Biometric Identification — Voice Biometrics Glossary
Biometric identification involves measuring human characteristics that are unique to each individual, either physiologically or behaviorally, to determine one individual from the rest. Think of it as a proof of identity.
For example, everyone knows that no two fingerprints are alike. Fingerprints are a physiological measurement that can help ascertain the identity of the individual. Fingerprinting dates as far back in history as the late 1600’s as a form of biometric identification and is still commonly used today to identify individuals by the unique fingerprint patterns each person possesses. Although far more technologically advanced, the idea of comparing unique impressions remains the same.
Handwritten signatures are another common biometric identification used to verify individuals. Signature biometrics include the pressure, stroke, angle and speed with which the author makes his individual mark. Although handwritten signatures can appear the same to the naked eye, careful comparison often reveals a forged written signature.
With the advancement of science and technology, new methods of biometric identification have continued to appear as the digital age progresses. With photography and video comes the ability to measure the characteristics of human gait. Just like the fingerprint patterns and letter strokes are unique to the individual, so are the patterns in walking or running. The distance between steps and the patterns in the hip, knee and ankle joints can be measured and attributed to a specific individual.
Retina and iris scans have been improved since it was determined that the individual uniqueness of the human eye is grand enough to produce qualitative results. Retina scans and iris scans both require an initial eye scan that is used to compare the later scans to determine the unique reference points to match the individual to the stored sample.
Hand measurements are another form of biometric identification used, most commonly today, at amusement parks worldwide. Because parks often sell year round passes, they needed a way to be sure that the individual who purchased the pass was the one who was using it. So if you’ve purchased a pass to Disney World, don’t be surprised when you are asked to place your hand in the hand geometry reader each time you attempt to use the pass. Hand geometry works great to verify the user based on some other physical form of evidence (like a pass) but isn’t sufficient enough on it’s own to determine one individual out of the masses on its own.
Perhaps one of the most innovative and easiest biometric identification method available today is the human voice. Measurable with or without the individual physically present, the human voice carries traits specific enough to the individual to determine the speaker’s identity.
VoiceVerified uses those measurable unique human voice traits (such as pitch and cadence) to reliably identify who is speaking. Learn more aboutbiometric identification applications from VoiceVerified.