Biometric Technology

What is Biometric Technology?

Biometric verification is any means by which a person can be uniquely identified by evaluating one or more distinguishing biological traits. Examples include fingerprints, iris scanning, face and voice recognition or hand geometry. All of these biometric techniques are differentiated by speed, durability, reliability and cost effectiveness.

For time and attendance applications the two technologies that are widely in use today are fingerprint and hand geometry.

Fingerprint

Fingerprint identification is a method where impressions of the minute ridge formation and patterns found on the finger tips are used to identify the person. Fingerprint is one of the oldest and certainly the most widespread means of identification in use today.

Advantages

• Each person’s fingerprints are unique
• Fingerprints remain the same throughout a person’s life
• A large amount of research & development money has been invested to perfect Finger processing
• Non-intrusive. Placing one’s finger on a reader is neither frightening nor Disconcerting
• Ergonomically attractive
• Two level of verification using fingerprint only or PIN followed by fingerprint
• Low cost
• Two level of verification using fingerprint only or PIN followed by fingerprint

Disadvantages

• Less tolerant to cuts, dirt and wet fingers

Hand Geometry

A hand scanner is a device that measures the shape and size of a hand to obtain a template. The user puts his or her hand in a device and positions his or her fingers according to a set of pins on the device. A solid-state digital camera captures side and top views of the hand and compare it against a stored profile.

Advantages

• Non-intrusive. Placing one’s hand on a reader is neither frightening nor disconcerting.
• More tolerant to cuts, dirt or wet fingers.

Disadvantages

• Readers are relatively large.
• Readers are expensive.
• Only one level of verification using a PIN followed by placing hand on a scanner.

Which Technology is Right for You?

Each biometric technology has its own unique advantages, therefore, no one biometric technology fits all applications. In terms of accuracy both fingerprint and hand geometry are just as accurate.

The main difference between the two technologies is the hand scan can tolerate more than the fingerprint cuts and dirt. This is because the hand scan relies on the shape and size of the hand rather than the algorithms of the fingerprint.

The conclusion is for harsh environment , the hand scan is the ideal technology. Typical application for the hand scan are:

• Heavy Manufacturing
• Construction

However under normal environment the fingerprint is the only solution . Typical applications for the fingerprint are:

• Offices
• Warehouse
• Retail
• Nursing homes
• Hospital