Why fingerprint recognition?

In the last few years out of all possible biometric processes, fingerprint recognition has been the most widespread form or biometrics used worldwide. This has also lead to fingerprint recognition being the most practical and substantial process.

In 2005 a study was conducted testing the reliability and capability of various biometrical systems. The fingerprint system with optical sensors produced the best results (leading iris and face recognition). It was acknowledged that fingerprint recognition also withstood high security standards.

Fingerprint systems still prove to be the most price-worthy option of all available systems.

Foundations of fingerprint recognition

There are no two human beings with the same fingerprint. Let alone identical twins with genetically identical DNA possess their own, individual fingerprint. This leads to the distinctiveness of fingerprint recognition in that it is useful and ideal for automatic identification systems.

Foundations of fingerprint recognition

The minute characteristics of an individual's fingerprint are utilized for the automatic recognition. The branching and ending of the finger lineage structure creates these minute characteristics. The alignment of these lineage characteristics produces a specific image that is unique and allows itself to be automatically and mechanically analyzed. The arrangement of these distinct characteristics, their relation to one another and their direction is simply coincidental and can not be genetically inherited.

The development of biometrical identification is independent from applied:

1. Enrollment: The registration of the user into the system through the acquisition of the biometrically relevant traits of the user and the compilation and saving of the dataset (template).
2. Matching: Acquisition of the biometrically relevant traits of the user, compilation of the datasets and comparison of the previously entered data with the current data.

The acquisition of a user into a biometrical system begins by the enrollment of the fingerprint which therefore produces an image. Through the use of algorithms, which vary from producer to producer, this image is transferred to a template, converted and then saved. Once a template is saved in the system it is not possible to regenerate another fingerprint from this data.

A comparison between the saved template and the currently given dataset is conducted during Matching. If the analogy is sufficient then the user is automatically identified.