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The word "biometrics" is derived from the Greek words 'bios' and 'metric' ; which means life and measurement respectively. This directly translates into "life measurement".

General science has included biometrics as a field of statistical development since the early twentieth century. A very good example is the statistical analysis of data from agricultural field experiments comparing the yields of different varieties of wheat. In this way, science is taking a life measurement of the agriculture to ultimately determine more efficient methods of growth.

Biometrics technologies measure a particular set of a person's vital statistics in order to determine identity.

In the most contemporary computer science applications, the term "life measurement" adapts a slightly different role. Biometrics in the high technology sector refers to a particular class of identification technologies. These technologies use an individual's unique biological traits to determine one's identity. The traits that are considered include fingerprints, retina and iris patterns,facial characteristics and many more.

Types of Biometrics

There are basically two types of biometrics: 1. Behavioral biometrics 2. Physical biometrics

Behavioral biometric definition : Behavioral biometrics basically measures the characteristics which are acquired naturally over a time. It is generally used for verification.

Examples of behavioral biometrics include:

* Speaker Recognition - analyzing vocal behavior * Signature - analyzing signature dynamics * Keystroke - measuring the time spacing of typed words

Physical biometric definition : Physical biometrics measures the inherent physical characteristics on an individual. It can be used for either identification or verification.

Examples of physical biometrics include:

* Bertillonage - measuring body lengths (no longer used) * Fingerprint - analyzing fingertip patterns * Facial Recognition - measuring facial characteristics * Hand Geometry - measuring the shape of the hand * Iris Scan - analyzing features of colored ring of the eye * Retinal Scan - analyzing blood vessels in the eye * Vascular Patterns - analyzing vein patterns * DNA - analyzing genetic makeup

Biometric History - How did it start?

Biometric history indicates that the science did not originate at a single place. People all over the world were using the basics for mainly identifying individuals from each other. We'll explain about biometric history in brief over the next few paragraphs. The history of biometrics dates back to a long time. Possibly the most primary known instance of biometrics in practice was a form of finger printing being used in China in the 14th century, as reported by explorer Joao de Barros. Barros wrote that the Chinese merchants were stamping children's palm prints and footprints on paper

with ink so as to differentiate the young children from one another. This is one of the most primitive known cases of biometrics in use and is still being used today. Apart from its Chinese genesis, use of biometrics was also noted elsewhere in the world. Up until the late 1800s, identification largely relied upon "photographic memory". In the 1890s, an anthropologist and police desk clerk in Paris, Alphonse Bertillon, decided to fix the problem of identifying convicted criminals and turned biometrics into a distinct field of study. Bertillon developed a technique of multiple body measurements which later got named after him Bertillonage. His method was then used by police authorities throughout the world, until it quickly faded when it was discovered that some people shared the same measurements and based on the measurements alone, two people could get treated as one. After the failure of Bertillonage, the police started using finger printing, which was developed by Richard Edward Henry of Scotland Yard, essentially reverting to the same methods used by the Chinese for years. (which still is going strong !) Biometric history in the recent past (three decades) has seen drastic advancements and the technology has moved from a single method (fingerprinting) to more than ten prudent methods. Companies involved with new methods have grown into the hundreds and continue to improve their methods as the technology available to them also advances. Prices for the harware required continue to fall making systems more feasible for low and mid-level budgets and thus making this more adaptable in small businesses and even households. As the industry grows however, so does the public concern over privacy issues. Laws and regulations continue to be drafted and standards are beginning to be developed. While no other biometric has yet reached the breadth of use of fingerprinting, some are beginning to be used in both legal and business areas.

Biometrics Solutions : Classication of Biometric technologies based on physical traits

Individal Biometrics Solutions: Physical Biometrics: * Bertillonage - measuring body lengths (no longer used) * Fingerprint - analyzing fingertip patterns

* Facial Recognition - measuring facial characteristics * Hand Geometry - measuring the shape of the hand * Iris Scan - analyzing features of colored ring of the eye * Retinal Scan - analyzing blood vessels in the eye * Vascular Patterns - analyzing vein patterns * DNA - analyzing genetic makeup

Behavioral Biometrics Solutions: * Speaker Recognition - analyzing vocal behavior * Signature - analyzing signature dynamics * Keystroke - measuring the time spacing of typed words

Other Biometric Solutions: * Smart Cards - combining biometrics with identification cards

Biometric Time and Attendance : Providing reliable time clock solution

Biometric time and attendance system is one of the most successful application of biometric technology. With the integration and use of biometric technology getting simpler, many corporations are venturing down the biometric road to verify the time and attendace of their employees. Biometric time and attendance has taken a starring role in today's competative markets. As labor cost becomes more and more a factor in determining the profitability of business, the ability to reduce employee labor theft has become a principal goal. Due to this basic reason, we will only see many organisations by-passing the traditional punch clock and advancing to biometric time and attendance systems. One of the main advantages of a biometric time and attendance system is it avoids "buddypunching". Buddy punching was a major loophole which employees could exploit in the traditional time attendace systems. With biometrics now in place, companies have now put an end to that loophole. Aprt from that, biometric time and attendance systems fulfil all other basic features required.

A biometric time & attendance system, will have a user specify whether he(or she) is clocking-in or clocking-out. By using fingerprints(or other biometric traits) to determine identity, buddypunching problems can be totally eliminated as well as other fraud. Attendance of each employee is printed on the attendance report. The attendance report can easily be exported to facilitate for payroll purposes. Employee working hours, overtime, etc. is correctly calculated and salaries can be paid accordingly.

Biometric Access Control Systems : An Overview

Before discussing biometrics acess control, lets take a moment and understand what exactly "access control" is. In terms of security, specifically location security, the term access control refers to basically two aspects, a. Practice of restricting entrance to a facility or property, this is done by providing access to authorized users while denying access to unauthorized users ; and b. To keep a track of entries and exits. Now, biometric access control devices or biometric access control systems are nothing but systems which uses some aspect of biometrics to achive the ablove mentioned two aspects of access control. We have various types of biometric access control systems, which makes uses of fingerprints, iris scan, hand recognition, and much more. If you've seen the famous hollywood flick "Minority Report", you would know that some of the most protected areas were secured using similar biometric systems. Now, lets head on and discuss how a biometric access control system actually works and how it

can be used to secure entrances. Biometric Access Control - How it works?

Any biometric access control system will consists of a biometric access control reader or scanner. This is the unit which captures the raw data in the form of fingerprint or information from iris scan,etc. This data is then analyzed & compared to the person's characteristics against the previously enrolled record. If the two records match, the person is authenticated. And if the time is within the authorized period for entry, the device will signal & release the electric door lock. The most common aspect of biometrics being used for access control is fingerprints. Though in more secure areas like defence areas and airports, government areas, etc. iris scanning systems, and other hitech approaches are being used. The best solution for a small business is to opt for a fingerptint access control system. Click here to know more about iGuard : Fingerprint Acesss Control System.

Biometric Clock Time : Providing Advanced Time and Attendance Solutions

Biometric time clock systems are the same as biometric time attendance systems. Its like having two different names for the same thing. Biometric identification clocks are usually reffered to by people looking for time punch systems.

Biometric time systems usually utilize fingerprint recognition or at times hand recognition for the employees to "mark in" or "mark out". Based on the records collected the wages are worked out. You can find more details for biometric time clock systems in our biometric time and attendance section. We discuss the technolgy in more detail there. If you are interested in implementing a biometric time clock system, you should check out our biometric devices section for various avaliable biometric clock time systems.

Biometric Door Locks - Where your fingerprint is the key !

Biometric door locks marks the advent biometrics into people's everyday life. With biometric door handles available at large, biometrics is now a household thing. Biometric doorknobs are now being increasingly used in villas, condos, offices and even server rooms.

With biometric door locks, Your fingerprint is the key. They replace keyed locking mechanisms with a fingerprint sensor that actually recognizes who is and who is not authorized to enter. Biometric door locks gives you the power to secure your home with the latest in technology and at the same time eliminating the headache of shared or lost keys. Now with the fingerprint biometric door locks you can have both security and peace of mind.

Biometric door locks gaurantees peace of mind by eliminating the need for managing keys. How many times have you lost your keys? How many times have you replaced your lock? We all have been through such conditions, and know the frustration of waiting outside, not able to anything. Biometric door locks provide a relief for families as it saves them from the effort of making duplicate keys and most of all saves them all the worry of a key being lost by their kids or someone breaking using a duplicate key.

Fingerprint door locks are very easy to install and can be fitted easily like any other lock. Each lock has a biometric scanner which scans the individual fingerprints. Once registered all users of the lock can easily access the premises whenever they want without any trouble. Fingerprint records can be added and deleted on the fly, so in case you have a shared residence, you can easily add any new fingerprints and even delete the obsolete ones. Click through to the biometric devices section to take a look at our biometric door locks.