Fingerprint Verification System

The use of fingerprints as a biometric is both the oldest mode of computer-aided, personal identification and the most prevalent in use today. However, this widespread use of fingerprints has been and still is largely for law enforcement applications. There is expectation that a recent combination of factors will favor the use of fingerprints for the much larger market of personal authentication. These factors include: small and inexpensive fingerprint capture devices, fast computing hardware, recognition rate and speed to meet the needs of many applications, the explosive growth of network and Internet transactions, and the heightened awareness of the need for ease-of-use as an essential component of reliable security.

Fingerprint identification is one of the most well-know and publicized biometrics. Because of their uniqueness and consistency over time, fingerprints have been used for identification for over a century, more recently becoming automated (i.e. a biometric) due to advancements in computing capabilities. Fingerprint identification is popular because of the inherent ease in acquisition, the numerous sources (ten fingers) available for collection, and their established use and collections by law enforcement and immigration.