Biometrics

Biometrics, in its simplest form, can be defined as the study and measurement of biological data. In today's high-tech society, biometrics typically refers to the technology that allows measurement of biological information, such as finger prints, eye retinas, voice patterns, hand measurements, and facial characteristics. The science and technology of biometrics is quickly becoming a popular field of security in business, government, and the military.

Biometrics in its earliest form of fingerprinting has been around for centuries, and was first used in China as early as the fourteen hundreds. Biometrics technology has expanded in concept over the last several decades from fingerprints to voice patterns and retina scans. This higher form of biometrics was first introduced to the public as fiction in comic books, science fiction novels, and television shows like The Twilight Zone in the fifties and sixties.

Biometrics was even more publicized with the introduction of books by Robert Heinlein. Heinlein introduced all sorts of technology in his fiction novels from the fifties and sixties. Almost every single piece of technology in his books has come to fruition in reality, from the microwave to trips to the moon, and from water beds to cloning. Biometrics was further publicized with the coming of the role playing game craze that hit in the seventies, and the introduction of the Cyberpunk role playing series.

But biometrics is no longer a work of fiction. In the last two decades, the use of biometrics for finger print scanning and matching has been utilized by law enforcement agencies throughout the western world. Undoubtedly, government agencies have also been making use of biometric technology for heightened security. But now businesses are beginning to use biometrics technology to protect confidential file rooms. Information technology management is utilizing lap tops and computers with biometric technology to allow professionals within a company to log into the company's network.

There are many reasons for this additional interest and quickly spreading use of biometrics. Hackers, identity theft, internet fraud, and other security concerns have led businesses to become wary. Additionally, the price of biometrics equipment and technology continue to drop, making it more affordable for corporations and the business sector, rather than only being available to government agencies with large security budgets.

The future of biometrics is phenomenal. Talk of biometric passports, identification cards and documents, vehicle locks, and home security systems may bring biometrics to the public sector sooner than anyone first believed. Touch pay systems, where the customer pays by a finger print rather than a credit card, are already widely used in grocery stores in California. But with biometrics reaching the public sector comes an increase in anxiety about personal privacy issues.

Privacy concerns surround the idea that chips holding biometric information will be installed within identification cards and documents. The chips will be read by a device that will be available to anyone who wants to get their hands on it, including terrorists. Terrorists could use the device to read the biometric information on the chip, then use that information against the United States or other countries. Personal information such as address, phone number, social security number, and other information would also be available by reading the chip.