| Biometric technology involves using personal | | | | are in place. There is a sensor in place that reads the |
| characteristics of individuals that are so unique it is | | | | particular characteristic or characteristics used for |
| almost impossible to copy them. There are two areas | | | | identification purposes. The feature is extracted, |
| of biometric technology that are used for the | | | | read, and compared with the information stored in |
| purpose of security and identifying individuals. They | | | | the system. The match is either confirmed and the |
| are physiological traits and behaviors. Physiological | | | | person is given access or the match is denied. |
| traits include fingerprints, face recognition, hand prints, | | | | For any biometric technology system to be effective |
| finger prints, and identifying the iris of the eyes. | | | | it has to be able to successfully complete three |
| Behaviors include handwriting and voice patterns. | | | | functions: verifying information, reading identification, |
| To determine if a characteristic is unique enough to | | | | and successfully screening individuals. Careful testing |
| be used in biometric technology, it has to pass | | | | and monitoring of biometric systems is done on a |
| several tests. First, the characteristic must be | | | | routine basis. It is vital that they system is not |
| universal - meaning it has to be found in each and | | | | allowing non-matching individuals into the secure areas. |
| every person regardless of their race or gender. The | | | | While biometric technology offers many wonderful |
| level of uniqueness of the characteristic is carefully | | | | solutions for high security measures, it does have |
| studied and evaluated. Further studies have to ensure | | | | some pitfalls that need to be addressed. In the rare |
| that characteristic can't be copied or altered. There | | | | event that a fingerprint is stolen and accessed, what |
| also has to be testing to prove that the | | | | does that individual do? They aren't able to go |
| characteristic won't change on its own over time as | | | | change their fingerprint like someone can cancel or |
| the person ages. Some characteristics currently being | | | | change a password. As with any other type of |
| tested with biometric technology include ear | | | | technology, as more is learned it can be implemented. |
| recognition, hand veins, and the odor of the individual. | | | | However, you will always have those who continue |
| The process of accessing information or getting past | | | | to try to hack into such systems no matter how |
| security when biometric technology is involved is a | | | | complicated and well laid out they are. |
| relatively fast process as long as all the key factors | | | | |