Each of us has identifiable characteristics that make us unique and different. Many of these characteristics can be used as biometric identifiers, allowing technology to recognize individuals through traits. This blog will tackle biometric characteristics, their real-life applications, and their importance in the digital age.
What is biometric characteristics?
Biometric characteristics pertain to any distinct information attributed to an individual. Because they are inimitable, biometrics are commonly used to authenticate or verify an individual’s identity.
What are some examples of biometric characteristics?
Biometric Typically, biometric characteristics fall under two categories: physiological and behavioral. Here are some examples for each category:
Physiological Characteristics:
- Fingerprint. Unique patterns on the surface of fingertips.
- Facial features. Unique features of a person’s face, such as the distance between eyes, nose, and mouth.
- Iris pattern. Unique patterns in the iris of the eye.
- Retina pattern. Unique blood vessel patterns in the retina of the eye.
- Hand geometry. Unique hand measurements include the length, width, and thickness of fingers.
Behavioral Characteristics:
- Voice pattern. A person’s voice has unique characteristics, such as pitch, tone, and accent.
- Signature. The unique way a person signs their name, including pen pressure, speed, and stroke patterns.
- Keystroke dynamics: Unique rhythm and timing of a person’s typing pattern.
- Gait. The unique way a person walks, including stride length, pace, and arm swing.
Biometric characteristic vs biometric data
People sometimes use the terms biometric characteristics and biometric data interchangeably. While these terms are related, they are different in context.
Biometric characteristics: This refers to an individual’s unique and distinct physical and behavioral traits.
Biometric data: This, on the other hand, refers to the digitized version of biometric characteristics used for specific applications, specifically for storing, processing, or comparing these traits for identification or verification purposes.
What are the applications of biometric characteristics?
Biometric characteristics, when converted to their digitized form, help many industries, especially businesses and organizations that require secure identification. Here are some use cases for biometric characteristics:
1. Security and access control
- Border control. Biometric technologies can be used to verify travelers’ identities at border crossings, enhancing security and streamlining the process.
- Secure facility access. Buildings and facilities that only allow access to certain authorized personnel can leverage biometric characteristics to prohibit unauthorized entry.
- Mobile device security. Mobile phone manufacturers use biometric characteristics to provide secure authentication when users unlock their devices or complete personal transactions.
2. Financial transactions
- ATM transactions. Automated teller machines now use facial recognition and fingerprint scanning to authenticate the identity of a bank card user. This can help prevent fraud and enhance security.
- Online banking. Both online banking and its app counterparts can use biometric characteristics to help authenticate users who log in to an online banking account.
- Mobile payments. Biometric authentication can enable secure mobile payments, making transactions more convenient, private, and safe.
3. Law enforcement
- Criminal identification. Biometric databases can help identify criminals and suspects by comparing their biometric data (e.g., fingerprints, facial features) to stored records.
- Forensic investigations. Biometric analysis can be used to identify victims, perpetrators, and other individuals involved in criminal activities.
4. Healthcare
- Patient identification. Biometric authentication can ensure accurate patient identification, prevent medical errors, and improve patient care.
- Drug dispensing systems. Biometric systems can control access to medication, reducing the risk of medication errors and drug diversion.
5. Other applications
- Attendance systems. Many companies rely on biometric systems to keep track of their employees’ entry and exit within their premises, attendance or absentees, time in and time out, etc.
- Voter verification. A lot of countries have adopted biometric identification to prevent voter fraud and preserve election integrity.
- Voice commands. There are devices that can store an individual’s voice profile to ensure they are programmed only to receive commands from and perform tasks for people they recognize as their owners.
Pros and cons of biometric characteristics
Biometric characteristics have proven worthy in modern security, identification, and authentication. However, they still present some benefits and disadvantages, just like any other instruments for technological advancements. Here are some pros and cons of biometric characteristics.
Pros:
- High security. Biometric characteristics are unique to each individual, making them ideal for authenticating someone’s identity.
- User convenience. It’s easier for individuals to prove their identity when they use something with them all the time, such as their biometric characteristics, making the authentication process straightforward and convenient.
- Reduced fraud and identity theft. Since biometric characteristics are distinct to a person, they are difficult to imitate or forge.
- Increased efficiency. Biometric systems can increase efficiency by quickly authenticating users, streamlining processes, and automating authentication, ultimately improving overall productivity. Biometric systems can increase efficiency by quickly authenticating users, streamlining processes, and automating authentication, ultimately improving overall productivity.
Cons
- Privacy concerns. People have raised concerns about companies collecting biometric characteristics to be stored in their databases. They are worried that the collected data might be misused.
- Cost. Implementing a biometric system can be costly, especially for large-scale usage. Additionally, ongoing maintenance of biometric systems can also add to a company’s expenses.
- Potential for errors. Several factors might affect a biometric system’s efficiency and accuracy. These factors may cause false positives or negatives, causing them to fail when recognizing authorized users.
- Ethical considerations. Some groups have raised legitimate concerns about the ethics of using biometric characteristics, such as the need for clear consent and the potential for bias and discrimination in their design and implementation.
Conclusion
Biometric characteristics helped revolutionize some key aspects of identity authentication, especially in the digital age. These physiological and behavioral characteristics have helped many industries enforce security and fraud prevention. While biometric characteristics may have advantages and drawbacks, their continued development and careful implementation can balance convenience with privacy concerns, ensuring a more secure and efficient future.
