Biometrics (ancient Greek: bios ="life", metron ="measure") is the study of methods for uniquely recognizing humans based upon one or more intrinsic physical or behavioral traits. In information technology, biometric authentication refers to technologies that measure and analyze human physical and behavioural characteristics for authentication purposes. Examples of physical (or physiological or biometrc) characteristics include fingerprints, eye retinas and irises, facial patterns and hand measurements, while examples of mostly behavioural characteristics include signature, gait and typing patterns.

Biometric authentication is the automatic recognition of a human being or individual based on his or her unique biometric characteristic. The technology is extensively used for the purpose of conditional access, desktop/network login and surveillance activities.

•	False Acceptance Rate (FAR) The FAR is the frequency that a non-authorized person is accepted as authorized. Because a false acceptance can often lead to damages, FAR is generally a security relevant measure.
•	False Rejection Rate (FRR) The FRR is the frequency that an authorized person is rejected or denied access. FRR is generally thought of as a comfort criteria, because a false rejection is most of all annoying.
•	Failure To Enroll rate (FTE, also FER) The FER is the proportion of people who fail to be enrolled successfully. Those who are enrolled yet but are mistakenly rejected after many verification/identification attempts count for the Failure To Acquire (FTA) rate.

It is a matter of fact that the security of password-protected values in particular depends on the user. If the user has to memorize too many passwords, he will use the same passwords for as many applications as possible. If this is not possible, he will go to construct very simple passwords. If this will also fail (e.g., if the construction rules are too complex), the next fall-back stage is to notify the password on paper. In this case, and that seems to be the normal case, it can be said that biometrics has considerable advantages.

Contrariwise, passwords feature unbeatable theoretic protection ability: an eight-digit password, which is allowed to contain any symbol from an 8-bit alphabet, offers 10 20 possible combinations! This is a real challenge for any biometric feature. The requirements are obvious: such a password is maximally difficult to learn, it must not be written down, it must not be passed to anyone, the input must take place absolutely secret, it must not be extorted, and the technical implementations must be perfect. However, it can be assumed that the protection of biometric feature acquisition is not easier than the acquisition of the password, provided the implementation expense is comparable.

Technologies	Horizontal Applications	Key Vertical Markets
Fingerprint	Access Control & Attendance	Military
Face Recognition	Civil ID	Travel and Transportation
Hand Geometry	Consumer ID	Financial Sector
Middleware / Identity Management	Criminal ID	Health Care
Iris Recognition	Device/System Access	Law Enforcement
Voice Recognition	Surveillance	State and Municipal Government
Vein Recognition		Other National Government
Multiple-Biometric		Gaming and Hospitality
AFIS/Live-Scan		High-Tech and Telecom
		Industrial Manufacturing
		Retail

•	For employers Reduced costs - password maintenance Reduced costs - no buddy punching Increased security - no shared or compromised passwords Increased security - deter and detect fraudulent account access Increased security - no badge sharing in secure areas Competitive advantage - familiarity with advanced technology
•	For employees Convenience - no passwords to remember or reset Convenience - faster login Security - confidential files can be stored securely Non-repudiation - biometrically transactions difficult to refute
•	For consumers Convenience - no passwords to remember or reset Security - personal files, including emails, can be secured Security - online purchases safer when enabled by biometric Privacy - ability to transact anonymously
•	For retailers (online and point-of-sale) Reduced costs - biometric users less likely to commit fraud Competitive advantage - first to offer secure transaction method Security - account access much more secure than via password
•	For public sector usage Reduced costs - strongest way to detect and deter benefits fraud Increased trust - reduced entitlement abuse

As many as the imagination can hold. Fingerprint recognition can be used in any application that requires security, access control, and identification or verification of the user. These applications include PC-peripherals for secure workstations, PC network security solutions, E-commerce, entry-access systems, door-locks, time-and-attendance machines, ATMs, toys and games. Presently, SecuGen's technology has been successfully integrated into computer mice and keyboards, network security solutions, Internet security solutions, on-line banking systems, door locks, access control systems, time & attendance machines, and ATMs. These products have proven performance and are sold throughout the world.

Fingerprint recognition methodology is divided into two distinct processes: Verification and Identification. The Verification process is a one-to-one matching process (1:1). The user states who the user is. A new fingerprint sample is taken from the user and compared to the user's previously registered or stored fingerprint. If the fingerprints match, the user is "verified" as who they say they are, and granted all the privileges and access of the stated user-the system verifies who the user says they are. The Identification process is a one-to-many matching process (1:N). A user need not state who they are. A new fingerprint sample is taken from the user and compared to a database of existing fingerprints of registered or stored users. When a match is found, the user is "identified" as the preexisting user-the system finds who the user is. This one-to-many matching process is how the Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS) works. SecuGen offers both verification and identification technology.

First, a user must enroll their fingerprint for future verification (1:1) or identification (1:N). A user can enroll by placing their finger on a SecuGen® fingerprint recognition device such as a SecuGen® Mouse or an access control device integrated with a SecuGen fingerprint module. The device sensor scans the user's finger and captures the live 3-D fingerprint image. SecuGen's minutiae based algorithm then extracts minutiae points from the image and converts the data into a unique mathematical template, comparable to a 60 digit password-a password. This unique template is then encrypted and stored to represent the user. No actual image of the fingerprint is stored.

Next, for verification, an enrolled user states who they are (i.e. enters a user ID) and places the his or her finger on the device sensor. A new fingerprint image of the user is captured. Minutiae data is extracted from the fingerprint and converted into a template. This template is then compared to the user's pre-enrolled template for a match. If the templates match, the user is verified positively. For identification, a user places the his or her finger on sensor without stating their identity (i.e. does not enter any user ID). The newly extracted template is then matched against preexisting templates. If there is a match, the user is identified as the user who enrolled the preexisting template.

Considered the oldest and most commonly accepted form of biometrics, fingerprints have been used for verification and identification purposes for thousands of years. Both the United States and Europe began documenting the use of fingerprints for identification and verification over a hundred years ago. After all this time, and millions of fingerprints later, no two identical fingerprints have ever been found. It is safe to say that fingerprints are truly a unique human characteristic, as no other biometrics technology can boast this level of scientific history and evidential support. Accordingly, its advantage over other biometric solutions lies in its proven accuracy, reliability, convenience, user acceptance and familiarity. Moreover, with SecuGen's technology and through support for developers, many applications have been developed and many more are continually being developed to make fingerprint recognition systems useful and affordable for consumers everywhere.

SecuGen biometrics eliminate the problems associated with password management by measuring fingerprints, a unique human characteristic that is virtually impossible to duplicate or forget. Fingerprint biometrics make it more convenient for you to access your electronic resources, while maintaining a secure method of authentication.

Tutis (Ancient Latin: Secure) is a pioneer in the field of Biometric software solutions in India for access control and time attendance. Tutis aims at introducing not just the technological innovation and prowess but a range of products to customize & redefine workspaces through the best office automation and security solutions. It has a range of biometric products and software solutions with a wide spectrum of functionality, interoperability and scope for customization.

The Biometric division of Tutis was established in 1999 and now has over eight years of experience in the field of biometric technology.

Tutis has a range of software and hardware products for fingerprint and smart card based Time Attendance and Access Control systems. Tutis is also the authorized VAR for leading global biometric players like Cross Match Technologies, Startek and SecuGen for their products and scanning devices like SecuGen Hamster III. Tutis has also developed its own biometric authentication software for desktops and servers – Tutis Biometric Logon.

Tutis technologies, headquartered in Mumbai, has offices in London and Dubai along with an efficient countrywide network of resellers and dealers.