BIOMETRICS STANDARDS AND STANDARDIZATION

Abstract

Prevailing methods of human identification based on credentials (identification documents and PIN) are not able to meet the growing demands for stringent security in applications such as national ID cards, border crossings, government benefits, and access control. As a result, biometric recognition, or simply biometrics, which is based on physiological and behavioral characteristics of a person, is being increasingly adopted and mapped to rapidly growing person identification applications. Unlike credentials (documents and PIN), biometric traits (e.g., fingerprint, face, and iris) cannot be lost, stolen, or easily forged; they are also considered to be persistent and unique. These requirements are typically specified in terms of identification accuracy, throughput, user acceptance, system security, robustness, and return on investment.