Do you use your fingerprint to unlock your phone or access your office building? If yes, you are already familiar with biometric recognition systems. They are used so often that most people have interacted with them at least once in various scenarios. Biometric devices certainly make our lives simpler and more convenient. But do you know enough about them? This post provides information about biometric monitors and accessories, their types, benefits, and uses.

What are biometric identification devices?
Biometric monitors confirm a person’s identity using unique physical characteristics, such as fingerprints, facial characteristics, iris patterns, signatures, and DNA. The information about the different types of biometrics can be securely stored on the internet and accessed using a technology known as biometrics as a service (BaaS). This technology is used by law enforcement agencies, the military, healthcare institutions, mobile applications, and even offices and high-security buildings.

Biometric monitors and accessories arrived in the market only in recent years. However, the concept of biometrics can be traced to the 1930s when a famous ophthalmologist suggested that an iris could be used for identification. In fact, fingerprint identification is even older and can be traced to the end of the 19th century.

What are the types of biometric identification devices?
There are different types of biometric monitors on the market. The most famous examples are:

Fingerprint scanners
This biometric device scans a person’s fingerprint for authentication. It detects the fingerprint using a thermal sensor and converts the details into a digital code. Fingerprint scanners are becoming increasingly popular on cell phones.

Iris recognition devices
Iris scanners are among the most accurate devices for biometric authentication and identification. They analyze a person’s iris and record the details in the form of numerical values.

Facial recognition devices
These devices scan a person’s facial features and create an identical image, which is stored as a mathematical code in a database. The person’s face must match the image stored in the database for successful identification.

Handwriting recognition devices
These biometric devices help verify digital signatures, especially in the banking system. The software tries to identify the handwriting in the signature using pattern-based algorithms.

Voice recognition devices
These devices use a person’s voice to confirm their identity. When someone speaks into the system, their sound is split into multiple frequencies, which are then matched with the stored voice prints.

Besides complex fingerprint and voice scanners, many biometric accessories are also available. A popular example is an access card, which must be swiped through a machine to unlock a door.

What are the benefits of biometric identification devices?
Biometric devices provide numerous benefits if used correctly. A few advantages are:

High-level security
These devices help verify a unique trait, such as voice and fingerprint, which is almost impossible to replicate. While traditional identification methods have been breached thousands of times, it is hard to manipulate biometric systems.

Convenient and quick
Biometric identification does away with the need to remember complex passwords and codes. You may forget your credentials, but you can never go wrong with using a fingerprint scanner! Moreover, the authentication process takes merely a few seconds, if not less. In case of breakdowns, you can avail of expert biometric repairs and services to fix the system.

Easy to use
A top benefit of biometric devices is that they are easy to use, and people do not require training to get started. All you may need to do is place your thumb on the fingerprint scanner or show your face to a camera.

Where are biometric identification devices mostly employed?
Biometric monitors and accessories make the authentication and identification process quick and foolproof. As a result, they have become popular in various industries. A few sectors that use biometrics are:

Banking
Biometrics are used by baking and financial organizations for authenticating customer access. People use the technology to log in to their accounts and authorize payments.

Airport security
Biometric devices are used to perform ID checks at airports. This not just authenticates a person’s identity but also prevents flight delays and overcrowding.

Offices
Instead of passwords and access cards, companies are now employing biometric technology to let authorized individuals access office premises. It is also widely used to mark employee attendance, which helps in payroll calculation and disbursal.

Health care
Biometric technology has benefitted healthcare services around the world. It helps prevent patient misidentification and duplication of records.

While biometric devices are increasingly used across various sectors to prevent fraud and data losses, the technology must be regularly upgraded and maintained. Experts are exploring the possibility of using heartbeat recognition and hand geometry for identification purposes in the future.