The A to Z of biometrics

Fingerprint, iris, palm, gait and keystroke - we've got the lot...

By Steve Ranger, 20 July 2006 13:25

NEWS

Signature verification

Rather than simply measure whether a signature is similar to a copy held on file, this measures variables such as the speed, pressure and angle used by the pen when writing. These are unique to each individual. This means it can't be faked in the same way that a normal written signature can be.

The list from A to Z

Click on the links below to find out more on each of the entries in the list.

A is for Accuracy
B is for Behavioural biometric
C is for Cash machine
D is for Database
E is for Ear
F is for Facial recognition
G is for Gummi bears
H is for Hand geometry
I is for Iris
J is for Juan Vucetich
K is for Keystroke dynamics
L is for Liveness testing
M is for Mobile phones
N is for Network security
O is for Oxford
P is for Palm
Q is for Queues
R is for Registration
S is for Signature verification
T is for Twins
U is for Universality
V is for Voice verification
W is for Walk
X is for X-ray
Y is for Young
Z is for Zurich Airport

One benefit of such a system is it can be integrated into existing digital signature systems (such as those in retailers) and most people are happy to sign for something. But people do tend to change their signature over time, which can make it harder to get a match.

Comments

There are 3 comments. Join the discussion

  1. 1. Karen Challinor

    It would be interesting to know which of these have published positive and negative failure rates

  2. 2. Mike Murray

    Biometric Access Protection Devices and their Programs Put to the Test

    http://www.heise.de/ct/english/02/11/114/

  3. 3. Martin George

    Iris recognition has actually been around for more than 20 years - a key patent "Flom and Safir" expired in Feb 2006. This has opened to door to commercial competition. Companies like ours are opening up the market with low cost camera devices, and low cost business models for algorithm deployment on devices and on server farms, where large scale cross-matching must take place for ID applications like Cards and Border Control.

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