Biometric verification is any means by which a person can be uniquely identified by an assessment or more distinguishing biological traits. The unique identifiers include fingerprints, hand geometry, earlobe geometry, retina and iris patterns, voice waves, DNA and signatures. The oldest form of biometric verification of fingerprints. Historians have found examples of fingerprints being used as a means of unique identification on clay seals in ancient China. Biometric verification has advanced considerably with the advent of databases and digitization of analog data, allowing almost instantaneous personal identification.
Iris-model and retina-model authentication methods are already used in some bank automatic teller machines. Waveform speech recognition, a verification method that was used for many years with recordings of a telephone wiretaps, is currently used for access to databases in research facilities. Facial-recognition technology has been used by law enforcement to identify individuals in large crowds with great reliability. The hand geometry is used in industry to provide physical access to buildings. Earlobe geometry was used to refute the identity of persons who claim to be someone they are not (identity theft). Signature comparison is not as reliable, by itself, as other methods of biometric verification, but offers an extra layer of verification when used in conjunction with one or more methods.
