What are Biometric Devices?

Biometric devices are technologies used to automatically identify a person based on one or more of their physical attributes such as fingerprint, iris scan, facial scan. They are primarily used for security clearance purposes as a means of preventing people from accesing certain data or areas in organizations. The origins of biometrics can be traced back as early as 14th century China where fingerprinting was used to keep track of criminals.

Above photo: Fingerprint reader made by Kauri Security.
Used by employees to gain access to systems data.


For Biometic Deviced to be effective they need to have seven characteristics :


1)Universality: Every person must have the characteristics this biometric device measures.


2)Uniqueness: The characteristic must not be the same on any two people, such as a fingerprint.


3)Permanence: The characteristic should not change with time, such as Iris


4)Collectibility: The characteristic must be easy to measure and collect.


5)Performance: Results must be extremely accurate even under different environmental condiotions.


6)Acceptability: The method of data collection by the device must be accepted by the public, it cannot violate any rights.


7)Circumvention: The technology implemented should be difficult to fraud.

*The above seven characteristics are according to www.globalsecurity.org




Sources:

http://www.technovelgy.com/ct/Technology-Article.asp?ArtNum=10
http://www.globalsecurity.org/security/systems/biometrics.htm
http://www.techpg.com/services/kauri/security_new.htm