Biometrics can confirm users' identities as they log on to a corporate intranet, or as they take to the Internet to conduct daily business transactions. The simple answer is yes, if people in your organization have privileged access to confidential information such as proprietary data and records, patient or client information, or electronic funds transfers. Let's consider voice printing first. Because there is little change in one's adult voice, spoken passwords can be recorded, analyzed and used for identification. Proving that work can be fun, QVoice has developed a user interface that makes the subject feel like a visitor to a Star Trek starship.
Finger printing is another popular biometric security technology.
Features include internal storage of up to 1,000 prints per device and, according to the manufacturer, the ability to differentiate between live and dead fingers. Hardware manufacturers are beginning to integrate biometrics right into the basic computer. For example, the Acer TravelMate 739TLV notebook computer has a fingerprint security system that combines hardware with a PC BIOS extension that allows the hardware to communicate with its operating system. When a user boots the PC, he or she is prompted for a fingerprint. If the correct fingerprint is not given, the machine refuses to boot up.