Electronic Design 06.30.05 Go To www.elecdesign.com

Identity theft, terrorism, and fraud permeate oursociety. Biometrics addresses the urgent need foridentification with a number of impressive techno-

logical advances. But what about privacy issues? Dowe really want “Big Brother” tapping into our lives

without permission?Databases of biometric information could be mis-

used if they fall into the wrong hands. Many securi-ty, law-enforcement, border-control, medical, andbanking organizations maintain vast biometric data-bases that are available to government agencies andbusiness entities.

Consumer electronics, on the other hand, don’thave such databases. They use encrypted personalinformation tied to a name or personal identificationnumber (PIN). The consumer device then mathemat-ically compares the last information entered againstthe encrypted personal information.

Despite the concerns, the implementation of bio-metrics is soaring. National projects in many coun-tries have focused on developing smart cards that domore than serve as credit cards. These cards also willbe used as work permits, health cards, national iden-tification, passports, and applications for militarysecurity access.

Adding more impetus to the market, the U.S. gov-ernment is pressuring 26 visa-waiver nations to embedbiometric data into their passports. Next-generationsmart cards in Europe, Asia, and Japan promise toinclude biometrics for identification, passport, visa,and driver’s license purposes. Needless to say, thescramble is on among smart-card chip manufacturersto cash in on this projected growth.

According to the International Biometric Group,the market for biometric methods that identify orverify a person’s identity using a behavioral or physi-ological characteristic is projected to grow into thebillions of dollars by 2008 (Fig. 1). Market-researchfirm Frost and Sullivan pegs the genetic testing mar-ket of biometrics for biomedical applications at $1billion by 2007.

HOW SECURE ARE WE?Biometrics uses various means of personal identifica-tion and verification, each providing different levelsof authenticity. Fingerprinting, the most common

method, is turning in some impressive advances viacapacitive, thermal, and optical means. Other biomet-ric methods include facial feature recognition, eye irisscans, voice recognition, and even vein recognition.

Some of these techniques combine with personaldata stored on databases, which are sometimesencrypted to increase system effectiveness. Other sys-tems rely on implantable chips with RFID capability.This raises many red flags for privacy advocates,even though the technology can be very helpful inhealth-care services.

One recent innovation, Fujitsu’s MBF200 sensor,relies on capacitance sensing (Fig. 2). According tothe company, this sensor is well suited for scanninglatent fingerprints and matching them against theprints of several thousand people on a watch list.

Products from Atmel use thermal-swipe sensing,which measures the temperature differences betweenambient conditions and a fingerprint’s valleys andridges. Kinetics Sciences’ products employ an opti-cal-swipe method, which includes a light source, aprism, a focusing lens, and dual linear arrays of lightsensors for low-cost sensing with forensic-qualityimages that feature resolutions up to 1000 dots/in.

AuthenTec’s optical TruePrint technology provides“true” identity capability (Fig. 3). The companyclaims that it is the only system in mass productionwith an accurate fingerprint technology.

Roger Allan, TECHNOLOGY EDITOR

BIOMETRICS WIELDS ADOUBLE-EDGED SWORDMore than ever before, we need to verify our identities. But the trendtoward biometrification raises some worrisome issues about othersinvading our personal lives.

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1. Projected global annual biometric revenues show fin-gerprinting for authentication and for civil/criminalapplications as the fastest growing segment among allbiometrics markets by 2008. (Source: The InternationalBiometric Group’s Market and Industry Report, 2004-2008)

2. Fujitsu’s MBF200 fingerprint sensor (a) uses capaci-tive sensing technology that’s integrated on top of asilicon substrate (b).

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In a different twist, South Korea’s Techsphere optsfor vein sensing as a means of identification. Theidea is based on the fact that each person has aunique vein pattern, like fingerprints. Infrared cam-eras can capture this pattern when subjects holdtheir hand up to a scanner. This is popular in SouthKorea and Japan, mainly for cultural reasons, due toconcerns about hygiene issues involving touching asensor with fingertips.

The Beepcard Company designed a credit cardthat works only when it recognizes its owner’s voice.The card has a tiny microphone, a loudspeaker, anda speech-recognition chip that compares the spokenpassword with a recorded sample. It combines thiswith encrypted personal data from the user’s previ-

ous registration. But as impressive as speech recogni-tion is today, it must be refined further to achievethe needed accuracy and reliability levels.

Researchers at Michigan State University, whohave investigated all kinds of biometric approaches,concluded that the grand challenge is a biometricsystem that would operate simultaneously on theextremes of all three axes of usability, accuracy, andscalability (Fig. 4). They caution that no biometricsystem is 100% foolproof, though. Currently, they’redeveloping a system that fuses together several bio-metrics to enhance accuracy.

The system first uses a pair of cameras to gauge aperson’s height. At this point, a closeup of the face istaken. Next, software analyzes and enhances this

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BIOMETRICS BRING NEWBENEFITS AND CHALLENGESFingerprint scanning—the main method of bio-metric verification for many years—is no longerthe only means of identifying a person. Nowthere’s iris and facial recognition, voice recog-nition, vein recognition, embedded RFID chips,and smart ID cards. Down the road, embeddedgenetic chips will identify us to the most exact-ing levels. All of this new technology hasemerged due to the need for greater securityfor our citizens, government, and financialinstitutions.

The creation of the U.S. Department ofHomeland Security has challenged the federalgovernment’s ability to bring cohesive securitysolutions to our nation’s infrastructure andcomputer networks. Major investments arebeing made in protecting our private and com-mercial networks and in how organizations useinformation. The advent of the U.S. Congress’Oxley Sarbanes Act and the attendant need tobuild a careful accounting trail is further fuel-ing the need for valid biometric identificationand verification.

As a result of these efforts, Americans facemany issues of privacy versus protection oftheir physical and monetary assets. We face aworld where corporate corruption has forcedunparalleled controls upon companies. The ter-rorist attacks of September 11, 2001 haveopened our citizens up to greater scrutiny aswell.

While the protection of individual rights isalways in jeopardy, I believe that we must trustour systems of checks and balances to keepour country the strongest and most free nationon earth. Some might argue that it’s no longersafe to trust our government, or “Big Brother,”given recent revelations of government scan-dals at all levels—municipal, county, state, andfederal. But what other means do we have tokeep our nation strong? In the long run, oursystem of checks and balances will prevail andensure our freedom. ED Online 10604

INSIDE THE INDUSTRY

EVAN SCOTTPresident, Evan Scott Group International

3. TruePrint fingerprintoptical sensing technologydeveloped by AuthenTecrelies on pixel sensorplates that recognize fin-gerprint patterns deepbelow the skin’s surfacefor accurate verification ofindividual identities.

4. According to researchers atMichigan State University, no bio-metrics method is 100% fool-proof. However, a biometricsapproach can be very accurateand effective when accuracy,scale factor, and usability issuesare maximized in a biometricssystem’s design.

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data to determine the subject’seye color, gender, and ethnici-ty. Then the data is combinedwith primary biometric, handgeometry, and face-recognitionand fingerprint data.

APPLICATIONS APPEARBiometrics is so common-place, it’s being designedinto consumer electronicslike notebook computers,DVDs, cell phones, and diskdrives. AuthenTec’s EntréPad1530, one of the smallestfingerprint sensors, is usedon many LG Electronics andNTT Docomo cell phones(Fig. 5). The company’s sen-sors also are finding theirway into Toshiba’s ultra-portable Protégé and miniLibretto U100 notebook computers.

Customers at the Edeka German supermarket chainsoon will be able to pay for their shopping by placingtheir fingerprints on a scanner at the checkout counters.The company has piloted the technology since lastNovember, and it is now ready to equip all of its stores.Several supermarket chains in the U.S. have piloted simi-lar systems (see “Biometric Identification: How Safe AreYour Fingers?” April 28, p. 19, ED Online 10190).

Medical uses have sparked some controversy, too. LastOctober, the U.S. Food andDrug Administration (FDA)approved Applied DigitalSolutions’ implantableVeriChip. The device givesmedical personnel instantaccess to a patient’s medicalrecords via RFID technology(Fig. 6). Privacy advocatesquestion the need for such adevice, wondering whatproblem the technologyactually solves. They alsoquestion patients’ needs togive medical personnel“carte blanche” and instantaccess to their medicalrecords, because they’re pur-portedly the only peoplelegally authorized to provideaccess to those records afterbeing asked.

State-of-the-art medicalimaging technology nowuses light scattering, X-rays,and optical coherencetomography to provide deeplooks inside the humanbody. While nearly all ofthese techniques require thesubject to sit inside or infront of some sort of appa-ratus, it’s only a matter oftime before portable systemswill offer inside-the-bodypeeks for more accuratemedical diagnoses. Similarairline passenger securitysystems already examinebaggage. Will these devicesnext be turned on thehuman body—without thesubject’s permission—in thename of security?

WHAT’S IN THE WORKS?With research on nanotechnology proceeding at abreakneck pace, we may well be in for some surprisesin a few more years. Nanotechnology scientists atLucent Technologies’ New Jersey NanotechnologyConsortium, in collaboration with the University ofIllinois, are attempting to get an entire human genomeon a chip or CD. The project includes $1.6 million infunding from the U.S. Defense Advanced Research

Projects Agency (DARPA).The device can sequence a

person’s DNA in seconds.The genome decoder devicewould require a speedy sen-sor that can identify biologi-cal agents. According to itsdevelopers, customers willeventually be able to walkinto a clinic, provide a DNAsample, and then for a feewalk out moments laterwith a CD bearing theirgenetic data.

One thing is clear.There’s no stopping thebiometrics boom. Preparefor some sort of backlash,though, as personal privacybecomes a potential targetfor abuse.

ED Online 10605

BIOMETRICS

5. Biometrics sensors are finding greater use in consumer elec-tronics items like cell phones. LG Electronics’ 3550 and 3800cell phones (a) and NTT Docomo’s 900iC cell phones (b) are justa couple of examples. These phones use AuthenTec’s EntréPad1530 optical sensor.

6. Applied Digital Solutions’ VeriChip, which is smaller than apenny, can be embedded under a patient's skin. Using RFIDtechnology, this biometric chip gives medical personnel instantaccess to a patient’s medical records.

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