In designing any biometric system, one must consider people’s attitudes and perceptions. The growth of a given technology is highly dependent on how comfortable end-users become in using it. A superior biometric system is one which widens usage, reduces user anxiety, and lessens any pre-existing user reluctance towards its use. Therefore, it is very crucial that an enterprise consider the human factors when selecting and deploying a biometric system. Finger vein pattern recognition technology was developed to provide a highly desirable, fast biometric technique as well as support people considerations such as hygiene, privacy, convenience and personal security. Finger vein recognition offers an array of “people friendliness” advantages vis-à-vis other biometric technologies:
- Near Contactless –As previously stated, there is no direct contact with the surface of the sensor, and there is minimal physical contact at all. One’s finger merely aligns with the reader so that the CCD camera can acquire a vein pattern image. The use of the near infrared light enables non-intrusive imaging that ensures ease and cleanliness for the user experience. There is no pressing of the finger against a sensor, causing it to get dirty or oily, thus decreasing the success of the authentication. Moreover, with such minimal physical contact near-contactless limits the spread of bacteria and viruses from user to user, and this is a key concern to many people.
- Privacy Protection – A key advantage of vein pattern recognition technology is that it can support access authentication in a privacy-enhancing way. One’s finger vein pattern cannot be read without the knowledge and consent of the individual. There are no latent properties; that is, one cannot leave behind a finger vein pattern as one can leave DNA and fingerprints. It is not intrusive; one simply lays one’s finger (any finger) on the reader for a split second. Finally, one cannot spoof the finger vein system with a picture or a severed finger; the VPR technology only works on a healthy, physically attached finger. What this means to privacy advocates is they now have available to them a privacy-oriented biometric! And for ultimate privacy and security, one’s finger vein recognition template can be placed on an IC card (each Hitachi FV template requires only 500 bytes in programmable memory), a laptop PC, or a PDA. In those scenarios, the database is contained in a token or device that the individual controls, and the biometric stays in one’s finger. That is truly privacy enhancing.
- Convenience – There is minimal user effort in using a finger vein system. Anyone who can place a finger on a vein pattern scanner can use this biometric system. A finger vein read requires minimal positioning of the finger, and it takes less than two seconds for the reader device to read the vein pattern, process the template, perform a match, and then notify the individual of acceptance or denial. It is a very natural, easy process. There is also minimal user effort or training required, and there are no special requirements. Finally, the false rejection rate is extremely low, thus not delaying enrolled users with denied access and a requirement to re-verify.
- Highly Secure – Finger Vein biometrics are closed view in that the physical traits to be measured are internal to the human body and are hidden from common sight, rendering it far more difficult to inappropriately capture and replicate. Open view biometrics such as fingerprints, iris scanning, voice scanning, and facial scans are easily recorded or photographed, and are susceptible to covert capture and use by fraudsters to spoof control systems.
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