The Benefits of Biometrics

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The Benefits of Biometrics

By definition Biometrics are automated methods of recognizing a person based on a physiological or behavioral characteristic (Campbell, 1995). More and more businesses are now using biometrics as a preferred measure over traditional methods involving passwords and PIN numbers for 2 reasons; The person being identified is required to be physically present at the point of identification; Identification based on biometrics techniques removes the need to remember a password or to carry other identification (Watrall, 10/14/03). The need for biometrics can be found in federal, state and local governments, in the military, and in commercial applications (Campbell, 1995). Enterprise-wide network security infrastructures, government IDs, secure electronic banking, investing and other financial transactions, retail sales, law enforcement, and health and social services are already benefiting from these technologies (Campbell, 1995).

Biometrics-based authentication applications include workstation, network, and domain access, single sign-on, application logon, data protection, remote access to resources, transaction security and Web security (Campbell, 1995). Utilized alone or integrated with other technologies such as smart cards, encryption keys and digital signatures, biometrics are set to pervade nearly all aspects of the economy and our daily lives (Campbell, 1995). Among the features measured are; face, fingerprints, hand geometry, iris, and voice (Campbell, 1995).

The oldest form of biometrics is fingerprint matching. The earliest record was recorded in 1856 (Watrall, 10/14/03). The finger has unique, immutable fingerprints that are made of serious of ...

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...iometrics is because irises are formed before birth and will not change through out your life (Watrall, 10/14/03). The whole process of the iris scan takes about two seconds, does not hurt, and glasses and contact do not interfere (Watrall, 10/14/03). Iris recognition is being used at ATM's in England, the US, Japan and Germany, at Airports for employee verification, and at prison's to monitor transfers and releases (Watrall, 10/14/03).

Biometrics will become a standard of everyday living in the future. These systems will start being used everywhere that privacy should be ensured. The funny thing about that is that it raises the question are we really being ensured privacy when we are being watched and scanned?

Works Cited:

1. Watrall, Ethan. Class Notes 10/14/03

2. Campbell, John, 1995. URL: www.biometrics.org/html/introduction.html

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