Biometric Identification

Biometric Identification BIOMETRIC IDENTIFICATIONIntroductionThe escalating threat of global terrorism and narcoterrorism in the twenty-first century has generated considerable changes in the identification of suspected criminals. One of the technological highlights in this regard has been biometric identification. Biometrics refers to the science of identifying human being by analyzing biological traits or corporeal characteristics (Bolle, 2004). This paper describes the most widely-used forms of biometric identification and pre directs the advantages and disadvantages of each.Advantages and Disadvantages of Biometric Systems Biometric identification is an automated method used to recognize a person based on behavioral or physiologic characteristics (Tipton Krause, 2004). Behavioral characteristics include voice or handwriting. Physiological characteristics include fingerprint, iris, or hand geometry.1. Fingerprint analysis The most commonly known biometric system is a the finger print analysis (Bolle, 2004). The principle here is that each individuals set of fingerprints is unique. This method requires a user to place his or her finger onto a reader. The persons fingerprint is s targetned and sent to a database where it will be comp ard, identified, and verified. Fingerprint engineering science is widely used today in law enforcement, banking, and in merchandising. The biggest strength of this method is its high accuracy and low incidence of false acceptance and its low cost. However, fingerprint technology is said to have a high false rejection rate (where valid users are incorrectly rejected access). Sometimes, the technology does not recognize accurately in case of hand trauma, age, or disease.2. Hand geometry The hand geometry identification method is the entropy most commonly used biometric tool (Jain, Ross, Pradhakar, 2004). Basically, it analyzes finger length and the edge of a hand. Hand biometric requires a person to place his or her hand on t he device which has pegs to lay the hand on. When the hand is put properly in place, the device scans and checks the database for identification or verification. While the hand biometric device is easy to integrate, use, and can even work despite dirty hands, the technology is expensive, has low accuracy level, cannot read when hand is injured or has suffered from trauma, or when a person has arthritis.3. Retina technologyThe concept is that it is practically impossible to counterfeit a human retina. The scanner analyzes capillary vessels situate in the back of the eye. Retina biometrics requires the person to place his or her eye close to a scanner and as the device scans, to focus on a specific point plot being still (Jain, Ross, Pradhakar, 2004). The bidding takes 10-15 minutes. Retina technology has a very high accuracy rate. However, it is a sensitive process, expensive, and quite uncomfortable for those who wear glasses.4. Voice technology Voice biometrics analyzes the lea n or tone of a persons voice. Voice biometrics fall into two categories voice recognition and speech recognition. Voice recognition analyzes quality of the voice while speech recognition interprets what a person says (Jain, Ross, Pradhakar, 2004). The advantages of this system is that is it non-invasive and not susceptible to error due to a cold. However, its accuracy may be compromised with the presence of acoustics in the room and increased age.ConclusionBiometric identification includes methods such as fingerprint technology, hand geometry, retina analysis, and voice recognition. Although biometric identification is undeniably cutting edge technology, there are disadvantages present that is inherent with any modern technological systems.ReferencesBolle, R. (2004). Guide to biometrics. New York Springer.Jain, A. K., Ross, A., Prabhakar, S. (eds.) (2004). An introduction to biometric recognition. In IEEE Transactions on Circuits and Systems for Video Technology (14th ed.). New Yo rk Springer.Tipton, H. K. Krause, M. (eds.) (2004). entropy security management handbook. New York CRC Press.