Biometric technology is mainly used for identification and verification. Biometrics work by measuring a person’s physical characteristics to verify that person’s identity. This can be done through fingerprints, face, voice, and iris recognition. Biometrics are becoming more popular as technology advances, and people have started understanding the benefits of using them for identification purposes. The technology is also used by those with jobs in finance and consumer services to identify individuals who have authorized access to an account and use passwords with higher security standards when connecting devices to an internet-connected network or computer. Biometrics are also used in government and military operations to identify members of the armed forces and in the banking sector for user authentication. This article will discuss five ways that biometrics are used every day by users, both private and public.
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1. Biometric Voter Registration
In the past, the voter registration process has generally not gone well in many places worldwide. It was common to experience people being turned away at polling stations because they did not have the correct documents or proof of identity to be able to vote.
Biometric voter registration and authentication can help solve many of these issues. While a person is being registered, the voter registration officer would need to check for the person’s existence. This can be done by checking an identity document and other biometric data. This can not only save time for the voters but also help prevent fraud. Using biometrics in voter registration ensures that only eligible people vote and prevents voting fraud.
2. Building Access Control
Biometric access control systems are used for secure building access. These biometric devices are installed at the building entry point, and when using the device, a person’s biometrics are matched to the database to check who has permission to enter. These systems allow authorized personnel into a secure network or building without requiring any physical card to be shown as proof of identity. Most cases of access control are through card readers, but in some instances, cards are not always accepted for access. A facial recognition time clock, for example, could allow the person entering the building to only enter when they are on the employee roster and scheduled to work. This would enable access control and security of a building without having to implement a physical card reader.
3. Biometric Jail Management
In jails and prison facilities, biometric devices control access to the facility. The biometric devices are placed at the entry and exit points of the jail or prison facility. The devices read fingerprints to determine whether the person has a special pass or is not allowed to enter the facility. Biometric technology can also be used for inmate management, prisoner tracking, and parole case management.
This system looks at a person’s physical characteristics as identification or verification of identity. From the information available online, this technology has been tested and put into use in the United States. Biometric technology is used with an identity management system that helps monitor prison inmates by using photographs, fingerprint scans, and other identifiers such as eye scans and voice recognition.
4. Biometric Border Control
Many countries use biometric border control systems to ensure that immigration into their country is controlled. Border control agents verify the identity of people who apply for citizenship or visa by using physical characteristics as identification. In these systems, a person’s fingerprint or retinal scan is used as verification of the identity of a person to make sure that they are who they claim to be and do not require special attention because they have an immigration record.
5. eGovernment Solutions
The government uses biometric technology to help track down and manage the large number of fraudulent identities that citizens use. The system is used in prisons to match prisoners with the information available on their database related to criminals. This technology has helped reduce fraud within the country’s healthcare system, making it easy for citizens to access medical care when needed without fear of somebody else using their identity to their advantage.
Conclusion
Biometric technology becomes more and more prominent as its accessibility and implementations increase. Biometrics can be used for many purposes, and although most commonly used to identify those trying to gain entry into secure networks, such as jails, military bases, and government buildings, increased implementation of this technology has only just begun.
