Types of Biometrics
DNA Matching
Chemical Biometric The identification of an individual using the analysis of segments
from DNA.
Ear
Visual Biometric The identification of an individual using the shape of the ear.
Eyes - Iris Recognition
Visual Biometric The use of the features found in the iris to identify an individual.
Eyes - Retina Recognition
Visual Biometric The use of patterns of veins in the back of the eye to accomplish
recognition.
Face Recognition
Visual Biometric The analysis of facial features or patterns for the authentication or
recognition of an individuals identity. Most face recognition systems either use
eigenfaces or local feature analysis.
Fingerprint Recognition
Visual Biometric The use of the ridges and valleys (minutiae) found on the surface tips of
a human finger to identify an individual.
Finger Geometry Recognition
Visual/Spatial Biometric The use of 3D geometry of the finger to determine identity.
Gait
Behavioural Biometric The use of an individuals walking style or gait to determine
identity.
Hand Geometry Recognition
Visual/Spatial Biometric The use of the geometric features of the hand such as the lengths
of fingers and the width of the hand to identify an individual.
Odour
Olfactory Biometric The use of an individuals odor to determine identity.
Signature Recognition
Visual/Behavioural Biometric The authentication of an individual by the analysis of
handwriting style, in particular the signature. There are two key types of digital
handwritten signature authentication, Static and Dynamic. Static is most often a visual
comparison between one scanned signature and another scanned signature, or a scanned
signature against an ink signature. Technology is available to check two scanned
signatures using advances algorithms. Dynamic is becoming more popular as ceremony
data is captured along with the X,Y,T and P Coordinates of the signor from the signing
device. This data can be utilised in a court of law using digital forensic examination tools,
and to create a biometric template from which dynamic signatures can be authenticated
either at time of signing or post signing, and as triggers in workflow processes.
Typing Recognition
Behavioural Biometric The use of the unique characteristics of a persons typing for
establishing identity.
Vein Recognition
Vein recognition is a type of biometrics that can be used to identify individuals based on
the vein patterns in the human finger or palm.
Voice / Speaker Recognition
There are two major applications of speaker recognition:
Voice - Speaker Verification / Authentication
Auditory Biometric The use of the voice as a method of determining the identity of a
speaker for access control.
If the speaker claims to be of a certain identity and the voice is used to verify this claim.
Speaker verification is a 1:1 match where one speaker's voice is matched to one template
(also called a "voice print" or "voice model"). Speaker verification is usually employed as
a "gatekeeper" in order to provide access to a secure system (e.g.: telephone banking).
These systems operate with the user's knowledge and typically require their cooperation.
For example, presenting a persons passport at border control is a verification process -
the agent compares the persons face to the picture in the document.
Voice - Speaker Identification
Auditory Biometric Identification is the task of determining an unknown speaker's
identity.
Speaker identification is a 1:N (many) match where the voice is compared against N
templates. Speaker identification systems can also be implemented covertly without the
user's knowledge to identify talkers in a discussion, alert automated systems of speaker
changes, check if a user is already enrolled in a system, etc.
For example, a police officer compares a sketch of an assailant against a database of
previously documented criminals to find the closest match(es).
In forensic applications, it is common to first perform a speaker identification process to
create a list of "best matches" and then perform a series of verification processes to
determine a conclusive match.
Note: There is a difference between speaker recognition (recognising who is speaking)
and speech recognition (recognising what is being said). These two terms are frequently
confused, as is voice recognition. Voice recognition is a synonym for speaker, and thus
not speech, recognition. In addition, there is a difference between the act of
authentication (commonly referred to as speaker verification or speaker authentication)
and identification.