By Dr Risco Mutelo
There are two types of biometrics, physiological and behavioral. Each type of biometrics has its advantages and disadvantages. This article will focuses of physiological biometrics. Physiological biometrics measure a specific part of the structure or shape of a portion of a human’s body. The types of physiological biometrics include:
Fingerprint recognition is probably the oldest and best known form of biometrics. Fingerprint recognition uses the patterns of the ridges and valleys (minutiae) found on the surface tips of a human finger. You can find them built in to laptop computers, USB drives and even credit cards.
Hand Geometry Recognition uses the geometry of the entire human hand which is unique. Hand geometry does not measure the fingerprint-like patterns in the fingers and palms, but instead relies on the lengths and angles of fingers, the geometry of the entire collection of 27 bones, plus muscles, ligaments and other tissues.
Vein Recognition is a very new form of biometrics, which uses infrared photography to capture the blood vessels in the human hand or finger. By shining a bright light through your hand, you can see an interesting pattern of veins and also the bones and other elements in your hand.
Iris Recognition relies on a unique complex thin, circular structure in the eye, responsible for controlling the diameter and size of the pupils and thus the amount of light reaching the retina. “Eye colour” is the colour of the iris, which can be green, blue, or brown.
Retina recognition is based on the complex structure of the capillaries that supply the retina with blood. The network of blood vessels in the retina is so complex and unique and its patterns can be used for recognition. The retina is the surface at the rear of the interior of the eye.
Face recognition is used by humans almost from birth. How humans recognize faces is better understood that we can teach computers how to do it under certain conditions, even two twins that the human eye cannot tell apart.
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.