Brothers,
we hope to eventually catch up with thousands of system users who are
successfully using these devices in a wide variety of applications.
The goal is to provide a more secure working environment in a cost effective
and user friendly way….

SOME OF THE BIOMETRIC SECURITY SYSTEMS BEING USED

DOMESTICALLY