M2SYS Blog On Biometric Technology

All rights reserved by Doug Caldwell

Biometric identification technology is taking the world by storm.  Increasingly, governments and businesses are entrusting identification of individuals through biometrics for safety, security and efficiency because of the technology’s unique ability to rely on physiological characteristics (who you are) instead of barcode cards, personal identification numbers (what you have) or security questions (what you know).

For those who know or recently learned about biometric technology and are contemplating it for their own needs, there are many different biometric systems (the software that stores the information, identifies the individual and powers the hardware) and modalities (the hardware itself – fingerprint readers, finger vein readers, palm vein readers, iris readers, etc.) to consider before investing.  It is important to educate yourself on biometric functionality so the software and hardware that you invest in best suits your requirements.

Here are 5 questions and answers to review before you invest in biometric technology:

Question #1 – Will fingerprint biometrics work in all types of environments for all types of users?

Typically, when you hear the term “biometrics” most minds are drawn to fingerprint biometric technology.  Although fingerprint biometric technology is excellent and works well in many environments, it is not a one-size-fits-all solution and may present problems when used under certain conditions.  For example, if you are using biometric technology for time and attendance and your employees work with chemicals, abrasives, tools or machinery, their fingerprint integrity may be low and could present problems with fingerprint identification.  Cuts, bruises, scrapes, dirt, grime and grease can all have an effect on the ability to properly scan a fingerprint.

Perhaps  you live in a cold climate.  Did you know that climate can have an effect on the ability to properly capture a fingerprint?  Cold weather causes skin to dry up and this can also present problems capturing a quality scan on a fingerprint reader.

Age can also be a factor.  Research has shown that as we get older, our skin becomes more elastic.  Skin elasticity has a direct effect on fingerprint integrity so if your workforce or population using biometrics is older, you may want to think twice about using fingerprint technology.

Question #2 – What is “vascular” biometrics and how is it different from fingerprint technology?

Vascular biometric technology does not rely on fingerprints for identification purposes.  Rather, it relies on capturing an image of the vein pattern beneath the finger or skin and using that image as the basis for individual identification.  Unlike fingerprint technology, the integrity of the skin is not an issue with vascular biometrics.  By using near infrared light to capture a finger vein or palm vein pattern beneath the skin surface to identify an individual, vascular biometrics bypasses the need to have quality fingerprints in order to successfully use a biometric identification system for 100% of your population and allows end users to use biometrics in environments that otherwise are not conducive to fingerprint technology.

In addition, vascular biometrics is an affordable alternative to fingerprint technology and provides lower false reject rates.

Question #3 – Does investing in biometric technology require winning the lottery before I purchase a system?

One of the most common misunderstandings of biometric technology is that because it is perceived as a space aged technology that was once exclusive to Sci-Fi movies (see this list of movies), it costs way too much to be considered a practical solution for modern business deployments.

The truth is that biometrics is very affordable and even though it may be a slightly more expensive initial investment when stacked against other identification technologies (barcoding, PIN’s, etc.), the long term return on investment (ROI) generally trumps any other option.  It’s important to remember that investing in technology for any purpose should always be viewed through the prism of ROI – meaning, what you can achieve in the long term is usually more beneficial and should always be weighed more heavily than the short term.

Question #4 – Do biometric technologies violate an individual’s right to privacy?

There are many misconceptions about biometric technology swirling around in the news today that make it tough to discern the truth about whether or not using biometrics violates individual privacy.  The bottom line is that many of these stories circulating through mainstream media, grass roots organizations, watchdog groups and institutions designed to inform the public do not understand how biometric technology really works.  It’s unfortunate that these misconceptions are perpetuated by outlets that do not take the time to properly research biometric technology because it has a detrimental effect on the ability for biometrics to help businesses increase security, save money, cut down on resources consumed, boost productivity and improve efficiency (just to name a few).

I encourage you to visit this blog post we wrote last week that describes in detail how biometrics does not violate or jeopardize an individual’s privacy.

Question #5 – What are some good places to educate myself on biometrics and learn more about this technology before I make a purchase?

There are many viable biometric technology resources to educate yourself before deciding whether or not to purchase the hardware and software for their business.  Here are the names and links to a few:

• www.findBiometrics.com – considered one of the top Biometric Industry resources
• www.planetbiometrics.com – also an excellent Industry Resource with an international flair
• (Shameless self promotion) www.m2sys.com: Chock full of information, case studies and blog posts that cover the broad scope of biometric technology

Have you discovered other biometric resources that are helpful to learn more?  Please share them with us in the comments below.

If you have been living under the proverbial rock these past 1 ½ years and have not yet heard of the social media platform called Twitter, well then just skip this blog entry because it isn’t meant to be a tutorial on the benefits for your company on using the medium.  Instead, we at M2SYS would like to give a shout out to some of the most informative media outlets and industry analysts who tweet about biometrics.

Since we established our Twitter identity over a year ago, we have witnessed the explosion of the platform as a means to distribute information and share opinions on biometric news and technology from a wide variety of sources.  Although it can be tough at times to cut through the clutter and identify Tweeps (defined by urbandictionary.com as “A person with a mutual following on www.twitter.com) worth following that tweet about meaningful articles, commentaries, blog posts and other information that is relevant to biometrics, we managed to assemble a formidable group of key Tweeps that have demonstrated their prowess as folks who share quality information about biometric technology.

So here we go.  In no particular order, here are the top 5 biometric Tweeps hand picked from those we follow on Twitter:

1.       @heidishey – A Researcher with Forrester Research who specializes in “serving Tech Vendor strategists”, Heidi does an excellent job of scouring the Internet and her sources for interesting articles and links about biometric technology while offering her own insights and opinions.  One only has to read her tweets to get a sense of her intelligence, wit and passion for biometric technology.

2.       @findBIOMETRICS – Provides up to date, relevant information on biometric news around the world.  Reports on all aspects of biometrics including technology, mergers and acquisitions, industry events, legislation and government.

3.       @Biometric_Man – The Twitter account of Mark Lockie, who operates planetbiometrics.com and tweets about all aspects of the global biometric market including breaking  news, new technologies and expert industry insights.

4.       @BiometricNews – A newcomer to the Twitter universe, this is a great Tweep to follow for biometric news from all parts of the globe.  News topics range from government biometric deployments to biometrics in consumer products to opinions on the movement of the industry.

5.       @DHSJournal – This is the Twitter page of the Department of Homeland Security.  They don’t always tweet about biometrics but often will talk about the subject as it applies to deployment of the technology to secure America’s borders and other deployments within the U.S. Government.

How about you?  Who are some influential biometric Tweeps that you follow?  Please share them in the comments below.

Staying on top of the news in your field is hard work these days.  The Internet and other news sources have exploded with bloggers, pundits, sites and portals dedicated to covering every subject you could ever dream of.  With all of the information rushing at you and the seemingly thousands of choices available, how do you sift through the masses to find the news, research, opinion and commentaries that are the most relevant, balanced and fair for the subject matter that means the most to you?

Well, the truth is that everyone has their own opinion as to which resources are the most informative and personal preference of who to follow and what to read.  In the world of biometrics, here are some news sites, blogs and portals that we at M2SYS Technology like to read for up-to-date news and opinions:

News/Industry sites:

1.       findBiometrics – excellent resource for industry wide news, biometric applications and the products that serve the market, detailed biometric vendor information, interviews with key industry executives and much more.

2.       International Biometrics & Identification Association – trade association that provides a good background on biometric technology and industry news.

3.       The Biometric Consortium – strong resource for the pulse of biometric technology and its applications.  Also conducts a Conference each fall that brings together the world’s largest and most influential biometric technology providers.

4.       Planet Biometrics – A relatively new resource that covers biometric technology from a global perspective and offers coverage on a wide range of topics including applications, industry news and significant events and conferences.

5.       ThirdFactor – Well rounded biometrics news information site that includes videos and podcasts in addition to its comprehensive coverage of the industry.

Bloggers:

The truth is there are hardly any independent, non-biased individuals that blog about biometric technology.  Of the handful that does, here are a few we recommend:

1.       Ravi Das – Biometrics Security News and Information – His blog posts are lengthy, but Ravi knows the industry and he knows it well.  What we like about Ravi’s blog posts is that they are frequent, keep up with current biometric news and trends, and use real life examples of how biometric technology can and will change people’s lives.

2.       PrivacyDigest.com – Reports on a wide variety of technology and events around the world that impact individual privacy and civil liberties.  Occasionally reports on biometric technology and good to read from the perspective of understanding how misunderstood biometrics really is.

3.       Retail Technology Blog – Weblog focusing on technology applications in the retail sector. Covers Retail News, Research, Case Studies.  Topics covered include POS, Biometrics, Web 2.0, Store Systems, Multi-Channeling, Retailer News, Indian Retail, Wal-Mart, RFID, Supply chain etc.

4.       Ms. Smith – Privacy and Security Fanatic – Another blog that covers technology in the government and private enterprise and the effect it has on individual privacy.  Most of the bloggers opinions are a bit over the top but it’s an interesting blog to read and see firsthand how misunderstandings of technology can accentuate the spread of false information, rumors and ideas.

5.       M2SYS Technology – Have to give ourselves a plug here for the biometric blog content we provide which is dynamic and comprehensive.  We generate blog posts on biometric technology applications in several different vertical markets as well as explanations of commonly used biometric terms and quizzes on your knowledge of biometrics.  A must read!

We will have another blog post soon about who to follow on Twitter for up to date, informative and interesting tweets about the biometric industry.  Oh, and if you would like to follow M2SYS on Twitter, please click here for a link to our profile.

What biometric web and print resources do you use?  Which blogs do you follow?  Please share them with us in the comments section below.