Introduction

As we enter the information age, the value of information becomes increasingly vital to individuals and organizations. Technology has provided many ways to protect and access this vital information. Biometrics, the measuring of biological features, is being used to verify an individual's identity as a means of controlling access. This paper will focus on the growing field of Biometrics, and the endeavor for an agreement on a set of standards for Fingerprint Identification.

Biometrics involves measuring a specific physical characteristic that is unique to each individual. There are many unique characteristics [See Details and References for a compendium of each] such as fingerprints, retinas, hand geometry and subcutaneous vascular networks (veins) which can be used to accurately identify an individual. Measurements are taken from individuals and entered into a database. Later these measurements can be used to verify identities. Biometrics can offer added layers of security, in addition to the traditional means of physical barriers and passwords. Based on these highly significant results, governments and other organizations are rapidly turning to biometrics to eliminate fraud and verify the identities of individuals.

Motivation for standardizing

The use of biometrics here in the U.S. and in other countries around the world has rapidly evolved in the last few years. As network infrastructures, computers, and hardware become more accessible and inexpensive, biometrics is becoming an increasingly viable technology. Three applications have been the primary motivations. These factors include reducing fraudulent Electronic Benefits Transfers (EBT's), immigration, and crime prevention. There are several large projects that have been initiated that involve biometric identification.

• Spain's Ministry of Labor and Social Security has installed 633 kiosks that display benefit information to unemployed citizens. Spain has spent almost $13 million in fingerprint identification technology for the kiosks.
• Border Control is a salient issue in several countries around the world. The INSPASS projects have used biometrics at several airports in the United States and abroad. These projects have successfully utilized several different forms of biometrics. INSPASS intends to move towards fingerprinting as a uniform technology. Despite this, The German Ministry of the Interior announced it will use hand geometry for its automated border control in German Airports.
• Both MasterCard and Visa have began pilot programs using fingerprints in 1996. Information is stored on the magnetic strip of a user's card. At the time of purchase, the customer's fingerprint is scanned and checked against a database. Mastercard and Visa anticipate major rollouts in the early part of 1997.

Overview

Although there are a number of different biometrics technologies, the use of fingerprints seems to be the most widespread. Fingerprints seem to offer a good compromise between cost and accuracy. They also offer a physical characteristic that can be measured without being intrusive, while still providing a unique description. For these reasons the vast amount of research and discussion has been focused on creating a standard for fingerprint identification. Standard discussions at the international level have been slow. This effort has been most active at various national levels. Several U.S. government agencies along with the private sector are actively pursuing a standard. There currently exist a set of standards:

• ANSI/NIST-CSL 1-1993 Data Format for the Interchange of Fingerprint Information, ANSI, November 22, 1993.
• Criminal Justice Information Services (CIJS) Electronic Fingerprint Transmission Specification, IAFIS-IC-0010, Federal Bureau of Investigation, December 1995.
• WSQ Gray-Scale Fingerprint Image Compression Specification, IAFIS-IC-0110V2, Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS), Federal Bureau of Investigation, February 16, 1993.
• CJIS Wide Area Network Interface Specification, CJIS-IC-0020, Federal Bureau of Investigation, November 20, 1995.

80% of the police departments in the world are located in the United States. Thus vendors have focused their research on a technology that is interoperable with the FBI Labs and ANSI standards. The availability of ANSI and FBI compatible devices, has led to many countries around the world adopting the US ANSI Standard. It has therefore become a de facto international standard.

Explanation
Issues
Details and References