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Biometric applications commonly in use:
- Fingerprint verification: There are a variety of
approaches to fingerprint application. Some emulate the
traditional police method of matching print detail while
others incorporate straight pattern matching devices. Still
others adopt more unique approaches such as fringe patterns
and ultrasonics. There is a greater variety of fingerprint
devices available, at this time, than any other biometric.
- Voice verification: An interesting technique that
concentrates on wall mounted readers or conventional telephone
headsets.
- Retinal & Iris scanning: Retinal scanning is
an established technology where the unique pattern of the
retina is scanned by a low intensity light source via an
optical coupler. Retinal scanning has proved to be quite
accurate in use but does require the user to look into a
receptacle and focus on a given point. Iris scanning is
a less intrusive means utilizing a fairly conventional CCD
camera with no intimate contact between user and reader.
- Signature verification: Signature verification
devices have proved to be reasonably accurate in operation
and lend themselves to applications where the signature
is an accepted identifier.
More sophisticated systems for extremely high levels of security
can incorporate pulse and body temperature into the authentication
process.
Biometric applications commonly lend themselves to many areas
of everyday life. Most of our leading banks have been experimenting
with biometrics for ATM use and as a general means of combating
credit card fraud; benefit payment agencies have relied on
biometrics to verify individuals claiming multiple or fraudulent
benefits; state and local agencies to verify drivers license
applications, unemployment claims, and voter eligibility;
multi application identification cards for the travel and
tourism industries as well as a safe guard for internet and
telephone transactions and immigration control.
How Biometrics Work: Before an individual's identity can
be verified via a biometric, a sample of the biometric must
be captured. The sample is referred to as a biometric template
and is the reference data against which subsequent samples
will be compared. The template is then filed with an identifying
number, such as a PIN, and stored for easy access. The verification
process requires the user to claim an identity and then verify
this claim by providing a live biometric to be compared against
the template. There will then be a match or no match and a
record of each transaction will be generated and stored. Some
systems automatically update the template with each valid
use. This allows for minor changes to the users live sample
as a result of ageing or other physical change and is a useful
feature when dealing with large user bases.
Once an individual's template association has been completed
and user identity verified, Seal-Tight Security, Inc. takes
the unique file and links it to a traditional security pass
code, thus converting keys, codes and credentials into one
simple biometric read. Files can be incorporated into new
or existing systems using a combined method of communication.
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