By Juan Carlos Tejedor is HID Biometrics Commercial Director for Latin America
In recent years, biometrics has become increasingly sophisticated and, on the other hand, has been more and more incorporated into the life of the population. This is mainly due to the fact that it is safer, quite convenient and easy.l to use – as we all naturally carry with us the iris, face, palm and fingerprints. Another competitive advantage of biometrics is the ease with which it is combined with one or more protection factors – even if only it can guarantee that the holder of a certain card, for example, is really who he says he is, giving proof of life. Although biometrics are not included in the general regulation of airports, it certainly contributes to ensuring that the definitions are duly complied with, whether in the safety of operations, maintenance, emergencies and even in the passenger experience.
Basically, biometric technology has three phases: 1) image capture; 2) proof that it is a living person; and 3) access to individual data, with subsequent authentication. Despite the constant emergence of new biometric technologies, such as the way the mouth moves to speak, most still have flaws in certain circumstances. Until today, fingerprint-based biometrics is the technology that has reached the highest levels of security, in addition to enabling the creation of a general registry, since many documents - such as RG, driver's license, voter registration and passport – require fingerprint registration.
When thinking about a biometric technology capable of meeting the needs of various sectors of an airport, we not only consider fingerprint, but also immediately think of multispectral imaging (MSI) technology, created by Lumidigm®. The reason for this is that MSI sensors have been specially developed to work perfectly in various circumstances – both indoors and outdoors – and in adverse weather conditions such as heavy rain and snow. In addition, the sensors quickly and easily identify not only the fingerprint of the outer layer of the skin, but also an inner layer, irrigated by the bloodstream. This is a key feature to curb most fraud attempts. After all, it is not enough to simply carry a card that proves your identity. It is necessary to prove that you are the one claiming to be, that you are in fact the owner of that card.
Once an airport invests in this type of security, its use is as varied as possible. Imagine an airplane that is only activated by means of physical, metal keys, in combination with the pilot's fingerprint. This would certainly add an extra dose of security in difficult times like the one we are currently experiencing, with so many terrorist threats. But biometric technology can also be used for many other things besides opening entry into strategic environments. It can, for example, replace boarding passes, improve border and immigration control, facilitate access to waiting rooms and other facilities implicit in the air ticket, and even replace the passport. In other words, biometrics will radically change the passenger experience.
With this level of security that fingerprint sensors with multispectral imaging technology offer, people's control increases as it ceases to be a control over plastic or paper cards. No one else can impersonate anyone else. This is the big trend for the next few years. With the increase in the use of this technology in various instances of individuals' routine, including the way they travel between airports and countries, the crossing of information is increasingly efficient and must be applied to ensure more safety and convenience to the population. Security is now at the fingertips of each of us.
Once an airport invests in this type of security, its use is as varied as possible. Imagine an airplane that is only activated by means of physical, metal keys, in combination with the pilot's fingerprint. This would certainly add an extra dose of security in difficult times like the one we are currently experiencing, with so many terrorist threats. But biometric technology can also be used for many other things besides opening entry into strategic environments. It can, for example, replace boarding passes, improve border and immigration control, facilitate access to waiting rooms and other facilities implicit in the air ticket, and even replace the passport. In other words, biometrics will radically change the passenger experience.
With this level of security that fingerprint sensors with multispectral imaging technology offer, people's control increases as it ceases to be a control over plastic or paper cards. No one else can impersonate anyone else. This is the big trend for the next few years. With the increase in the use of this technology in various instances of individuals' routine, including the way they travel between airports and countries, the crossing of information is increasingly efficient and must be applied to ensure more safety and convenience to the population. Security is now at the fingertips of each of us.
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