Amidst the verve of sweeping medical introductions in rural and health-deprived areas of India, an Indian NGO launched Operation Asha in the rag-tag slum areas of Delhi. The non-descript slum ghetto of Tehkhand witnessed an establishment of a temporary clinic to cure primary ailments such as Tuberculosis for the betterment of medical conditions amongst the starving poor.

The NGO used fingerprint recognition software to record attendance of patients suffering from Tuberculosis. The automated fingerprint identification systems were installed in the DOT centres to conveniently mark attendance of the scores of patients that thronged the clinic premises daily.

Using state-of-the-art optical sensors to record clear images, fingerprint reader offered a hassle-free mode of instalment and usage, owing to their compact size and convenient placement. They are ideal to carry out verification, recognition, authentication and scanning. These smart fingerprint recognition devices also have an auto sensor that turns on whenever a finger is placed on a scanner. These handy fingerprint reader software systems also allow for the development of customized security applications and cross-referencing techniques to produce accurate results on a timely basis.

Coming back to Operation Asha, the WTO provided funds for the placement of these automated fingerprint identification systems in order to facilitate well-recorded attendance procedures for the patients. The attendances were monitored by the NGO staff to be kept up-to-speed with arrivals, departure, current status and remarks, if necessary. This allowed doctors and staff to stay abreast with patient progress and undertake immediate action in case of anomalies.

Tuberculosis is still a rampant disease in India, which necessitated Operation Asha to undertake the medical treatments of over 60 patients per day. Provision of free medicines, antibiotics and peripheral ailments such as Fever, Diarrhoea, Rickets and Anaemia were also made available.

With the incorporation of Biometrics in the TB treatment centres, also known as DOTS (Direct Observed Treatment Short Course), the issue of defaulters and detection rate have been effectively dealt with. These low cost fingerprint recognition software devices have significantly reduced the defaulter rate of TB to less than 3%, a task considered impossible before.

When identification and recognition of humans are based on their physical attributes, it is referred to as biometrics. It may involve fingerprints or DNA recognition or even iris recognition. Even one’s voice, gait or typing rhythm too at times serves as basic parameters for biometrics.

The process of biometric authentication through fingerprint matching is assumed to be the most successful and has become the latest trend all over the globe. A biometric fingerprint reader records the impressions left by the patterns of the ridges of the finger pads of a human being. A fingerprint is entirely unique to a certain person. Thus it authenticates people and stores the imprints to be matched further whenever required therefore assuring of the safest and most trustworthy method of verification. It has by far been the most reliable and accurate way of recognizing a person and has become an irrefutable parameter of identification.

With its growing popularity, today companies are coming up with new fingerprint readers based on newer technologies every day to make fingerprint identification process easier and hassle free. These USB fingerprint readers are equipped with optical sensors which are resistant to shock, corrosion or vibration and can sense the touch of a finger in its vicinity. The advanced technology ensures that under any circumstance, it can take a clear and distortion-free image of a finger irrespective of whether it is scarred, moist or even aged.

Fingerprinting is now utilized in many major areas. Airports, border security control, banks, schools, colleges, offices have currently resorted to fingerprinting. Fingerprint attendance has been adopted in many institutions including hospitals worldwide. Hospitals have even embraced fingerprint matching processes as part of access control. Biometric fingerprint readers are used to match previously recorded fingerprint data of the doctors, nurses and other staff of a hospital and permit their entry as that is the most secure method. Nowadays some hospitals even use the scanning and analysis of the sub-thermal palm vein patterns of their employees. This ensures that accurate identification is obtained even if there are cuts or abrasions on the skin.

Biometrics is a science based on the measurement and analysis of uniquely identifiable physical characteristics of a human being. The physical characteristics can range from DNA to eye retina, facial pattern to voice pattern and fingerprints and hand measurement. However, fingerprints have come across as the most commonly used biometric and hence the wide-spread popularity of biometric fingerprint reader.

Though the use of fingerprint reader has mostly been restricted to intelligence agencies, today such biometric devices find a wide range of application—from corporate houses to police stations, from research institutes to hospitals. Use of fingerprint reader in hospitals is a welcome change. It is in particular essential for geriatric hospitals and homes. Geriatric hospitals are homes mainly to the elderly and more often than not the residents include patients with dementia, Alzheimer’s disease and other mental illnesses. Hence it is important to control access and attendance of such patients. Biometric fingerprint readers and fingerprint attendance systems can be integrated with the control center of the hospital to achieve this aim.

In hospitals using fingerprint reader, digital fingerprints and additional information about residents, staff and regular visitors are enrolled at the reception. Then these fingerprint data are sent to the numerous devices installed at different access points. The data is according to the access levels. For instance, both residents and staffs would have access to shared areas, but restricted areas would be accessible to select members of the staff only. On the other hand visitors would rarely have access beyond the visitor’s chamber. Before entering a particular area the entrant will have to place his/her fingers on the fingerprint reader, wherein his/her fingerprint will be scanned and matched with the database. If this identification process is successful access is granted.

Now that USB fingerprint readers are also available, setting up such advanced security systems in hospitals has become all the more hassle free and easier to operate. Fingerprint readers and fingerprint attendance systems ensure both patient security and information security and help to prevent untoward incidents.

The practice of using fingerprints for personal identification has been in use since the late nineteenth century when Sir Francis Galton showed how fingerprints can be identified by studying the unique characteristics of the Galton Points. This method remained popular till the late sixties when a variation of the Galton Points was developed which was more accurate and reliable; of course the advent of computers helped.

This new subset of the Galton Points was called the minutiae and involved a detailed study of the shape of the ridges on the fingertips-concentrating on their patterns and bifurcations. The FBI entrusted the National Institute of Standards and Technology to study ways and means to scan fingerprints with the objective of extracting minutiae information and matching the information with that available on the databases.

Setting standards in the biometric fingerprint industry

In 1975 the FBI developed a prototype fingerprint reader which used capacitive technology to collect minutiae information. The first prototype stored fingerprint data because storing images was prohibitively expensive with the technology existing at that point of time. Over the next few years NIST concentrated on digitizing fingerprints, image compression and classification of minutiae.

However, without any standardization available, interoperability issues started cropping up; more specifically issues where data recorded under one system could not be read by the other system because of compatibility issues. The question of interoperability was important because once a solution was found biometric fingerprint readers could be used in a number of areas including fingerprint attendance, biometric security and so on.

Governmental Initiative

To achieve interoperability the United States Government embarked on an ambitious project which would make the system operable across the spectrum. The first step to this goal aimed to address accuracy issues; the question was whether fingerprint technology could be relied upon to create foolproof security systems. Accordingly, NIST managed a subgroup called Fingerprint Vendor Technology Evaluation, which was entrusted with the job of verifying the reliability of the technology. The FVTE found that the accuracy increased with the increase in the number of fingers used during enrolment. With this crucial bit of information available several initiatives were undertaken to standardize the use of fingerprint technology across the spectrum aimed to improve interoperability.

ANSI/INCITS 381-2004

This standard laid down the specifics of image based fingerprint and palm print recognition data; specially standards for content, format and units of measurement. This standard is perfect for applications and protocols that require the use of high resolution images.

ANSI/INCITS 377-2004

This standard lays the guidelines for pattern based fingerprint data interoperability. It sets the rules for converting raw fingerprint images to down-sampled cellular representation that helps in achieving the goal of interchangeability.

ANSI/INCITS 378-2004

The ANSI/INCITS 378-2004 sets the guidelines for recording and processing minutiae data. Specifically, it lays down the standards for recording, formatting, and interpretation of minutiae data.

ANSI/NIST ITL 1-2000

This standard lays down the desired format of fingerprint, facial and scar mark information. This format lays down the guidelines for the exchange of fingerprint, facial, and palm data to be used for identification purposes.

ISO/IEC 19794-2

This standard lays down the parameters for determining the minutiae points and the usage of this information for smart card usage. The guidelines also provide information on the types of minutiae and the guidelines for matching the information.

Standardization has helped in the development of the biometric industry leading to interoperability across several systems. Due to the growth of this industry biometric devices like fingerprint scanners, USB fingerprint readers are becoming more and more popular in the modern world.

Fingerprint identification systems has become popular because of its ease of acquisition, reliability, innumerous sources (any of the 10 fingers can be used for enrolment purposes), and its acceptance by law enforcement and immigration authorities. However, lack of interoperability in the earlier systems resulted in many man hours lost which led to a call for standardization.

The search for the ideal automated fingerprint identification system started in the late 60’s as a part of a FBI initiative. Accordingly, the National Bureau of Standards, now called the National Institute of Standards and Technology, was entrusted with the task of studying the process of classification, researching, and matching fingerprints. This resulted in the development of the M40 algorithm used by the FBI to narrow down the search. By 1981 five different Automated Fingerprint Identification Systems were operational; however, due to the lack of standardization they were not interoperable; that is, the information collected by one system could not be used by another system.

The need for homogenization

The need for homogenization or standardization of systems is essential because of the variety and complexity of sensors and algorithms available in the market. Interoperability means that the biometric fingerprints collected by one system can be interpreted by a fingerprint scanner in another system. To achieve this end several initiatives were undertaken to standardize the content, meaning, and format of fingerprinting information. A brief overview of some of the initiatives are given below-

Integrated Automatic Fingerprint Identification System (IAFIS)

This was maintained by FBI’s Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) in order to expedite fingerprint searches. With over 47 million subjects the system facilitated electronic storage of images, latent fingerprint searches, and electronic exchanges of fingerprint data between two different automatic fingerprint identifiers.

ANSI/ INCITS 381-2004 Finger Image based Data Interchange Format
This format specifies the interoperability standards for image based fingerprint and palm print information. It sets the standards and guidelines for content, format and unit of measurement which helps interoperability.

ANSI/ INCITS 378-2004 Finger Minutiae Format for Data Interchange
This format lays down the standards for recording Minutiae related fingerprint information by setting guidelines for recording, interpreting and placing minutiae data.

ISO/IEC 19794-2 Finger Minutiae For Data Interchange
This lays down standards for determining minutiae points, their use and the data formats for smart card usage. It also lays down guidelines for matching of fingerprint information.

NIST Special Publication 800 -76

This standard mentions the specifics for recording, storing and processing fingerprint data and templates required for storing facial data. It also mentions the specifics of the biometric device required for reading fingerprint images.

For a greater part of a century now, fingerprinting technology has proved their utility in identification and validation procedures all over the world. The move towards standardization has led to interoperable systems and that day is not far when biometric security solutions will become the order or the day.

Airports all over the world are increasingly turning to state of the art Fingerprint Identification System to boost their security apparatus and preventing instances of fraud, where forged documents have been used to get past the immigration authorities. The new system called the ePassport incorporates new technologies like Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) and biometrics to form a foolproof security system, which, experts believe, will offer a top class airport security system. Once this new system is successfully implemented, automated fingerprint identifiers and fingerprint scanners will become the last word in airport security.

The need for an Automated fingerprint identification system was felt after the September 11 terrorist attacks, which exposed the loopholes in the existing airport security systems. Following the accident, studies were undertaken, on how to improve the airport security systems without inconveniencing the passengers.

International Civil Aviation Organization guidelines for Airport Security

Following this initiative by the United States government, a task force was set up to find out ways to improve airport security. After studying several options, the task force decided that a biometric based passport system was best suited for the needs of a modern airport system. A biometric system was preferred because it provided a foolproof identification system in a hassle free environment. Also, it was easy to use, reliable and durable; providing a security cordon for many years after a successful enrolment.

According to this program, all passports issued after 2005 will carry biometric information. Together, the RFID and the biometric technologies will reduce fraud, ease identity checks and enhance security at the airports. These passports would be designed according to the guidelines set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), a body run by the United States Government and mandated to oversee the implementation of the ePassport. The ICAO guideline mandated the incorporation of RFID technology in the next generation biometric enabled passports. The guidelines further states that each passport would contain digitized facial information of the bearer in addition to fingerprint and iris data.

The US-Visit Program, which includes twenty seven member states, requires the visitor to include two sets of fingerprints in addition to a head shot, in order to make the identification process easier. Since this initiative was taken, many governments, including the Indian government have gravitated towards a biometric based passport system to make their airport security system more reliable.

E-Visa is a paperless system that incorporates state of the art Biometric technology and Radio Frequency Identification system to smooth immigration procedures and at the same time implement a foolproof security system that prevents fraudulent usage of travel documents to gain unlawful entry. The system uses a fingerprint reader to authenticate whether a person is who they claim to be by verifying their biometric details.

The United States government concerned with rising instances of cross border terrorism decided to set up an expert body to study ways and means to ramp up their archaic visa documentation procedures. The expert body found the then existing rules and procedures outdated and woefully inadequate to handle the requirements of the new milieu and suggested a revamping of the system. New rules and regulations were set up including the passing of the Enhanced Border Security and Visa Entry Reform Act of 2002, which recommended the use of biometric based smart cards in the place of paper visas.

According to the law, those visiting the United States under the Visa Waiver Program will have to bear machine readable passports on their person at immigration. The e-Visa would contain a photograph of the bearer, personal information and selected biometric information in a 64 Kilo Byte chip embedded in the identity card. The identity card will be contained in a jacket specially designed to shield the information from unwarranted access. The e-Visa when brought in proximity to a scanner transmits the data to a central database. This information will then be authenticated at the entry point with the help of biometric fingerprint reader.

The Visa Waiver program is a special program of the United States Government that allows citizens of certain specified countries to travel to the United States for tourism or business purposes without having to fulfill normal visa requirements. The program is valid for all the 50 states of the United States, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Island. Only citizens of developed countries with high income and featuring high on the human development index can qualify for this program.

The Visa Waiver Program was introduced in 1986 and was modeled on Australia’s Electronic Travel Authority scheme. The scheme gave a boost to tourism in the United States and facilitated better utilization of consular resources to more pressing issues of the day. According to the program, the visitors would have to provide advance information of their visit to the authorities in the United States. The permission to visit will given electronically; however admittance will be reserved by the American Government and can be revoked if the situation so warrants.

Biometric technology like iris scanners, USB fingerprint readers, and facial scanners have helped governments curb the menace of terrorism and at the same time made travelling easier and more comfortable.