Biometrics are an integral part of many high security environments today, where security is a major concern. Some biometics systems are more sophisticated than others, with biometric readers that are able to take an image of a finger or hand to identify and store it. These biometics systems can be used as simple identification tools, such as finger scanners at security checkpoints, or can be used to issue smart cards that can be verified using biometrics. Biometics are also used in conjunction with fingerprint recognition technology. Many cash registers use biometrics to determine whether a customer’s finger matches the finger on their card, preventing fraud.
There are two types of biometrics – iris recognition fingerprint and facial recognition fingerprint. Iris recognition biometics uses an iris shape scanner to scan the eyes of the person for which a fingerprint is being read. A facial recognition system takes a photograph of the face and compares it with a database of faces. If the two match, the person will be given access.
Facial recognition biometics, however, does not have the same level of accuracy as iris recognition fingerprinting. Many experts believe that facial recognition systems are still too simplistic. They work by scanning a patient’s forehead and comparing it to a database of pre-recognized faces. However, recent software has been developed that reduces the amount of manual data entry necessary to achieve high-level biometrics accuracy.
Iris recognition iris scanning is achieved with the help of special computer hardware called biometric readers or biometrics readers. These devices have learned how to recognize individual iris blinks and the unique patterns between these blinks to detect a fingerprint. The information is then converted into a pattern that is uniquely represented by each fingerprint. Iris biometics using this technology is more accurate than iris recognition fingerprint scanning. Nevertheless, the level of accuracy can be improved by increasing the objectivity of the biometric information.
Biometric voice recognition, on the other hand, relies on recordings of people talking. This technology is most commonly used in the field of medicine and law enforcement. In such applications, the biometrics used are much more detailed than iris recognition, because law enforcement agents often face difficulties in recognizing suspects if their voices are closely related. This has made biometics voice recognition much more popular.
Fingerprint identification biometics is one of the most common biometics used today. Fingerprint identification biometics is based on a physical principle called the iris pattern. The iris pattern contains 365 distinct fingerprints which are formed by the action of a finger on an outer surface. Most biometics systems require the user to carefully and precisely strike an invisible mark on the surface with the finger that corresponds to the fingerprint of the subject. A biometric system that accurately identifies an individual using only his fingerprints will certainly satisfy many researchers and security professionals.
However, iris patterns cannot be copied or reproduced. There is no such thing as a ‘digital fingerprint’. In other words, there is no such thing as a digital footprint. Therefore, iris patterns cannot be extracted and used by biometics systems. If there are no fingerprints present in the patient’s iris pattern, then biometics cannot use biometrics based on hand geometry.
Fingerprint recognition biometics is also not as effective as iris pattern biometics in detecting criminal activities. A fingerprint of an individual who has been known to be criminal does not necessarily indicate that he is also a suspect for an armed robber. The fingerprints of habitual criminals may also prove to be ineffective in identification. This is why biometric systems must be used based on iris patterns only.