Biometric technology : Part 1: A paradigm shift in identity management and security technologies

Automated biometric recognition technology, or simply 'biometrics', appeared in the 1960s as a paradigm shift to the classical security and identity management technologies used until then. With these new systems, one is not recognised by something that they know (e.g., PIN or password) or something that they possess (e.g., passport, key), but by something that they are (e.g., face, fingerprints). This makes biometric technologies more challenging to abuse than traditional methods of identification as, unlike passwords or ID cards, biometric identifiers are difficult to guess, share, misplace, copy or forge. This way, behind the catchy slogan 'you are your own key', biometrics have continuously grown since their inception, becoming nowadays an integral part of our daily lives.