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Biometrics
- Finger Print Readers
Biometric finger print readers & scanners offer an opportunity to
significantly increase the security of an access control installation, and
as costs reduce and performance increases more end-users are expressing an
interest in using such readers. At the present time, in the markets where
Biometrics is active, the main interest is in fingerprint recognition. This
seems to be the most popular in terms of cost, performance and user
acceptability. There are two types of fingerprint reader - optical and
electrostatic. There are differences in cost, performance, long-term
reliability, ability to reject dead fingers and prosthetic substitutes etc.
and naturally different costs apply to different offerings. |
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Most
biometric readers require the person to first “declare” who they are, so
that their template can be retrieved from memory. This is because searching
for a match from all the stored templates would be time-consuming.
This
“declaration” is often simply done by PIN entry at a built-in keypad. But
extra security can be derived by using a card - because that establishes
that the right person has the right card, and therefore when that card is
subsequently used in non-biometric readers on the same site, it is more
likely that the card will still be with the correct owner. For this to work
properly, the biometric reader must "pass through" the card number UNCHANGED
when the biometric has been matched. |
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Reliability - Reliability is usually measured in terms of "false accept"
versus "false reject". Usually the reader can be "tuned" to suit the
required security "confidence" level. BUT there is no system which will
guarantee never to reject an authorised person - which means the end user
has to have a method in place for getting those people through the door (i.e
Security Guard or Receptionist) - in which case why have a reader at all?
Manufacturers TDSi believe that many people who ask for biometrics are
unaware of this aspect, and that once the system was installed this would
give rise to complaints. Such systems are only appropriate for the highest
security, where it is acceptable that some people will be inconvenienced.
Fingerprints in particular can occasionally suffer from minor scratches and
abrasions making them less reliable until healed. |
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To
request a quotation, a security systems site survey or further information on products, or
services please contact us direct or complete our on line
Enquiry Form. |
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