Originally, the term “Biometrics” referred to statistical and mathematical methodology applicable to data analysis in the biological sciences. Statistical methods used for analysis of data for such things as agricultural field experiments, human clinical trials, the relative effectiveness for competing therapies for disease, and environmental studies all come under the heading of “Biometrics.”

Source: stat.tamu.edu/~biometrics/definition.html

However, for purposes of this class, the proper definition of “Biometrics” are “automated methods of recognizing a person based on a physiological or behavioral characteristic.  Among the features measured are; face, fingerprints, hand geometry, handwriting, iris, retinal, vein, and voice.   Biometric technologies are becoming the foundation of an extensive array of highly secure identification and personal verification solutions. As the level of security breaches and transaction fraud increases, the need for highly secure identification and personal verification technologies is becoming apparent.”

Source: www.biometrics.org/html/introduction.html

This website is the center of information for the U. S. Government’s work in research, development, testing, evaluating, and applying the biometric identification technology. From this web page, you can link to various articles published relating to biometrics. There are also links to research and databases, biometric systems examples (face, fingerprints, iris, retinal, vein, handwriting, hand and finger geometry, and voice/speaker), meetings and events, government activities, standards activities, and other biometric sites. If you are interested in information regarding this topic, I would recommend you start at this website. Several colleges have biometric websites which can be accessed from this web page (Michigan State, Purdue, San Jose State, West Virginia) through links to other destinations.

Another website loaded with biometrics information is:

dmoz.org/Computers/Security/Biometrics/

It links the user to a total of 236 company websites that have biometric equipment for sale. There are also a large number of links to other areas of biometrics including many articles on the subject.

homepage.ntlworld.com/avanti/home.htm is a very good biometrics site from a scientific standpoint. It provides links to papers, books, and serves as a repository for biometric research. It also contains a complete methodology for designing and implementing biometric and related systems called BANTAM.

In today’s environment, Biometrics will take on a much-added importance for security reasons. User verification for PCs, scanning eyes, hands, or fingerprints for identification, payroll attendance records and computer password authentication, airport security are some of the many uses for Biometric products. Estimates are that Biometrics product sales will reach $900 million by the year 2006, up from $66 million last year. (Consulting and analyst firm Frost & Sullivan). An interesting discussion of the amount of costs related time and attendance and a Biometric ROI calculator can be found at this website:

www.biometricsdirect.com/Web/Software/ROICalculator.htm

If you would like to sign up for a Biometrics newsletter, go to:

www.biometritech.com/deploy.htm?gnro=gawb&src=gawb

This is another good site where you can download some case studies also.

[New Links added by BR]:

Great page on "Physical Biometrics" from homesecurity.us -- added Sept 2010. (Thanks to Deb Davis -- submitted via email)