Biometrics is any measure related to human characteristics, whether physical or behavioral. Technologies based on biometrics are used by companies or state agencies to verify people's identities in an automated way. In Brazil, biometrics has been used by the Electoral Court to identify voters on voting days.
There are some types of biometric identifiers, among which the fingerprint, the voice, the iris, the face and even the rhythm of typing. As each individual has unique biometric characteristics, the biometric recognition system is considered very safe and effective.
Due to its efficiency, biometrics has been widely used by companies, whether to control access to physical spaces or protect data. Many companies use, for example, the biometric electronic point in order to control the journey of their employees. In some corporations, access to certain rooms is only possible through biometric identification.
Biometric technology is also part of products that we use on a daily basis. Some smartphones have a facial recognition system to unlock the device. There is no need to enter any password or unlock pattern. The owner of the cell phone just looks at the screen and the recognition is done immediately.
O state it also makes use of biometrics to identify citizens in an automated way. Police have used biometric data (fingerprints) to identify criminals for many years. But biometrics is used for many other purposes, such as border control and authentication for passport issuance.
Since 2008, the Electoral Justice of Brazil uses biometrics in elections. The process involves biometric registration at the electoral registers and subsequent recognition of voters' fingerprints on voting days. The aim is to prevent fraud and make the voting process even faster.
Main types of biometrics
Fingerprints
A very old type of biometrics, fingerprint identification is widely used and very secure. This system is based on the design that form the papillae (small bumps) on our fingertips. Some banks use the fingerprint biometric system in their ATMs.
Facial recognition
This type of biometrics has a technology capable of "scanning" points on the human face, identifying fixed features of the face (such as the distance between the eyes, the shape of the apple or the shape of the nose). This data is stored and serves as a template for identification. Some smartphones rely on this technology to unlock the device.
iris recognition
The colored muscle tissue in our eyes (called the iris) is unique to each person and does not change over the years. Iris recognition systems rely on specialized machines for capturing images. These images are treated, stored and later compared with other images in order to make identification. There are smartphones that read the iris.
hand geometry
The recognition system based on hand geometry depends on the use of cameras and scanners and if based on features such as finger width and length, as well as the perimeter and area of the hand. This type of biometrics is widely used in the control of restricted areas.
Behavioral characteristics
This type of biometrics has to do not with a person's physical characteristics, but with their unique way of behaving. A classic example of behavioral biometrics is written signature, whose proper recognition is essential to confirm the authenticity of documents, for example.
O voice recognition is another widely used type of behavioral biometrics. Biometric systems that use the voice rely on a widely used resource: the microphone. Once the voice is captured, this information is stored in the database. Further identification is based on voice characteristics, such as timbre and vocal range. This technique is used in online transactions and smartphones.
Another type of behavioral biometrics is typing dynamics. It is assumed that each individual has their own way of using the computer keyboard. The system is able to capture this pattern and use it to verify the identity of the person who is typing.
See too:
- Definition of Technology
- Definition of Information Technology