In futuristic shows as well as spy movies, fingerprint scanning is utilized as a high-tech security mechanism. Up until the past couple of years, fingerprint scanning was considered relatively exotic and new to the security world. Now fingerprint scanning is utilized in a variety of ways, from preventing unauthorized individuals from entering certain buildings or to record fingerprints in a police station. To the uninformed, the tech behind a scanner can appear indistinguishable from magic but the truth is that it isn’t nearly as complicated.
How does it work?
As you probably already know, every human being has their own set of fingerprints. The part that makes fingerprints so special is that each one is virtually unique. Thanks to their formation through a unique combination of genetic and environmental factors, there are no two people on Earth who have the same set of fingerprints. The more intuitive among you would realize the implications this has for both security and police work but did you know that it can also be utilized in mobile devices?
To figure out how a fingerprint scanner could be utilized in mobile devices, first you must understand how it works. The most common method of getting an image of someone’s fingerprint is using a technique called optical scanning. A special light sensor system called a CCD takes a picture and illuminates the ridges on your finger. After it has done that, the processor within the scanner ensures that the image has the right brightness or if it has the appropriate definition. Once it has determined it does, it then either stores it within a database or if it is a police scanner, compares it with current fingerprints on file.
Potential Applications:
One potential use for fingerprint scanners in mobile devices is for security. Since it would refuse to unlock with your specific fingerprint, it would ensure that only you have access to your phone making it much more secure than a simple pass code. While a pass code can be found out through brute-force attempts, it is much harder to fake physical attributes and there is no way to “guess” fingerprints.
While there are quite a few benefits to using one for security, they are not infallible. If someone is dedicated to unlocking your mobile device and manages to get a mold of your finger or access to your prints, they could fool the scanner. That’s why it’s recommended that you use a conventional pass code in addition to a biometric scanner. Regardless, it isn’t likely that one would get access to your prints or a mold of your finger so for the most-part, it is secure.
Scanners in Mobile Devices
While all the possibilities brought on by fingerprint scanning seem nice, you might wondering when mobile device manufacturers will actually begin to incorporate the technology in their devices. Well fret no more as there are a number of major phone manufacturers that plan on incorporating this tech eventually.
A year ago, Apple purchased AuthenTec’s encryption business hinting at a interest in fingerprint sensors. With such a large acquisition, it certainly suggests that future iPhone devices may incorporate such tech.
If Apple devices aren’t exactly your cup of tea, it’s been rumoured that future Samsung Galaxy phones will incorporate such tech. Considering the current Samsung Galaxy Nexus already features facial recognition and voice recognition technology, this is a very likely proposition.
With these developments in the biometric scanning field, it’s a given that this will have a major impact on our daily life soon. Whether you see this as an exciting change or a potentially scary prospect regarding privacy, it’s hard to deny that this will forever change how we perceive authentication.