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What Is Biometrics?
Biometrics is the science
of using digital technology to identify individuals based on the individual's
unique physical and biological qualities. Simply, biometrics is the technique of
verifying a person's identity from a physical characteristic (i.e., fingerprint,
hand print, face, scent, thermal image, or iris pattern), or personal trait
(voice pattern, handwriting, or acoustic signature).
The first modern
biometric device was introduced commercially over 20 years ago when a machine
that measured finger length was installed for a time-keeping application at
Shearson Hamil on Wall Street. There are now over 10,000 computer rooms, vaults,
research labs, day care centers, blood banks, ATMs, and military establishments
to which access is controlled using devices that scan an individual's unique
characteristics.
Biometrics
may be the best way to authenticate users. "The future is biometrics,"
said Joel Lisker, a former FBI agent who is currently a vice president in charge
of security and risk management for MasterCard International, Inc. MasterCard is
utilizing a hand scanner system and did consider voice recognition, face
recognition, and eye-scanning security systems.
Biometrics has been found to be the most reliable and accurate method of identification for security, time and attendance and access. It has proven to be the most cost effective and accurate way of gaining true identity.
In this age of DNA and biometrics, accuracy, not speculation is the only acceptable method of verification.
