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?"

I think the "problems" are being ignored

[scotpurl]

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 "Database Nation"

[scotpurl]

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.

Check out the Biometrics Consortium

[hoegg]

The International Biometrics Consortium [biometrics.org] is an organization of individuals, companies, and institutions that concerns itself with all aspects of Biometric technology. Fingerprinting is one of the most talked about, but retinal scans, voice prints, face recognition, behavioral recognition (such as gait or common hours of arrival and departure,) hand geometry, and other measures of "what you are" instead of "what you have" or "what you know." To become a member, you must join the listserv here [biometrics.org].

Every November they have an annual Conference [elsevier.nl], but there are many events [biometrics.org] throughout the year, throughout the world.

There are many other organizations [biometrics.org] such as BioAPI [bioapi.org] that are concerned with aspects of the technology such as multivendor hardware and software support.

I attended the Consortium's 2000 conference [nist.gov] at NIST [nist.gov] in Gaithersburg, MD, USA. I was quite impressed with the state of the technology and the amount of research that has been done in this area, but surprised at the lack of large scale corporate interest. Happy hunting, and please post your experiences!

www.google.com

[peccary]

use a search engine

Fingerprints

[Reedi]

Try Ganetime International. They are a company offering fingerprint verification (or were doing so >3 years ago). They have a commercial interest but they seem to play cricket with a straight bat and they might be able to point you at some relevant research papers.
Contact details below

Worth an e-mail?

Oh and before anyone gets self righteous, no I don't work for them, own shares in them or anything like that. Ganetime International
[e-mail]
Gane International Ltd
29 Campus Road
Bradford Science Park
Bradford
BD7 1HR
UK
telephone: [phone] facsimile: [phone]

Re:

[account_deleted]

Comment removed based on user account deletion

Re:Check out "Database Nation"

[raju1kabir]

The INS uses hand geometry (in lieu of passports, but in conjunction with a card) for its INSPASS speedy-entry program. You'd think that for a use like this they would have done a fair amount of research, so that might be looking into.