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What is Biometrics?
What is fingerprint recognition?
What is the difference between fingerprints and fingerscans?
What are fingerprints and fingerscans used for?
What is Biometrics?
"Biometrics looks at the process of using a characteristic of the body as a method to code or scramble/descramble data". (Naik, J & P, Brode, 1990). Physical characteristics such as fingerprints, retinas and irises, palm prints, facial structure, and voice recognition are just some of the many methods of biometric encryption being researched today. Since these characteristics are unique to each individual, biometrics are seen as the answer to combat theft and fraud, particularly when dealing with commerce over the internet. The reason that this new technology is believed to be superior to the use of passwords or personal identification numbers (PINs) is that a biometric trait cannot be lost, stolen, or recreated.
What is fingerprint recognition?
Fingerprint biometrics is probably the most common form of biometrics available today. This form of data encryption has evolved out of the use of fingerprints for identification purposes over the last several decades. By having an individual scan their fingerprint electronically to decode information, the transmitter of the data can be certain that the intended recipient is the receiver of the data. When scanned electronically, fingerprints provide a higher level of detail and accuracy over manual systems.
What is the difference between fingerprints and fingerscans?
Fingerprinting, as the name suggests, is the acquisition and storage of the image of the fingerprint. Fingerprinting was for decades the common ink-and-roll procedure, used when booking suspects or conducting criminal investigations. More advanced optical or non-contact fingerprinting systems (known as live-scan), which normally utilize prints from several fingers, are currently the standard for forensic usage. They require 250kb per finger for a high-quality image. Fingerscan technology also acquires the fingerprint, but doesn't store the full image. It stores particular data about the fingerprint in a much smaller template, requiring from 250-1000 bytes. After the data is extracted, the fingerprint is not stored. Significantly, the full fingerprint cannot be reconstructed from the fingerscan template.
What are fingerprints and fingerscans used for?
Fingerprints are used in forensic applications: large scale, one-to-many searches on databases of up to millions of fingerprints. These searches can be done within only a few hours, a tribute to the computational power of AFIS. AFIS (Automated Fingerprint Identification Systems) is a term applied to large scale, one-to-many searches. Although finger-scan technology can be used in AFIS on 100,000 person databases, it is much more frequently used for one-to-one verification within 1-3 seconds.
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Toronto, Canada (Nov 24, 2004) Safeward Inc. teams with C.C. Inc. to deliver Secure Wireless Biometric Access Solutions.
