About Biometrics
Biometrics definition
Biometrics covers a variety of technologies in which unique identifiable attributes of people are used for identification and authentication. These include (but are not limited to) a person's fingerprint, iris print, hand, face, voice, gait or signature, which can be used to validate the identity of individuals seeking to control access to computers, airlines, databases and other areas which may need to be restricted. Biometrics is also a term used in statistics particularly in science, medicine and forestry (refer to the International Biometric Society), not related to biometric technology. It has been around for longer than biometrics for identity verification or recognition. In the mid to late 90s there was often confusion like this in the media when "biometrics" was used by the security and the pharmaceutical/medical world.
Areas where biometrics are being used
Biometrics can be used in almost any application that requires the accurate identification of an individual. This ranges from computers where a fingerprint scan on the mouse can verify the identity of a user to nuclear power plants where various biometrics are used to restrict access to the critical systems.
The Biometrics Institute can help organisations make an informed decision about the introduction of biometrics.
Please contact us when you are considering biometrics. Please also download this information sheet.
Members have access to an abundance of Biometrics related resources including research articles, government reports, white papers and vendor reports via our resource library.
Read related stories:
You want a drink? Give us your fingerprint, The Sun-Herald, 30 January 2011
Privacy Act does not cover pokie biometrics, ZD Net, 9 December 2010