U3.1 Biometrics - Basics

U3.1 Biometrics - Basics

1. Automatic recognition of an individual based on either physiological features (fingerprint, hand geometry, iris pattern) or behavioural characteristics (voice prints, written signature).

2. Personal Identification

   • Verification
     • "Is the claimant the person he/she claims to be?
       • user claims an identity (entering a username) and presents their personal data (password or a fingerprint) to the system
         • system verifies the identity by comparing the data provided against a reference for the claimed identity stored in the system
           • known as a one-to-one comparison because the data provided by the user is compared against a single reference.
   • Identification
     • Is the claimant an enrolled user and who is he/she
       • user presents his/her personal data (smartcard/PIN orfingerprint) to the system
         • System compares his/ her data against a database of user references in order to find a match
           • system typically returns a name or an ID number
             • known as a one-to-many comparison because the data provided by the user is compared against many reference records.