Biometry – preparing students for future identification techniques

Biometry is an automatic technique to measure and record the physical / bodily properties of
an individual and to use such data for identification and/or verification. The objects applied in
traditional identification processes, such as chip cards, proximity or magnetic cards, physical
keys, etc. can be lost, stolen, copied or simply left at home. It is not easy to memorize a
multitude of passwords; they can also be disclosed to others or ferreted out. In card systems,
actually the card is identified rather than the individual; on the contrary, biometric
identification obviously means the identification of an individual. All biometric procedures are
exempt from these disadvantages (as well): we ”take” our fingers everywhere, and we cannot
lend our voice, either. Practical experience also shows that it is not particularly difficult for
people to touch a sensor or to say their name for identification. In the course of biometric
identification, association is completed on the basis of a physical feature of the user, such as
fingerprint, hand geometry, iris, retina, palm, face, voice, etc. An enormous advantage of
biometric methods is that one’s physical features are always at hand; at the same time, it is
nearly precluded that an unauthorized person enter into an admission system equipped with
such protection. The subject titled ’Biometric identification’ has been taught at the Bánki
Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Security Technology for three years. As a result of
continuous development, practice is an absolutely dominant feature: students spend about
half of the lessons in the laboratory, getting acquainted with a wide range of biometric
devices.