Chapter 5. Finger Biometric Technologies

Fingerprint biometrics are the most widely used and accepted of all the biometrics. Since the fingerprint has been used as a form of identification for a long time, it has both acceptance and fear. People accept in general that fingerprints are unique and can be used to identify someone. This trust comes from governmental and law enforcement use of fingerprints . At the same time, their use of the fingerprint also causes fear about its use. Some individuals involved with fingerprint authentication for network access have expressed the feeling that using their fingerprint for authentication makes them feel like a criminal. This feeling can lead to fear of the use of fingerprint biometrics. As explained in this book, the use of biometrics must be accompanied with proper user training and communications. By doing so, biometrics can be seen as a privacy-enabling technology, not a technology to be feared. Even with the concern over the use of fingerprints, the finger biometric still remains more widely accepted than any other biometric.

Look at your fingerprints. What features do you see? Do they look crisp and clear, or wilted and smudged? Are your fingers dry or greasy? What type of work or hobbies do you do that involve your hands? The definition and quality of the finger skin can greatly influence how well a print will be imaged . The work or hobbies that one does can also influence the quality of a print. People who spend a lot of time working with their hands tend to have rougher and less-defined fingerprints. These factors can influence how well someone will be able to use fingerprint biometrics. In this chapter, we will see that some fingerprint scanning devices are better at scanning dry, less-defined fingerprints and others are better at greasy fingerprint types.

For a detailed explanation of fingerprint biometrics, the discussion will be broken down into the following areas:

• General description of fingerprints

• How is the finger imaged?

• What types of algorithms are used for fingerprint interpretation?

• How can this biometric be spoofed?