ABSTRACT
Biometric devices have been suggested for use in applications from access to personal computers, automated teller machines, credit card transactions, and electronic transactions to access control for airports, nuclear facilities, and border control. Given this diverse array of potential applications, biometric devices have the potential to provide additional security over traditional security means such as passwords, keys, signatures, picture identification, etc. A sensor measures the biometric sample and converts it into a digital signal or image. An algorithm then extracts features from the signal or image, that are used for the recognition algorithm. For example, with fingerprint recognition, features commonly include ridge endings and bifurcations, called minutiae. The chapter describes an example of signal processing applied to liveness detection in biometric devices. Given biometric recognition is an emerging technology, the vulnerability of these devices to simple spoofing techniques will need to be addressed using liveness detection or other antispoofing methods depending on the risk assessment for the application.
