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Over the last few years, biometrics has been gradually gaining prominence among the various security technologies, driven by access control applications. Biometrics is touted by some as the future of the security industry considering the fact that its coming up and is being recognized as one of the most accurate identification technologies in the market. As compared to traditional identification and verification methodologies, biometrics is more convenient for users, reduces fraud, and is more secure.

Biometrics are technologies that automatically confirm the identity of people by comparing patterns of physical or behavioral 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.

Not Just Thumb Scan
Contrary to popular belief biometrics is not just about finger print scanners and face recognition systems anymore. Some of the existing biometrics technologies, which have already found a foothold in the market in terms of applications are finger scan, facial recognition, hand scan, iris scan, voice recognition, signature verification, keystroke dynamics, retina scan, and multimodal. Among the emerging technology areas in biometrics that are gradually gaining momentum and finding niche applications are gait recognition, ear biometrics, olfactory recognition, skin biometrics, vein check, lip biometrics, nail biometrics and new hand biometrics.

Increasing Reach
Apart from security and law enforcement agencies, biometrics is slowly making its way into a milieu of authentication products for the enterprise. For instance, the usage of biometrics for access control is one of the key applications in the enterprise segment. Biometrics driven access control is also becoming common. Finger print technology based biometrics is used in laptops for secure access. Though starting off with high-end laptops, this feature will gradually become a default for even mid range to lower end laptops over the next few years.

An emerging area in biometrics security is e-commerce. It will also guard against unauthorized access to cars and cell phones. In the future, biometric technology will further develop 3-D infrared facial recognition access control, real-time facial recognition passive surveillance, and visitor management authentication systems. Personal computers of the future might include a fingerprint scanner. Access levels could include the ability to use credit card information to make electronic purchases.

According to a study conducted by Unisys, a whopping 70% of consumers worldwide support the use of biometrics administered by a trusted organization (eg, a bank, healthcare provider or government organization) as a way to verify an individuals identity. The Unisys research further found that 66% of consumers worldwide also favored biometrics as the ideal method to combat fraud and identity theft as compared to other methods like smart cards and tokens. Voice recognition emerged as the most favored authentication method, cited by 32% of respondents, followed by fingerprints with 27%.

Shipra Malhotra
shipram@cybermedia.co.in

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