What Kinds Of Biometric Identification Are Available Today?

In order to gain control over the fraudulent identity proofs, the government strived for years to find a full-proof and reliable identity proof. The advanced technology played a major role in finding a solution to this. The photo identification cards are outdated now. Since, the technology has replaced the ‘easy to corrupt’ - identity cards with the Biometric Identification System which is unique for each individual. 

Most of the corporates today have already employed a biometric identification system for the unique identification of the employees in order to mark their attendance. The fingerprint sensors are the most commonly biometric identification used by these organisations. However, the biometric identification is not just limited to fingerprint sensors but it includes a variety of identificators like retina scanning, face recognition, voice recognition, hand print patterns, and the most commonly practiced: fingerprint sensors.

Come, let’s take a deeper look in the various types of biometric identifications available today:

Fingerprint Scanner: A fingerprint sensor records the image of the scanned fingerprint using a a CMOS image sensor or uses a light-sensitive microchip (CCD, charge-coupled device) to produce a digital image. 

The recorded image is automatically analysed, just by selecting the fingerprint. Further, the image is converted into a code using a pattern-matching software. This is how a low budget fingerprint sensor works.

A sophisticated fingerprint sensor takes into account more precise details like the shape of the finger, the blood flow of the finger, size of the finger, etc. The costlier equipments take a 3D picture of the finger and do a thorough analysis.

Retina Scanners: Each person has a unique iris pattern which helps us recognize them. The retina has blood vessels in it which are more receptive to light and more easily absorb the light than the surrounding tissues. A retinal scan is performed by casting an unperceived beam of low-energy infrared light into a person's eye as they look through the scanner's eyepiece. The retina scanners store the unique information related to the iris of a person and work as biometric identifiers.

The Iris scanners are relatively more complex to use and are much more costlier than the fingerprint sensors. This is the reason why you will rarely find retina scanners used by corporates or other usual businesses using it as an identifier.

Face Recognition: As proven by science, each individual around the world has a uniquely distinct face. Even the twins that are not recognizable by a normal person can be differentiated by a Face recognizer.

The face recognizers take into account the ratio of the face in order to recognize the identity of an individual. When the face ratio of a person is calculated, not just the face cut of the person but the facial features of the person are also taken into consideration.

Voice Recognition: Just like our fingerprints, face ratio, and Iris pattern, even our voice patterns are unique. A naked human ear may not be able tell the slight differences in two individual’s voice or if someone is imitating someone’s voice but a voice recognition software can easily to do so. Well, it is rightly said the machines can do everything, an average human is not capable of doing.

An Analog to Digital Converter (ADC) is used to translate the analog waves of the voice to digital data by sampling the sound. A higher sampling and precision rate results in a higher quality digital data. The computer goes through several complex steps to convert a voice sound into an on-screen text. When a person speaks, he creates vibrations in the air.

Hand Print Patterns: A hand print pattern of each individual is unique. The reason why in most parts of the world thumb prints are considered for people who do not know how to read and write.

On placing your hand on a handprint scanner, you will notice that not just the pattern of your fingerprints but the shape and pattern of your complete hand is very unique. The hand print pattern considers every aspect of the hand for distinct identification. The identification patterns include the length and the width of the fingers and palm as a whole. Thus, making it one of the biometric identification options.

The above mentioned are the 5 kind of biometric identifications available today. If you believe that we have missed out on any of the biometric identification methods available today. Please share with us in the comments below.