A biometric is an analysis of biological activities and phenomena. It is an examination that can focus on statistics or aim at measurement.

Recognition of individuals

Generally, the concept refers to the recording of measurements of living beings. By extension, biometry is known as the procedure that allows an individual to be recognized unequivocally based on certain features. A system can apply various techniques to verify a person's identity and thus provide access to a sector restricted to the general public. This set of techniques and resources are part of the field of biometrics.

The most common types

The study of the retina, fingerprints or palm of the hand, for example, is a tool that enables biometric recognition. In some cases, behavioural rather than biological characteristics are used, such as the way of walking or the signature.

Iris recognition, on the other hand, is one of the most reliable methods. The iris is a membrane found in the eye that is responsible for regulating the size of the pupil, with the consequent control of the magnitude of light that penetrates it. This type of biometry should not be confused with the scanning of the retina, a tissue formed by neurons that communicate with the brain to send impulses: for the iris, its image is compared with a previously recorded one; for the retina, a beam is projected that carries out a complex capture process.

We can also mention facial recognition, which can be carried out in two or three dimensions, that is, capturing a flat or volumetric image. The first method can be manipulated by means of a photograph of the individual with access to the system, while the second requires the real face, so it is safer and more effective.

The basis is comparison

The operation of a biometric system is carried out through the comparison of data. First, the authorized person has to register a certain characteristic (such as a fingerprint). This information is processed through an algorithm and stored in a database. Then, each time the subject tries to enter the restricted area, he places his fingerprint on a reader. This fingerprint is compared with the database and, if it matches, he gains access. On the other hand, if another man tries to enter with his fingerprint, the records do not match and his request for entry is denied.

Comparison is a mechanism that we use every day, in our daily lives and in the most complex areas of science: we have in our memory an incalculable volume of information against which we analyze the data that surrounds us to make decisions. We recognize people by their face, their physical features, their way of walking, etc., precisely because we store all these characteristics in our brain in the first place.

Advantages and disadvantages

Biometrics offers several advantages: it does not require passwords, keys, magnetic cards, etc. For areas where security is crucial, it is suitable because only authorized persons pass the verification process. In the case of mobile phones, on the other hand, it saves time because it unlocks the screen by simply placing the finger on the reader or looking at the camera indicated for facial recognition.

Among its disadvantages, there are possible false negatives and false positives in recognition. As mentioned above, some methods are not infallible. In addition, while the theft of a password can be done without harming its owner, forcing him to pass a biometric test can lead to different degrees of violence.