Introduction Sareen (2014) describes biometrics as the technology or the science that determines and assesses biological data. Biometrics is measurable behavioral and physiological characteristics applicable in the verification process of people’s identity (Sareen, 2014). In layman terms biometrics may be understood as a science that involves measuring behavioral and physical characteristics unique to an individual (Xiao, 2007). Biometrics verifies that any person is who they claim to be. The term biometrics refers to life measurements although the terms have been associated with the unique physiological qualities used in identifying a person. Biometric applications are often associated with security. However, the identification of the unique human characteristics scientifically has broader meaning and relevance bearing in mind that computer interface has become increasingly natural (Sareen, 2014).

Jaiswal (2011) describes biometric as any robust, measurable, physical, and distinctive personal traits or characteristic of individuals usable in their identification or verification of their claimed identities. There are two categories of biometrics as described by Sareen (2014) i.e. physical and behavioral biometrics. Behavioral biometrics can be defined as a biometric that evaluates naturally acquired characteristics over some time. Behavioral biometrics is used for verification purposes (Jaiswal, 2011). Physical biometric is used for the measurement of intrinsic physical traits of individuals and can be employed for verification and identification (Xiao, 2007).

How Biometrics Work

Notwithstanding the scheme of use of any biometric, all of them have to be processed in the same way. The biometric capturing process involves capturing, processing, and finally comparison. In capturing, the biometric scheme is utilized in the capturing of physiological and behavioral features (Jaiswal, 2011). In processing, the captured behavioral or physical features are processed in order to derive the unique identifiers that correspond to the individual person alone. In comparison, the individual will then be enrolled into the system as the user who is authorized. In the comparison process, the captured image will be checked against the current unique identifying elements. The newly captured elements are the detailed used for authorizing the user. Upon completion of the entire journey of biometric capturing, processing, comparison, the stored data is then applied for future comparison (Jaiswal, 2011).

Having knowledge of the person with whom a conversation is being undertaken is fundamental in the process of human interaction. Computers are expected to integrate these capabilities in future. There are several biometric traits that have been cultivated and employed for...

The concept is to use people’s special characteristics for their identification. By the employment of the special characteristics, it means application of features such as their signature, fingerprint, iris, and face (Sareen, 2014).
Characteristics of Biometric

There are several biometric characteristics that could be captured during the first processing phase. In order to make automated biometric capture and automated biometric comparison with data previously stored possible the stored biometric characteristics must satisfy the following conditions (Sareen, 2014).

· Universal: Every individual has to possess the said attribute. This attribute has to be one that can rarely become lost to disease or accident and has to be universal to all.

· Invariance of characteristics: The biometrics must be constant for an extended duration of time. These biometric traits must never be...…against the template that defines the user from the database. The template is pointed to by the username, token or password. This verification process is referred to as 1:1 (one to one) (Jaiswal, 2011). The device might find or fail to find the matching data from the database. Generally there are three approaches used in the recognition of an individual for the purpose of security otherwise referred to as authentication (Jaiswal, Bhadauria & Jadon, 2011). The approaches are listed from the least secure and least convenient approach to the most secure and most convenient approaches. The first and least secure approach uses something on the individual like the token, key, or card. The 2nd approach utilizes something that the individual is aware of like a pin or password. The third verification process uses something the individual is, and that is a biometric (Jaiswal, Bhadauria & Jadon, 2011).

Conclusion

A combination of the three recognition processes will add to the security layers and requiring the three recognition processes offers better security standards (Jain, Ross & Prabhakar, 2004). Authentication of biometrics is an automated identification method or the verification of living person’s identity in the present based on their personal traits or physical characteristics. Living person in real time is a phrase used in the differentiation of biometric authentication and forensics. Forensics doesn’t require identification of living individuals in real time unlike biometrics (Jaiswal, 2011). The biometrics technology is highly applicable in immigration, healthcare, financial services, social services, control of physical access, network access, telecommunication, law enforcement etc. Biometrics can be used a deterrent to criminal activities and terrorism as…