Biometrics [posted by Troy]
We were picking up some groceries yesterday, which in itself is a pretty strange thing, but even stranger, was the little touch pad that was at the check out counter. This is a biometric device that reads your finger print and ties this to your credit card. When you buy groceries, you just need to let your finger prints do the paying. This article talks about the use of these biometric devices. You can also check out this very cool entry, How Biometrics Works, which says: Instead of using something you have (like a key) or something you know (like a password), biometrics uses who you are to identify you. Biometrics can use physical characteristics, like your face, fingerprints, irises or veins, or behavioral characteristics like your voice, handwriting or typing rhythm. Unlike keys and passwords, your personal traits are extremely difficult to lose or forget. They can also be very difficult to copy. For this reason, many people consider them to be safer and more secure than keys or passwords. Some people object to biometrics for cultural or religious reasons. Others imagine a world in which cameras identify and track them as they walk down the street, following their activities and buying patterns without their consent. They wonder whether companies will sell biometric data the way they sell email addresses and phone numbers. People may also wonder whether a huge database will exist somewhere that contains vital information about everyone in the world, and whether that information would be safe there.
10:53:48 PM  permanent link Google It!
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