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http://hdl.handle.net/1947/9704
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| Title: | Biometrics Technology Review 2008. |
| Report number: | DSTO-GD-0538 |
| AR number: | AR 014-200 |
| Classification: | Unclassified |
| Report type: | General Document |
| Authors: | Heyer, R. |
| Issue Date: | 2008-05 |
| Division: | Land Operations Division |
| Abbreviation: | LOD |
| Release authority: | Chief, Land Operations Division |
| Task sponsor: | CDS |
| Task number: | CCT07/029 |
| File number: | 2007/1101846 |
| Pages or format: | 66 |
| References: | 79 |
| DSTORL/DEFTEST terms: | Automation
Biometrics
Biometric identification
Security |
| Abstract: | Biometrics is the measurement of personal physical features, actions or behavioural characteristics that distinguish between individuals. In recent years automated biometric systems, such as facial, fingerprint and iris recognition systems, have been developed to facilitate a range of functions. These functions can be broadly categorised as verification or identification, and include, for instance, physical and logical access control, management of major plant and machinery, weapons control, identity management, surveillance operations, and personnel management. This paper is an updated version of the Biometrics Technology Review 2002 published in 2003 by Blackburn et al. It provides an overview of the basic elements of biometrics; a detailed examination of current and future biometric technologies; discusses the many different applications of biometrics; and highlights the issues associated with using such technology. |
| Executive summary: | Biometrics is the measurement of personal physical features, actions or behavioural characteristics that distinguish between individuals. The history of biometrics, like most other technologies, has followed a familiar route beginning with an initial build-up of excessive optimism followed by a trough of scepticism as the limitations of the technologies became apparent. Realistic expectations, combined with a plethora of research and development, are now seeing many biometric systems, such as facial, fingerprint, iris and hand geometry, reach the levels of success originally touted. With annual global biometrics revenues projected to grow from $2.1 billion in 2006 to $5.7 billion in 2010 and inspection of patent databases uncovering a range of new and exciting applications, biometrics truly appear to be living up to the tag applied to it by the MIT Technology Review in 2001 as one of the ‘top ten emerging technologies that will change the world’.
In recent years automated biometric systems have been developed to facilitate a range of functions broadly categorised as verification or identification functions. Such automated systems offer advantages over current strategies including the elimination of fatigue effects associated with human performance and adding the possibility of measuring features (e.g. iris pattern) that cannot be readily sensed by humans. Biometrics have been successfully applied across a range of procedures and processes to enhance security including physical and logical access control, management of major plant and machinery, weapons control, identity management, and personnel management. Automated biometric systems need to be seen as an adjunct to existing systems, adding to techniques already used, and organisations contemplating the adoption of biometric technology need to understand that there are a range of issues that should be addressed. Privacy and security concerns, the vulnerability of biometric systems to attack, the importance of usability and user acceptance, training and education and a range of integration and support requirements all need to be addressed.
This paper is an updated version of the Biometrics Technology Review 2002 paper published in 2003 by Blackburn et al*. After an introduction, and in line with its predecessor, the paper provides an overview of the basic elements of biometrics (Section 2); a detailed examination of current and future biometric technologies (Section 3); discusses the many different applications of biometrics (Section 4); and highlights the current issues associated with using such technology (Section 5). |
| Appears in Collections: | DSTO Formal Reports
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