Biometrics in Computer Science

Running Head : Biometrics

Biometrics

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Biometrics

Biometrics is a combination of two words . Bio means life and metry means something to measure . Biometrics is defined as the statistical measurement of biological observations . It means using the body as a password . Biometric technologies are used to verify person by using physical characteristics and personal traits . Biometric identification systems provide a computer system that allows authorized users to log The system has many advantages as compared with systems that provide passwords

Biometric devices and

applications have been growing worldwide . They are expected to be the way for accessing personal computer systems According to research it is expected that biometric expenditure will reach 300 million in 2008 . Biometrics works on the principle that everyone in the world is different . This uniqueness can be used for computer security and identity verification (Blackburn , 2001

A person is first registered on the biometric system . The unique characteristics of the individual are accomplished by the biometric system . A mathematical algorithm converts these personal characteristics into digital representation . This digital representation is a pro and used to compare when the person authenticates . A biometric measurement is used for authentication . Real time biometric measurement is used to compare with the stored pro of the registered user Authentication is based simply on the process that a match will allow the user to access the system . If the match fails than the user cannot access the system . System administrators can set the strictness of the biometric identification system depending upon the nature of the organization . Organizations like banks , government facilities , airports etc will have a strict biometric identification system (Blackburn 2001

Fingerprints , face , iris , voice , signature and hand geometry are the most common implemented biometrics . Other modalities are being researched and developed . There is no best biometric technology . A variety of factors are taken into consideration when implementing a biometric system . Each system has its own set of security risks Location , how critical data is and numbers of users are some of the factors which are taken into consideration when implementing a biometric system . Sensors are used to collect biometrics . Data is collected by sensors for recognition and converted into digital form . Digital cameras and telephones are examples of sensors which are used to collect biometrics . A biometric template consists of digital data which is collected by sensors from biometric samples . They are compared in a biometric identification system

Several factors have inhibited the growth of biometric technologies . The huge cost of implementing them is one of the major factors that have hindered the growth of biometric technologies . However as hardware and software prices fall it is believed that the cost of biometric technologies will continue to fall . Newer biometric identification systems are more accurate and secure than previous systems . The internet has also pushed the growth of biometric identification systems E-commerce websites have been implanting biometric identification systems to allow secure access and protect their consumers from fraud and theft of confidential information (Blackburn , 2001...