Biometrics at a Distance: Issues, Challenges, and Prospects

Abstract

The notion of remote biometrics or biometrics at a distance is today of paramount importance to provide a secure mean for user-friendly identification and surveillance. In 2007 the BioSecure Network of Excellence published the Biometric Research Agenda (Schouten et al. BioSecure: white paper for research in biometrics beyond BioSecure. CWI report 2008). This network identified, as one of the most urgent topics, research in distributed (intelligent) sensor networks and the transparent use of biometrics, requiring no actions from the end-user in supervised or unsupervised ways. These citizens, sometimes in ways that are yet to be understood. This chapter introduces the most relevant issues and challenges of biometric sensing and recognition at a distance. Most of these issues are more be deeply analyzed in the subsequent chapters of this book. Several categorizations of biometric sensing and applications are provided including face recognition and novel biometric sensors for building intelligent environments. Several factors affecting the performances of biometric systems are identified and discussed in some detail. Some typical applications and prospects are illustrated together with their impact in today’s and tomorrow’s society and citizens.