Real-World Issues and Applications from the Biometrics Front Lines

Beyond passwords and PINS, beyond ID cards, keys, and tokens, stands biometrics—the science of recognizing people by physical characteristics or personal traits. Learn about the technical properties and applications of fingerprints, hand geometry, facial and voice recognition, iris and retinal scans, signature and keystroke dynamics, and futuristic biometrics such as vein patterns. Follow sample scenarios and real-world case studies to understand ensuring biometric liveness, deploying biometrics in large-scale systems, developing technical standards, and testing and evaluating biometric technologies. Make financial and business dealings safer and more reliable, improve safety, and balance your needs for speed, convenience, and accuracy with help from this thorough resource.

Select the right authentication methods for your unique operating environment and security needs

Learn biometric technologies through case studies detailing FBI programs, Super Bowl surveillance, and more

Learn about the role for biometrics in a national identity program

Explore esoteric biometrics such as vein patterns, facial thermography, DNA, body odor, and hand grip recognition

Increase confidence in biometric security with liveness testing

Guard against multiple identity fraud and identify theft

Test and evaluate biometric systems for metrics such as performance, vulnerability, and compliance with emerging standards

Assess your needs and find the right balance between security, convenience, and cost-benefit concerns

Overcome the challenges faced when integrating biometrics into an overall security plan

Part I: Authentication and Biometrics Overview

1: How Authentication Technologies Work

2: How Biometrics Work

Part II: Types of Biometrics

3: Fingerprint and Hand Geometry

4: Facial and Voice Recognition

5: Eye Biometrics: Iris and Retina Scanning

6: Signature Recognition and Keystroke Dynamics

7: Esoteric Biometrics

Part III: Issues Involving Biometrics

8: Biometric Liveness Testing

9: Biometrics in Large-Scale Systems

10: Biometric Standards

11: Biometric Testing and Evaluation

Part IV: Privacy, Policy, and Legal Concerns Raised by Biometrics

12: Biometrics and Privacy

13: Legal Considerations of Government Use of Biometrics

14: Case Study: Super Bowl Surveillance

15: The Law and Private-Sector Use of Biometrics

Part V: Review of Selected Biometrics Programs

16: Government and Military Programs

17: Searching the FBI’s Civil Files: Public Safety v. Civil Liberty

18: Private-Sector Programs

19: Biometrics and the Feasibility of a National ID Card

Part VI: Appendixes

A: Resources

B: Publicly Held Companies Offering Biometric Services

John Woodward is a senior policy analyst at RAND where he works on national security, intelligence, and technology policy issues. He is particularly interested in biometrics and surveillance technologies. He has testified about these technologies before Congress and the congressionally created Commission on Online Child Protection. Prior to joining RAND full-time in 2000, Mr. Woodward served as an Operations Officer for the Central Intelligence Agency for twelve years. His overseas assignments included tours in East Asia and East Africa. Mr. Woodward received his Juris Doctor degree magna cum laude from Georgetown University Law Center in Washington, D.C. He was a Thouron Scholar at the London School of Economics, University of London, where he received his M.S. in Economics. He received his B.S. in Economics from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. He served as a law clerk to the Hon. Roderick R. McKelvie, a U.S. District Court Judge in Wilmington, Delaware.