biometrics
87 ResultsDictionary
biometrics
The biological identification of a person. Examples are face, iris and retinal patterns, hand geometry and voice. Increasingly built into laptop computers, fingerprint readers have become...
Dictionary
Definition: biometrics
The biological identification of a person. Examples are face, iris and retinal patterns, hand geometry and voice. Increasingly built into laptop computers, fingerprint readers have become popular as a secure method for identification. Biometrics not only deals with static patterns, but action as well. The dynamics of writing one's signature as well as typing on the keyboard can be analyzed (see biometric signature and keyboard biometrics).
Biometrics may be the primary or secondary mechanism for authentication (see two-factor authentication).
More Secure Than Passwords
Biometrics are a more secure form of authentication than typing passwords or even using smart cards, which can be stolen. However, methods can be circumvented; for example, fingerprints captured from a water glass can fool scanners. See authentication and face recognition.
A Biometric Mouse
SecuGen's EyeD Mouse includes a fingerprint reader on the thumb side of the device. It takes less than a second for the EyeD Mouse to verify your fingerprint. (Image courtesy of SecuGen Corporation, www.secugen.com)
THIS DEFINITION IS FOR PERSONAL USE ONLY
All other reproduction is strictly prohibited without permission from the publisher.
© 1981-2010 The Computer Language Company Inc. All rights reserved.
Sponsored White Papers, Webcasts & Resources
-
Quantifying the Value of Delivering a Smarter Shopping Experience
In this white paper, you'll learn the effects of the shopping experience on buying habits and business resiliency. Keep reading to hear more about improving your shopping experience and getting...
-
City Peaks uses community gaming to keep you fit at the office
Design studio Digit has created a social game, City Peaks to encourage you to take the stairs to work, mapping your journey to an ascent to some of the highest virtual peaks in the city.
-
The future according to Big Blue
IBM unveils its annual list of five emerging technologies that will supposedly change our lives in the next five years.
-
Death of the Password? Markus Jakobsson and Jason Perlow discuss with the CBC
Jason Perlow and computer security researcher Markus Jakobsson discuss the problems with passwords and computer security with Canada's "The Current" on CBC Radio
-
SmartPlanet's Week in Innovation: injectable implants, urban acupuncture, superbug drugs
SmartPlanet's Week in Innovation: injectable implants, urban acupuncture, superbug drugs and more in a news roundup from our friends at SmartPlanet.
-
Anonymous releases private emails, government contracts, VPN credentials, and more
Rogue hacker group Anonymous has released a slew of information from government contractor IRC Federal. See their release notes and find out the specifics of the leak here.
-
-
If a surveillance society is inevitable, can privacy measures embedded in systems?
The influx of data and the analytics systems that will go with them means we're headed for a surveillance society. Enter a big idea called privacy by design, from one of IBM's researchers.
-
Google, Facebook: End Passwords, Get Biometrics. Now!
With the multitudes of accounts we have to deal with for email, social networking and other applications that require password authentication, we need a better solution.
-
Australia deals for poker machine biometrics
Australia's prime minister threatens regulations unless biometric technology is not in place fo control the use of "pokies."
-
Really, Really Tracking Your Documents
But sure enough, RFID tags have made their way into documents so they can be physically tracked as they move through an organization. Fascinating stuff, actually, and an interesting way to know...
-
The Tech Scares That Weren't: Urban Myths of Technology
Technology is scary! Turn off the lights, wrap yourself up in a blanket, and prepare to be terrified! Or mildly concerned. You know, whatever.
-
Researchers hack toys, iPhone
Researchers at the ToorCon security conference in San Diego have shown how easy it can be to poke holes in software and hardware with the right tools, know-how and curiosity.
-
Information Clutter Busting & Organization
Remember when you had a new digital device with an enormous amount of storage space on it compared to your previous version? Way back around 1993 I remember buying a one hundred meg hard drive...
-
RFID implant opens doors for IT pro
A 28-year-old Perth IT professional has become one of the few Australians to have a radio-frequency identification chip implanted in the hand.
-
RFID attendance - brilliant or nuts?
Northern Arizona University is using RFIDs to track student attendance. While this might actually make some sense in certain secondary school settings, it's a hard pill to swallow for paying adults.
-
IT is industrializing: What does that mean to me?
Like many movements before it, IT is rapidly evolving to an industrial model. A process or profession becomes industrialized when it matures from an art form to a widespread, repeatable function...
-
Verayo claims its RFID chips are 'unclonable'
San Jose, Calif.-based startup Verayo says it has developed a new, "unclonable" RFID chip that uses each chip's manufacturing flaws as the basis for security.
-
'Trillion-node network' arrives: we need smart design more than ever
We may already have exceeded a trillion nodes. Time for some good architectural and design practices.
-
RFID passport identity theft made simple
Put your RFID passport in a signal blocking wallet. But pulled out and read it broadcasts your private data for any RFID sniffer to record. And then?
-
Why should students care about the latest, breaking tech?
Are students becoming apathetic about technology? Do they care? Should they even be interested by the latest and breaking?
-
Verichip is back seeking sweet stimulus cash
The move follows former CEO Scott Silverman's puchase of a majority stake in the company from The Stanley Works, to which it had sold out in July 2008.
The best of ZDNet, delivered
ZDNet Newsletters
Get the best of ZDNet delivered straight to your inbox
Vendor Showcase
Facebook Activity
