Biometrics, or the recognition of the identity of someone based on a biological aspect of a person, is actually a very old technology. We use biometrics everyday when we use the ‘computer’ that we call the human mind: for example, when we recognize someone by looking at his or her face, or when we check a written signature against what we trust to be a bona-fide copy of a signature. The futuristic feel of biometric technology comes about when we match the traditional biometric approach with the new capabilities that we have in electronics. Now we can use electronic devices to make biometric judgements about the authenticity of a person—that is, “is person x who they say they are?” Since the information and digital age is upon us, the technology has come about that makes authentication exceptionally accurate, and potentially a much more reliable means of authenticating a person than traditional, human-judgement based biometrics.



Experts in authentication technologies usually classify the criteria that are used to verify someone’s identity based upon a few different categories. “What you know”, or W-Y-K, is one form of authentication: a common version of this occurs when you give an electronic bank terminal your PIN (or Personal identification number). “What you have”, or W-Y-H, is another criterion, and this refers to the possession of some identifying object such as an identification card or passport: but you could even consider a simple door key as a kind of W-Y-H proof of identity for allowing access into a private or controlled access property. Biometrics, according to this scheme of classification, would generally be termed “What you are” or W-Y-A. It is the presentation of a physical aspect of yourself that is quite uniquely and individually you, in order to obtain authentication.



Electronic access control (EAC) over properties based upon biometrics is not a new technology, having been around for decades—and it has taken on many forms. Hollywood movies have long depicted high security installations that use finger and handprints, eye (iris and retina) scans, facial and voice recognition and so on, in order to verify identity. Of course, media typically depicts the technology as being used by spies, high-tech corporate installations, the ultra-rich and other elites of society: possibly to protect priceless assets and information, or to prevent espionage and treason. Only recently has it become an exciting time for the rest of us, technologically speaking, as “the digital age” has brought electronic biometric technology to a quality standard and a price that is within the reach of the average consumer.





Fingerprint Scanning Biometric Door Locks



The newest consumer item is a biometric access control device that scans a person’s fingerprint in order to allow access to a property, or even to a vehicle. High-tech industry commentators are seeing biometrics as the new emergent technology that will eventually replace, or at least be offered alongside all other forms of access control (such as keys, or electronic access control devices based upon PIN code keypads, magnetic card swiping, or Radio Frequency ID (RFID) tokens/key-fobs). One of the principle reasons for this is that the biometric device potentially offers an entry control solution that is free of the typical problems that beset older technologies. That advantage might be simply avoiding that horrible feeling you get when you are standing at your front door and can’t find your keys, or when you have so many PINS in your head that you can’t remember the right one to gain access to a property. Maybe it is when the so-called magnetic stripe card has lost its magnetic properties, or you have lost the card; or when a RFID key-fob has run out of batteries, is stolen, or simply just fails to communicate to the lock. Biometrics could be advantageous for those that have physical difficulty with the operation of any of these older technologies. With biometrics, all you need is a finger, placed upon a small screen that scans the fingerprint, and then you then gain access to your property.



This is a relatively new technology for the consumer marketplace, and so if you are thinking of trying a biometric access control device, it pays to be cautious in terms of the unit that you select. What do you need to look for? Knowing this might mean the difference between having a new and more amiable relationship with your front door, or one which ends with a lot of frustration, as you imitate Jack Nicholson in an axe-wielding duplication of the “Here’s Johnny” scene from the movie “The Shining”. Hence, the following are some things to think about when selecting a biometric device.





When to Use Biometric EAC



The wide range of benefits in not carrying or using keys or other physical devices cannot be described in much detail here—and most people can instantly think of a list of benefits for their own home. Suffice it to say, the potential advantages may be many and varied. They may range from potential increased accessibility for the disabled, for the elderly and young children, through to benefits obtained in our “great Aussie beach culture”, where many will see it as ideal to be able to go to the beach and not have to take along a set of keys (or other devices that could be lost or stolen). Some applications can achieve huge benefits from implementing a biometric access control system, where inventory control of keys or other devices over an ever changing clientele would be “a nightmare” or just prohibitively expensive. A few examples are day-care centres, schools, industrial complexes and corporate offices, and high security government and commercial operations. The USA’s “Disneyland” (and also the Hong Kong location) have implemented a fingerprint scanning system called “Ticket Tag” to control all of its visitors, with the system controlling the complex array of access levels depending upon what kinds of tickets the visitors purchase. Hotels can also strongly benefit from eliminating the need to maintain key or card inventories, whilst freeing the guest from having either to carry or to check keys at reception every time they enter/exit the building. Computer networks can remotely control some biometric locks, and some locks are programmable to delete a guests’ authority to access a room automatically, after a specified time interval. Many biometric devices have built in “audit trails”, which can keep track of entries by user, date and time. This can be useful to prevent “buddy bundying” in workplaces, or provide a form of surveillance over children for concerned parents. The potential uses and benefits of biometrics are only limited by the imagination, and some benefits may make a world of difference when compared to older technologies.



Fortunately, in most applications, biometric technology is a suitable replacement for older technologies, and biometrics can offer a versatile access control solution for residential, government and commercial/industrial situations. However, there are a few exceptions. A case occurred a few years ago where a British prison invested in biometric fingerprint scanning devices to control access through the internal parts of the prison. Because the biometric device selected for the prison was not accurate, inmates were quick to exploit the weakness of the particular device, which simply did not have a good enough discrimination between different fingers to be able to keep prisoners out. Consequently, they were able to gain access to unauthorised internal areas. (The important topic of the accuracy of biometric devices is discussed immediately below.) Whilst overall prison security was not compromised, for a short while the prison black market flourished. Some commentators on this event rightly noted that a prison was not an entirely good place to have a biometric device, since some prisoners might not hesitate to cut off a guard’s finger, if it meant access to freedom (or in some cases, an extra carton of cigarettes). It is certainly the last place that I would want to install biometric access control, but not necessarily for security concerns, because biometric modules can sometimes discriminate between a connected and a severed finger, based upon measurements such as body temperature reading. The primary reason for not installing such devices in prison is simply that inmates might erroneously perceive that they could use the severed finger to access their freedom, and—irrespective of their success in escape—the false perception alone might work much to an unlucky prison officer’s detriment.



Physical attributes may sometimes not marry well with biometric technology. One visitor to Disney had problems with the readers because she had lymphodema in her right arm, which was the one she selected to have the fingers scanned. When her arm swelled during the course of the day, her fingers expanded and became different fingers in the eyes of the biometric scanner. A simple cure in her case would have been to use the arm that did not swell, but it does give an insight into a problem that could occur for some users. Very rarely, people have little actual fingerprint which can confuse some biometric readers, resulting in the poor operation of the device for such a user.





Biometrics Accuracy



In purchasing a biometric lock one must be careful to select a brand of device that has high levels of accuracy, or to put it another way, low levels of error. In biometrics, there are two typical measurements made regarding biometric error: that of FRR or “False Reject Ratio” and FAR or “false acceptance ratio”. The lower each ratio or rate, the better the biometric product.



FRR is also known as the “insult rate”, and this is quite an appropriate term. It involves the amount of times that you are insulted by your door lock, as it erroneously but calmly beeps to inform you that you are not actually you, but rather a pretender to the throne. FRR equates directly to the usability of the device. An enrolled user (that is, someone whose fingerprint is held within the memory of the lock or lock control as an authorised entrant) should be permitted entrance easily. If a biometric device has a low FRR, then it should not require a series of attempts before you can enter your home or workplace. A high FRR or insult rate biometric can be a frustrating device to live with.



The second measure of accuracy, FAR, is critical. It relates to the security provided by the device. How easy is it for the fingerprint of another user—an actual “pretender to the throne”—to get into the device? How easy is it for a mimicking technology to fool the lock into thinking it is the real finger? A high FAR or fraud rate can be a security violation just waiting to happen.





Lies, Damned Lies, and Statistics



In purchasing a biometric lock, look carefully at the FAR and FRR rates. They should both be as low as possible. However, it also pays to consider the way in which the specifications are gathered. Some biometric locks use what might be called a “security setting” in order to compromise between fingerprint discrimination and authorised users ease of entry: that is to say, a setting that allows you to trade off performance between either false insults or false permission granted to unauthorised parties. In my opinion an altogether bad thing to have on a biometric device, because the user should not have to be forced to tweak with crucial settings: it should all be purely automatic. Performance of a biometric lock should be about achieving both levels of accuracy at the same time, because that is what is demanded in the real world. Manufacturers that build an adjustment level into their device are possibly trying to attain better performance figures for their product than what they can deliver in practice.



It also pays not to be too serious about the performance specifications that are offered by manufacturers. Whilst they might serve as a useful guideline, the specification that states, for example, a “1:10000 false reject ratio” might never attain such performance in practice. Such performance figures are based upon a mix of empirical data and mathematical analyses. The best thing to do is to test the model with your fingerprint, place the enrolled finger into the device and gain entry a number of times, and see how repeatable it is. If your finger scans are repeatedly permitted in until you get tired of testing the entry operation, then chances are the lock is going to be easy to live with. If you find a lock that only beeps a denial of entry and requires you to rescan one time in a hundred, it would be safe to say that this is going to be a good lock to use on an everyday basis. Rare physical attributes (as noted earlier) can sometimes confuse some biometric readers. So test first, and make sure the product is specifically suitable for your fingers.



Another indicator of reliability might be to check with the supplier as to who makes the biometric module within the biometric device. Are they a reputable and recognised source of high technology hardware?





Biometric Ease of Use





Figure 1: A biometric device with a friendly, easy-to-use main menu driven interface, industry standard navigation pad, and a large screen. SEQ Figure * ARABIC A full, standard numeric keypad at the front of a device helps with ease of operation.



It is not much good having a biometric device if you need the proverbial Ph.D. in order to use it. Some locks are so complex to use that even watching a video of the steps required to operate the device (let alone program it) is a confusing thing. Of course, the ease with which you can use a biometric device contributes to or detracts much in terms of how happy you will be with your purchase. Look for a large and easy to see screen, with controlling functions being menu navigated in an intuitive way. If the biometric device is set up like, for example–the most user-friendly mobile phones or digital cameras, with features such as four way navigational keypads, then it is likely to be user friendly. Try to ensure that if you want to get to a function, you do not need both a user’s manual and a penchant for astrophysics: rather, that you just need the ability to read a simple menu and press navigation keys or selection buttons.



Don’t neglect the outside operating interface either, when it comes to choosing a good biometric device. If the unit has an industry standard numeric keypad on the outside lock body, this is indicative of easy entry control when you choose to use a pin number instead of, or in addition to, a fingerprint scan. A full keypad at the front of the device is also indicative that entering numbers into the biometric device (for programming basic operations) will be an easier thing than one that only has a few buttons and does not properly represent the full range of numeric digits (0-9).







Biometrics and Privacy



There has been some justifiable concern raised by privacy advocates and in the press more generally, about privacy concerns related to biometrics usage. Look for biometric units that do not capture and process merely the image of the fingerprint but rather use “minutiae points”, which are very specific details taken from a finger scan. A biometric device works with minutiae points by immediately capturing particular facets of the finger and fingerprint, followed by mathematical analysis of—and then encrypted encoding—of those facets. Therefore, such a biometric device is not actually comparing pictures, but rather the very specific data that it has collected. Drawing data from the biometric system can result in little but the gathering of useless data, rather than compromising the biometric data of an individual. Some locks and the network software programs that attach to them (if they are network capable) will also allow lock programming so that a guest user is only kept in memory for a specified period of time. At the end of that period, the fingerprint minutiae data is automatically purged from the system.







Biometrics Durability & Appearance





Durability is quite straightforward. Take a good look at the lock: is it protected from the elements? Some locks have sliding covers that protect the biometric scanning window and buttons from dust, dirt, water and so on. Is the body made well? Some locks have thicker walls of alloy in their construction to make them stronger; some have plastic parts that make the unit more vulnerable. Is the finish constructed to last? Some biometrics have “nanotech” finishes that make them as high-tech on the outside as they are on the inside, and make them very resistant to scratches that can make them less appealing. Solidly constructed locks that are based on a mortise design may be a little more expensive, but are the most robust in terms of security—which is of course what they are there for at the end of the day.



This leads to the final criterion you should consider when purchasing a lock: is it attractive, and does it visually complement (or burden) your premises. Regrettably, it seems that many biometric locks were designed with functionality in mind, and little or no consideration was given to appearance: but there is no rule set in stone that a biometric device has to be ugly; and some units are beautiful and elegant, and make a strong statement upon any front door.





Conclusion



When everything is taken into account, taking the step to adopt this new technology can be a rewarding experience: just be careful that you select the right device for you, your situation and your “aesthetic sensibilities”. Chances are you will be very much rewarded for your care in purchase, and you’ll be able to really enjoy the best things that this new and exciting technology can provide.





All text copyright Nordic Biometric Pty Ltd (Australia) 2008.


Some of the technologies available are Fingerprint door locks (Biometrics), Keyless keypad door locks and smart card readers.


Fingerprint door lock technology isn’t something you only see on TV. It’s real and available for everyone and to any homeowner. The convenience of a fingerprint door lock is the ability to just touch and enter your home instead of digging into your handbag and trying to find you keys or sorting through several keys on a key ring. These types of locks are generally powered by batteries; the locks have LCD lights which gives you a low voltage indicator so you will be prepared to replace the battery. It can be amazing the piece of mind a fingerprint door lock can provide. When you think how you would feel if you lost your keys and a criminal minded person was able to access your home.


How about a Fingerprint garage door opener? The Fingerprint garage door opener is an excellent way to give children, family or friends access without keys. This isn’t a portable garage door opener like the one you have in your car: rather it gets installed on the side of the house by the garage. Instead of giving your kids a pin code to a home security system that they have to remember or a house key that could be lost, you can add their print to the device. Keep in mind if this allows access into the home it can be the only access anyone will need.


The first keyless entry system was developed for the hotel industry the early 1980’s. The keyless locks such as a digital keypad, smart card readers and remote control deadbolt locks have become very popular for homeowners.


The advantages of keyless entry is allowing you to give different codes to different individuals and when they no long need access to your home you can just remove the code. For homeowners who want keyless convenience that’s not so unobtrusive, a hardwired keypad can be an option. Most hardwired keyless keypads are installed on wall or somewhere near the door and connect to a DC transformer power source. This will allow the homeowner to have any latch door handle they wish or suits your personal style.


With certain keyless door locks you can integrate into your current home security system. The benefit is if someone tries to enter a wrong code several times the alarms will activate and shut down the keyless key pad.


Wireless remote deadbolt locks are very similar to a wireless key you may have to lock and unlock your car door. Most remote deadbolt locks can be installed in a conventional home owner’s door. The wireless remote deadbolt lock works very similar to that of wireless car door opener, you have a transmitter and you can push the button and your deadbolt is opened. The radio frequency varies by the brand and price, it will be up to you decide the length of the frequency you desire and choose according.


Smart card reader locks have been installed and used by businesses for several years; these locks work by waving a card in front of the reader and it senses the chip and will unlock the door. This lock has the greatest advantages for the visually or physically handicapped. Just remember a card is very similar to a key and can be misplaced.



In general the locks for our doors are normal safety measures that are adequate, however they are not a deterrent for intruders or burglars. To prevent these people from entering your home you might want to see the various types of security door locks that you can now buy. These security door locks come in many different forms, styles and sizes. You will need to look into the various facts about these locks before you come to a decision.



One of the best ways to see what sort of security door locks are available in your budget area is for you to go to your local security store. Here you will find many different types of security door locks. There will be a few ones that we all know of. These are generally the dead bolt locking ones. There are also the ones where you slide the security chain on and off the door.



Now in addition to these you will find other types of security door locks. Some of these door locks will have some type of technological mechanism fitted in. For instance you can use security door locks that have fingerprint matching abilities to lock and unlock your doors. This is one of the newer measures that we can find. You can also see about buying a digital security door lock where you will need to punch a combination into the keypad to open the door.



These are just a few of the many varieties of security door locks that you can buy from the internet and your local security store. To know what type of security door lock is best for the life style that you lead, you may want to talk with the trained personnel in security centers. As there are many people who have a variety of security concerns these individuals will be able to inform you of the security door locks that you could install.



As you look at these security door locks you should try and find out what sort of security that you can expect from them. You will also need to know how to install the security door locks so that they will be good to prevent any burglar from forcing their way into your home. All that really remains is for you to decide what type of security door lock that you want for your home.


It may surprise you to learn that most building codes don’t require a lock on external doors. Because building codes do not require a minimum standard for door locks, most contractors select locks based on price. Therefore, it is extremely important for you to examine your existing locks to determine whether or not you need an upgrade.


Types of Locks


1. Knob locks – spring latch and dead latch varieties. These locks can be easily picked or forced. They are best used on interior doors, such as bedrooms and bathrooms, or in combination with deadbolts.


2. Deadbolts – many different varieties. These are the most secure kind of lock. They should be used on all exterior doors of your home.


3. Chains – most are attached to the door and frame with short screws. Chains are generally not very thick or strong. They are useful as secondary protection. Do not use as your main method of security.


4. Wedges – rubber or wooden triangle that can be wedged under the door to prevent it from opening more than a few inches. These can be reinforced by inserting two steel pins into the floor behind it. Good as secondary protection, especially on bedroom doors, as they can slow an intruder down.


Deadbolts


Many would-be burglars will move on to another home if they see high-quality deadbolts installed on all your exterior doors. No matter what type of deadbolt you purchase, there are a few key features that every deadbolt should have.


First, make sure that your deadbolt extends at least one inch into the wall. Second, the lock should be made entirely of metal, and there should be no exposed screws on the outside of the door. Finally, to ensure you are purchasing a quality lock, be sure that it has an American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Grade 1 classification.


There are two types of deadbolt locks, single cylinder and double cylinder. Single cylinder locks require a keyed entry from the outside but can be locked with a turning knob from the inside.


Double cylinder deadbolts require a key both internally and externally to lock and unlock the door. Double cylinder locks are more secure for doors containing glass or that are located near a window. However, they can create a safety hazard in the event that a quick exit is required. It is a good idea to keep a key in a designated location near the door in case of fire or other emergencies.


Additional Lock Features


Free-spinning Collar – One quarter of home invasions occur when the perpetrator manipulates the lock in some fashion. If an intruder attempts to saw off the bolt, the free-spinning collar makes it difficult for him to get a cut as the bolt spins with every motion. This feature also prevents burglars from removing the bolt with a wrench or vise grips. You can purchase drill-resistant deadbolts as well that contain steel chips within the lock housing that destroy drill bits.


Strike Plates – Strike plates come with every door lock, but not all of them offer security. The strike plate is generally the most vulnerable portion of the entire door lock. The strike plate should be made of a heavy metal and attached to the door frame and stud wall with screws that are at least 3 inches long. The screw holes should be staggered for extra security as this makes it more difficult to split the wood door frame with a heavy impact.


Doors & Door Frames


No matter what kind of lock you select, it can easily become useless if you do not have a sturdy door and door frame.


You should use solid wood core or metal doors for all exterior entries to your home, including doors leading from your garage to the interior of your home. The doors should be at least 1 ¾ inches thick without any glass panels that would allow a thief to reach in and unlock your door from the inside.


It is important to have a durable door frame as well because burglars often employ a technique called “spreading” to enter your home. This involves planting a wedge between the frame and the wall and applying pressure until the wood bows to allow entry.


To protect your home from this kind of forced entry, install 3 to 4 inch screws along the door strip and frame. The screws should penetrate the stud to hold the door frame and door strip securely to the main wall.


The Next Step

Once you have the appropriate door lock installed, the most important thing to remember is to use it! One-third of all home intruders gain access through an unlocked door or window.


You may hear of information that these days, most of buildings and houses has no locks for its external doors. This may take the residence in high risk if there is an intruder want to access to the building. As the building requires no standard of door locks, so it is depends on your consideration whether you want to have a door lock for external door, if so, do not wait for too long. Let’s upgrade the door to make sure that you receive maximum security for yourself and for all members of the family. It is very essential for you to know some basic types of door locks so you will be able to choose the right one. Basic types of door locks could be described as follow;


Type1: Chain door lock

This type is very popular and widely used. There is a short small chain attached between door panel and door frame. Chain attached to both side by screw. This kind of lock is generally used in houses and the people who are inside the house can see who the outside of the door is. The main point that you have to consider when choosing chain lock is the size of chain, which you have to make sure that provide enough security. However, there is a strong advice that this type of lock should not be used as main method of security.


Type2: Deadbolts lock

Deadbolt lock is known as the lock that provide maximum security in the market. So it is mostly used where requires extreme security such as exterior doors. You may find that many of houses use this type of locks because it is very convenient. Generally, there are two types of deadbolt lock, one is the single cylinder and two is double cylinder. The single cylinder one is the type that we can see in many of houses, a person have to use a key to release the lock from outside meanwhile the person inside can turn a door knob to secure the lock. The two- cylinder type requires key to release the lock from both side.


Type3: Wedges lock

Wedges is classified as an extended lock for door. While you are using deadbolt lock as a main lock, you may have wedges lock installed to increase security. Wedges lock is a kind of rubber triangle can be wedged under the door in order to protect the door to open too wide. This type of lock is widely used with interior doors that require less security such as bathroom or bedroom.


From reading through the detail so now you may have learnt the information of type of door locks. However, it is necessary to find more information and learn from it to make sure that you have enough knowledge to buy suitable ones.