A New Method
There is no doubt that Fingerprint Recognition is probably the most noticeable Biometric Technology available today, and when the term “Biometrics” is conjured up, the Fingerprint is always the first to come to mind.
I have written about Fingerprint Recognition before many a time on various Postings. Essentially, it works by having the sensor on the Fingerprint Scanner collect an image of the Fingerprint, and from there, examining what is known as the “minutae”, or the breaks and discontinuities on the whorls, ridges, and valleys. These are the unique features which are captured, then converted into a mathematical file, and subsequently stored in the database.
A question I often get asked is: “What if there are cuts or bruises on my Fingerprint, will the Fingerprint Scanner still be able to work?” I answer yes, because Biometric Technology has advanced to the point where these external variables can be taken into consideration, and are factored into the Enrollment and Verification Processes.
Well, it seems like that at the University of Warwick based out of the United Kingdom, researchers have developed another scientific method in which to overcome these external variables of bruises, cuts, abrasions, etc. located on the Fingerprint.
Traditional Fingerprint Scanners look only at certain parts of the Fingerprint where the minutae are located, but with this new scientific approach, it is claimed that the entire Fingerprint image is collected and examined, and is literally “unwarped” to allow for the quick matching of Biometric Templates for Verification and/or Identification of an individual.
Here are the details: “The University of Warwick researchers consider the entire detailed pattern of each print and transform the topological pattern into a standard co-ordinate system. This allows the researchers to "unwarp" any finger print that has been distorted by smudging, uneven pressure, or other distortion and create a clear digital representation of the fingerprint that can then be mapped on to an "image space" of all other finger prints held on a database . . . any new print scanned by the system is unwarped and over laid onto a virtual "image space" that includes all the fingerprints available to the database.” (SOURCE: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/10/091026093731.htm).
Final Thoughts On Today’s Posting
Apparently, this new scientific method has received a very warm reception, and is being used in the construction industry at various sites and locations, where the Fingerprints of the construction workers can become quite distorted because of the environment they work in.
Also, this new scientific approach in Fingerprint Recognition, has stood up to the test of some of the most stringent Fingerprint Testing Organizations, which include the National Physical Laboratory (also located in the United Kingdom), and the National Institutes of Standards and Technology (also known as “NIST”). It is even claimed that the individual sweat pores can be examined in detail as well.
Traditionally, Biometric Vendors are pretty tight lipped about the exact ways in which their specific technology works, or the mathematical algorithms they employ for the Verification and Enrollment processes. This is very understandable, as this is their bread and butter which they survive upon.
This is probably one of the very few times I have seen such an open release into the scientific methods of a new discovery in Fingerprint Recognition. Actually, I think it is good that from time to time, such information is made available.
I am not saying I support being completely open about all of the details, as this would destroy the profit motive of the Biometric Vendors, as they try to adopt this new scientific approach. After all, we do live in a capitalisitic and free market society.
But openly discussing about some of the general features of a new Biometric Technology or some of the newer scientific approaches and/or methods being examined or discovered would certainly go a long way into the public acceptance area of Biometrics, and help to dispel the “Black Box” Phenomenon which is associated with Biometrics.
With this more open approach, the public will come to see that Biometrics, is just another Security Technology, and just like all other Security Technologies, it has its advantages and flaws, and should not be the only tool used in fortifying the Security of a place of business or organization.
Source for this Posting: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/10/091026093731.htm
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