Biometric sensors are just arriving on the tech scene. The early adopters have begun using Apple's Touch ID sensor to lock and unlock their iOS devices, and to buy iTunes.
And if the FIDO Alliance gets any traction in its efforts to promote a new technical standard for device-centric authentication, the use of a variety of biometric sensors could begin to go mainstream.
Led by PayPal, Lenovo, Google and MasterCard, the FIDO Alliance is a global initiative to establish common rules of the road that ultimately would enable any biometric sensor to unlock any online account, without sharing the biometric.
FIDO rules equip fingerprint, iris, voice and facial recognition sensors, as well as security tokens, smart cards and Near Field Communication (NFC) systems, to privately unlock banking, shopping and corporate online services that adhere to the same set of rules.
CyberTruth asked two biometric systems vendors -- Greg Cannon, Senior Vice President for Standards and Architecture at Cross Match Technologies, and Shahar Belkin, Chief Technology Officer at FST21 -- for clarity on the go-forward implications.
CT: Fingerprint sensors are getting a lot of attention as the next big leap in secure authentication. How specifically does your company intend to tap into that trend?
Cannon: Cross Match Technologies' core business began with certified fingerprint capture technology and software solutions. We have been serving the industry since 1996 and our technology is widely adopted in law enforcement, defense, and civil applications. For us it is about educating the market on the broader applications of biometrics and how they can enhance our daily lives.
Belkin: Today, every smart device – phone or tablet – has a built in HD camera and a sensitive microphone, there is no need to add any additional sensor to achieve high quality and relatable recognition. At FST21, the combination between face, body size, behavior and voice is user friendly, very fast and extremely accurate.
CT: How would you argue that we are on the cusp of a surge in usage of biometric sensors?
Cannon: The adoption of the fingerprint swipe to log on to your laptop or Apple's latest iPhone 5s biometric security feature will continue to demonstrate the advantages of biometrics in our lives. The right combination of security and convenience supports overcoming the public perception that fingerprinting is only done for criminal applications.
Belkin: Biometrics can now be delivered in real-time and with a reasonable price. The ability to use only one identification method that you can never lose or forget is a motivating factor. Fraud is creating a need for more security and ease of identification.
CT: What do you think of the standards approach advocated by the FIDO Alliance?
Cannon: The Alliance is a solid mix of key players in the industry. They have taken a definitive approach by moving away from the standards adopted for civil and defense applications -- such as border control and driver licenses -- and are working towards the adoption of biometrics in the broader commercial marketplace. We believe that supports the biometrics industry as a whole, and that is a positive thing.
Belkin: The biometrics market is still very much in flux. The FIDO Alliance can help push the market forward into accepting the technology as a standard. Eventually, biometrics and the industry as a whole will be standardized. Whether it's by groups like the FIDO Alliance or by governments, or even as a de-facto standard implemented by the technology providers, it's a necessary next step.
Source : USA TODAY
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