Mohammad S. Obaidat - Biometric-Based Physical and Cybersecurity Systems

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Biometrics represents one of the most robust and reliable forms of human identification in physical and cyber security. The last decade has witnessed tremendous advances in sensor technologies and data processing techniques and algorithms. This has led to the strengthening of traditional biometrics technologies (e.g., fingerprint, face, iris, retina, keystroke dynamics, and voice) and the emergence of several new technologies, which are showing great promises. The confluence of the consumer markets and national security needs have led to a growing demand for biometrics products and services. For instance, the integration of biometric sensors in smartphones and the use of these technologies for online banking have boosted the adoption of biometric technologies for the masses.

Biometrics carries a strong ability to establish whether an individual is genuine or an impostor. Such an ability to reliably identify individuals coupled with the extreme difficulty of forging biometric data has made it the most trusted form of human identification.

According to Research and Markets Ltd., a market research firm, the global biometrics market will reach $42.4 billion by 2021. Due to advancements in the technological landscape and better understanding by people, biometrics technologies are now used in various sectors including government, defense, law enforcement, finance, e-commerce, and education. Some countries have started using biometrics to prevent identity fraud during elections or in welfare management and provision.

Several technological advancements have occurred in this area in the last 15 years or so. Now it is possible to collect high-quality data adapted to specific context. For instance, new optical fingerprint scanners are able to sense the presence of a finger and start the scanning process automatically; they can adapt to the capture environment and filter out some of the imperfection and noise. Breakthrough in webcam technologies has improved face detection effectiveness; increasing the accuracy of face biometric technologies.

There are several emerging technologies such as DNA analysis, keystroke recognition, gait analysis, EEG/ECG analysis, mouse dynamics, odor, and touchscreen dynamics that are showing great promises in industry.

As part of this upward trend, we have seen the appearance of multimodal biometric systems that leverage in hybrid platforms the strength of several technologies to improve identification accuracy.

The book presents the state of the art in biometrics technologies and reports on new approaches, methods, findings, and technologies developed or being developed by the research community and the industry to address the aforementioned challenges.

The book focuses on introducing fundamental principles and concepts of key enabling technologies for biometric systems applied for both physical and cyber security, disseminates recent research and development efforts in this fascinating area, investigates related trends and challenges, and presents case studies and examples.

It also covers the advances, and future in research and development in biometric security systems, by reviewing the fundamental techniques in the design, operation, and development of these systems.

It is intended for researchers, developers and managers, and students of computer science, information science and technology and electrical and computer engineering, in particular, graduate students at the master and PhD levels, working or with interest in the aforementioned areas.

The book consists of a selection of 21 peer-reviewed chapters contributed by leading experts in biometrics. Chapter is an introduction that gives general perspective on biometrics, and the remaining chapters are structured around the following five major themes: advances in legacy or traditional biometric technologies, emerging biometric technologies, hybrid biometric technologies, enabling technologies or platforms, and the interaction between biometric technology and society. Chapter 1 introduces the concept of biometrics. The categorization of biometric technologies is presented, along with some discussion on biometrics requirements and characteristics and the uses of biometrics technologies. This chapter also presents well-established biometric systems along with operation modes. Finally, some perspectives in terms of contemporary developments that keep up with the promises and expectations of the biometric discipline are discussed.