E – 1511 Biometric Features & Principles for Engineers

The four part Security Practices & Engineering Concepts are inter-related courses on the history and development of state-of-the-art security systems.

• Motion Detection Technology.
• Locking Arrangements & Code Compliance For Engineers.
• Customizing Security Design.
• Biometric Features & Principles for Engineers.

There are many ID systems used at entrances, combining access control card readers with biometric identification that have proliferated in the last five years. There are also many odd ID systems that may seem to be impractical today, but could become the standard biometric identifiers in the future. This course evaluates and describes almost every biometric device currently available, including technology that can identify personalized keyboard patterns, body odor, ear canal reverberations and walking gaits. DNA could probably be the ultimate concept and the most accurate system but asking for cheek swabs is too intrusive and processing takes too much time for practical use as component of a door control system.

Card readers may make the system more secure than a conventional key would, but they can only assume the identity of the user. They cannot authenticate the user, which is a serious shortcoming in areas where higher security is required; they can be easily compromised. The only way to authenticate a user is to upgrade the access control system to include electronic-based biometrics devices, which use stored data of unique human characteristics and acquired traits.