By Dr Risco Mutelo
The previous articles focused on physiological biometrics. This article will focuses of behavioural biometrics. Behavioural biometrics is concerned with how humans do something, rather than just a static measurement of a specific body part. The types of physiological biometrics include: Handwriting recognition measure signatures in a number of different ways: Static image.
This is the oldest type of handwriting recognition where we compare a stored signature image with a new sample to see if they match. Arguably, with practice, the image of someone’s signature can be forged, although it’s extremely unlikely that the forger will create the signature the same way that the original person does, which leads to the next two forms of handwriting biometrics: – Signature dynamics. This measures either (a) the motion of the pen or (b) the dynamics of how the signature image itself is created. – Stylus or Pen pressure. This measures the dynamics of the downward force of the stylus on the writing surface while the signature is being made. Keystroke recognition is the rhythm of typing or keyboarding which is as unique as signature.
The precise timing of individual keystrokes is a product of the geometry of the hand, the tone of the muscles in the hands and forearms, as well as the brain’s ability to send out the right signals at the right time. Voice recognition is the product of physical characteristics, voice box, and the brain is in control of the linguistics of the voice. Biometric systems can have a user to speak his or her secret password or unique phrase into a microphone. Gait recognition is the unique pattern formed when a person walks. This can be vital for recognizing people at a distance by the way they walk. Have you ever seen someone in the distance and immediately known who it was, even without seeing that person’s face? If you have, there’s a good chance that you were subconsciously analyzing the person was moving and the movement itself was enough for you to determine who it was.
Dr Risco Mutelo is a Namibian who currently works for the Bank of America stationed in London where he studied Biometrics Engineering at New Castle University in the United Kingdom.