What is Biometrics? What are its applications?

Biometrics involves identification of a person by biological markers like fingerprints, facial features and irises. In the past the concept was present just in science fiction movies but today the advancement in computers have made it possible to come into reality. It was a very expensive technology that was used by security agencies and military but today it is present in ATM’s , schools and hospitals.

This technology is becoming so common that Apple’s latest iPhone 5s has included a feature to unlock its phone using fingerprint. The Android operating system has simplified the process with a feature called “face unlock,” that opens the phone by facial recognition. The Ice-cream sandwich 4.0 Android Operating System has a face unlock security system that is a bit mature and has passed the demo stage. Although there is a possibility that similar looking people may unlock your phone but in future more improvements are expected and will become a breakthrough in biometrics application. The security of a device is improved by biometrics because passwords can be hacked and private information can be leaked.

But it must also be realized that biometrics are also risky as it seems. Biometrics identifies people within certain degrees of certainty. It is also common that people leave their fingerprints on everything they touch that can be copied and used by criminals to set someone else up for their crimes. And once compromised, fingerprints cannot be reset, like passwords, or replaced, like passports.