Biometrics
Overview:
Biometrics are technologies that automatically confirm
the identity of people by comparing patterns of
physical or behavioural characteristics in real
time against enrolled computer records of those
patterns. Leading biometric technologies accomplish
this task by scanning patterns of the face, fingerprint,
hand, iris, palm, signature, skin, or voice.
Biometrics are far
superior to other common means of confirming identity,
such as tokens (something one possesses) or passwords
(something one knows). Tokens (drivers' licenses,
for example) and passwords (Social Security numbers,
for example) cannot ensure positive identification
of a person. Tokens are routinely counterfeited
and stolen. Passwords are routinely forgotten, left
in plain sight, and stolen. Unlike tokens or passwords,
biometric identifiers are inextricably linked to
persons themselves and therefore cannot be forgotten,
counterfeited, or stolen.
Biometrics help protect
privacy by erecting a barrier between personal data
and unauthorized access. Technically, biometric
capture devices create electronic digital templates
that are encrypted and stored and then compared
to encrypted templates derived from "live"
images in order to confirm the identity of a person.
The templates are generated from complex and proprietary
algorithms and are then encrypted using strong cryptographic
algorithms to secure and protect them from disclosure.
Thus, standing alone, biometric templates cannot
be reconstructed, decrypted, reverse-engineered,
or otherwise manipulated to reveal a person's identity.
In short, biometrics can be thought of as a very
secure key: Unless a biometric gate is unlocked
by using the right key, no one can gain access to
a person's identity.
Technologies:
-
Dermis / Skin
- Face
- Fingerprint
- Hand
- Iris
- Smart Cards
- Voice
- Integrated Biometric Solutions
