All about biometrics

What is biometrics?

Let’s start by understanding the word “biometrics” first. Biometrics includes human characteristics or traits that can be used as identifiers to grant access and control to a specific group of humans. The technology has been gaining popularity since its inception and already appears poised to surpass manual access and control systems. Biometrics has a clear advantage over manual control systems, since its operation is always accurate and impartial, unlike the latter, which is prone to discrepancies.

The components:

A typical biometric system should contain an interface to help record data, storage, and software to compare inputs. The three components would be:

1. Sensor: The sensor is the interface that facilitates data recording and is the first point of contact for humans. There are different types of sensors that detect fingerprints, voiceprints, and other parameters that are crucial for these systems.

2. Storage: A computer can act as the storage where all the database and information are kept.

3. Software to match parameters: The software does the trick of comparing parameters and matching them to existing data.

Principle and operation of biometric systems:

Biometric systems work on the basic principle that each human being has unique physical characteristics such as fingerprints and iris structure, and behavioral characteristics such as voice structures. One or more of these parameters are registered with a suitable interface and then compiled to match existing records in the database. If the logged data matches the existing data then control is given to the user, otherwise not.

In short, it works in 3 stages:

Registration for the database:

Viable entries are recorded in the database to form a list of human beings who can be granted access to a certain function. This stage involves the recording of essential information that can act as an identifier when a person requests permission to access.

Storage:

All recorded data is stored for the purpose of collecting and comparing it with incoming data requesting access to the system.

Pareo:

This is the final stage where existing records are compared to a new entry requesting access. If the data matches, the request is granted.

These are the 3 stages of operation of a biometric system. Let’s take a look at the advantages of biometric systems.

Advantages of biometric systems:

1. They are more accurate, technically flawless.

2. Its operation is much faster compared to manual systems.

3. These systems can handle thousands of useful inputs and work with them.

Given their advantages, biometric systems are in high demand in corporate offices, hospitals, schools, workplaces, and other places where there are a number of humans trying to access control and functions. Today, there are biometric assistance systems, biometric access systems, and biometric security systems that are quite useful in different organizations.