Biometrics Reducing Fraud and Saving Travelers Time

Star Trek, James Bond and Bourne Identity flicks all have something in common: high tech futuristic gadgets. As much as people love to see the creative “what if” possibilities of these inventive devices, the general public has mixed feelings should these possibilities become reality.

James bond only needs the irises of his eyes to gain access into an off-limits area protected by a bullet proof steel door. This statement was previously fictional script only dreamt about for dramatic spy and action films until now.
Iris scanners, finger print scanners and face recognition software connected to image capturing cameras are considered common biometric tools used in many high tech companies and organizations today. When the government introduces biometric solutions for passports, visas and homeland security, the general response from the public is the government is getting too close to knowing everything about me!
Biometrics Described
Each one of us is uniquely different and because our body naturally has several features that are distinguished as unique to us, these biometric features can be stored and saved to be matched perfectly with the original. The way we speak, walk, the shape of the irises in our eyes, the ridges on our fingertips and the bone structure of our face all hold unique codes.
Face Recognition technology has been in use for quite some time. It involves determining key points or nodal points, such as tip of the nose, distance between eyes, depth of eye sockets, and length of jaw line from a photograph and comparing them with a database for a match. Sources say, there are about 80 nodal points and about 20 are used for computer recognition. This technology works to provide tight security so that an employee, for example, cannot enter a specific area without his or her picture matching up with their picture already stored within a database of files.
In the UK, the visa checking agency has taken a 2 day screening application and reduced it down to a 30 minute process using fingerprint scanning biometric technology. The UK has compiled a database with applicant’s photo IDs and biometric data. The 2012 London Olympics is also being fitted with palm and facial recognition cameras and software to guard buildings within a 500-acre site for the Games.
This new biometric screening system will be Britain’s largest and most costly security operation yet and could be an example in which to control ticket holders’ access to the stadium once the games begin.
Some people feel the government shouldn’t have this much information about a person and that it might as well be considered a bar coding for all citizens. Many other people feel comfort knowing that dangerous people can now be denied access from entering certain countries, be detained quickly and police can use this technology to accurately arrest the correct people the first time.