Biometrics

Group 3A

Joel Amaro, Tina, Mark, Jarrod

Key Words: fingerprint identification, genetic algorythm

By definition, biometrics is the study of technologies used to recognize and analyze humans based on certain biological characteristics. Biometrics can use either physical or behavioral characteristics to identify people with methods that have been around for hundreds of years. Biometric systems have now evolved into a very detailed and computerized process. Within the department of information technology, biometrics is used for human authentication purposes. The physical characteristics used for analysis include facial structure, retinas, irises, fingerprints, hand sizes, or palm veins. The behavioral characteristics vary greatly because many components compose the individuality of a human. One behavioral characteristic is voice recognition, which is used to analyze patterns of pitch and vibration. Also, a person can be identified by keystroke patterns and speed or by his signature in writing. Depending on how these techniques are analyzed, many could be considered either physical or behavioral characteristics. The future of biometric techniques will use fingernail, ear shape, body odor, or even DNA biometrics as identifiers for what is hopefully a cheaper and more convenient method of classification (NewsPortal, 2006, p.1). The information can then be stored on databases to catalogue the identity of any human who has come across the network. Every citizen in the country eventually could be catalogued in government records, not just criminals.

Biometrics seems like a new concept, but it has been used for hundreds of years to record and identify people. In 14^th century Chinese culture, merchants used ink to copy footprints onto paper as a method to distinguish between children. However, in western culture, biometrics did not appear until the 19^th century when criminals were identified by the precise measurements of their feet, head, and hands (Wikipedia, 2006, p.1). This practice evolved into the modern day fingerprinting system used by police forces today. The ink and stain days are over now, making way for the future of biometric technology to improve the current systems of identification by making them faster, easier, and more precise. For example, modern fingerprint biometric systems use digital analysis of a person’s fingers to create a code known as a genetic algorithm within a computer. The information is then stored in a database where it can later be retrieved to identify anyone who has scanned their fingers into the system.

Modern society is being built on an internet infrastructure and computers can help anyone in their day to day life. Unfortunately, modern technology has yielded way to the new era of computer crime in the form of identity and property theft via the internet. The newer methods of biometrics, including fingerprint or retina scanning to gain access to a personal computer, have started to solve that problem. Hopefully, with better software development, these more scientific forms of identification and verification will eliminate the need for passwords and codes on computer systems. This technology has the potential to benefit any business on a corporate level or individual at a personal level. Biometrics can have immediate impact on every day life. Cheaper, more reliable means of identification could solve all kinds of problems in the modern era including identity-theft, airport security, and immigration control.

Although the potential benefits of biometrics seem to be endless, society has already expressed many concerns with implementing some of these new technologies. Whether it is a retina scan or a credit card, personal information can still be stolen out of a computer database. If human body parts become associated with valuable personal or corporate information, then they could be desired by criminals looking to make a quick profit. Stealing an eyeball seems ludacrous, but high rewards come at a high price.

These concerns have not affected everyone, however, and many corporations and organizations are already investing money in these products. Disney World, for example, takes biometric measurements of its customer’s fingers when they enter the theme park. The measurements are stored and the theme park admission centers match the entrant’s measurements to those on the card to ensure the same person uses the pass every time it is used at the park. In January 2005, all of the theme park passes used fingerprint scanning as the means of entrance to the park. Sea World, Universal Studios, and Paramount theme parks have already committed to do the same (Theme Parks, 2006, p.1). Other examples of recently incorporated biometric technologies in corporations include biometric passports. Biometric passports are already being used in some airports as a means of identification. Data can be stored on a computer chip within the passport itself. The chip includes more storage capacity then a paper passport allows. Immigration and border patrol could benefit from biometric passports as a solution to international paperwork problems. Also, many computer companies are starting to incorporate biometric technology into their laptop products as a form of authentication before logging on. Toshiba, Intel, and several other computer manufacturing companies have already committed to this wave of the future (Upek, 2006, p.1). Another product that could help corporations is a biometric time clock. Almost every business has to monitor the hours worked by at least some of its employees. A new biometric time clock provides many advantages to the conventional time clock. Management could use this tool to more precisely monitor and control the functions of a normal time clock. Additionally, the time clock could serve as a means of security by cataloguing everyone who has entered and left a building (Paypunch, 2006, p.1).

Mass production and implementaion of these new biometric products provides a convenient and different solution to some major problems that businesses and organazations are dealing with today. As the technologies are refined to ensure reliability for functional use in the near future, the market for these products will most likely grow. A means of collecting accurate information about a person and immediately connecting that information to a previously stored genetic algorithym within a computer database can be encorporated in many different circumstances to benefit an organization or government. Unfortunately, as with any new technology, there is a price to pay for the transition towards convenience. Biometrics could definitely begin to violate the privacy of the common citizen. The encorporation of these techniques can yield monetary benefit for corporations, which appears good in the short run. However, if the government can account for the location of every citizen at any time, then maybe we should reconsider the actual benefits of this new technology. Our right to privacy could eventually be a thing of the past.

References

1. http://www.biometricnewsportal.com/signature_biometrics.asp April 15, 2006

2. “Biometrics” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biometrics April 13, 2006

3. http://www.upek.com/news/press/04.10.06B.asp April 10, 2006

4. “Theme Parks and Your Privacy” http://www.epic.org/privacy/themepark/

October 12, 2005.

5. http://www.Paypunch.com April 15, 2006.