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Where Can You Find Information On Fingerprint Verification?
not your mother asks: "I work for a company that is interested in finding out more about fingerprint verification. I'm having no trouble finding companies that make fingerprint sensors, but it seems to be a bit more difficult to find unbiased descriptions of the technology (optical systems vs. capacitive vs. linear scanning systems, for example). Can anyone tell me where I can find more information on this topic?"
INS is doing a pilot of the hand geometry stuff, with only 45,000 people. They talk about how wonderful it is -- but what if you're one of the minority that it won't work for?
Does that mean they don't have to change it to work for you, or do they just pull the genetic discrimination tactic and inform you that you'll have to use the older, slower methods.
Once 99% of the population is using the fast, technologically advanced method, then there'll be a stigma associated with the genetic mutants that aren't able to use the new system.
Is the problem the system, the original assumptions, the process, inherited genetics?
Check out the book "Database Nation" from O'Reilly & Associates. ISBN: 0596001053
While a bit paranoid, it does cover several of the biometric techniques. In this book, I learned that retinal patterns change for women who are pregnant. Or that you could use regular retinal scans to detect pregnancy (and thus terminate employment to keep your insurance costs down).
I recall a criticism a few years ago for fingerprint scanners that about 10% of the population didn't have "moist" enough fingertips to render a good image on the scanner. That may have been fixed, but there is still a significant portion of the population that doesn't have fingerprints.
Biometrics is cool, but still maturing. I'd instead recommend something clunky like Secure ID cards, or AirLAN badges.