Biometric Technologies in Smartphones — How Far We’ve Come
By: Eze Wholesale
Tags: Consumer Electronics, Smartphones, Biometrics, Technology

When you hear biometrics, it’s easy for you to think of fingerprint scanners and selfies that unlock your smartphones.

But did you know… the use of biometrics dates as far back as the Babylonian era and has been so, in various sectors like law enforcement and government agencies; and it wasn’t until the 2000s that the technology got implemented in mobile phones, the Pantech GI100 being the first phone to have a fingerprint scanner.

Now, before biometric technologies like fingerprint scanning and voice recognition came to smartphones, we relied on passwords and PINs to keep our data safe–and we still do; though with the smartphone industry fastly evolving, it’s very possible we’ll move into a passwordless era soon.

And to buttress, a recent survey among smartphone users — aged 18–30 — shows over 70% of them agreeing that biometric technologies are crucial features of their devices.

Source: Eze Wholesale

For sure, biometric technologies in smartphones are here to stay and will only get better.

How do biometrics work?

If you’ve scanned your fingerprint, or face, to unlock your phone, you have a fair idea of how biometrics work.

Let’s take fingerprint scanning as an example.

When you record your fingerprints, the data is stored; and when you intend to unlock your device in the present, that data is compared with the ‘live’ information you’re inputting. From this, you can guess what is needed for a biometric system to work: a device to record your data, where the recorded data would be stored, and some software that converts the scanned biometric data to a digitalized format, comparing your live data with the stored one.

So, in simple terms, a biometric system consists of

Sensor : That part of the biometric system that you interact with. It records your information and reads it when biometric data needs to be recognized. No matter the form by which data capture occurs, sensors must be involved.

: That part of the biometric system that you interact with. It records your information and reads it when biometric data needs to be recognized. No matter the form by which data capture occurs, sensors must be involved. Computer : For storing your biometric information. Whether you’re trying to access a device or use your biometric information for something else, you need a computer. The computer (in this case your smartphone) has a database that collects and stores your information.

: For storing your biometric information. Whether you’re trying to access a device or use your biometric information for something else, you need a computer. The computer (in this case your smartphone) has a database that collects and stores your information. Software: This converts the scanned biometric data into a digitalized format that will be accessed for comparison when needed. The software is what connects the computer to the sensor.

These components give users a seamless experience when using biometric features.

Ready to learn about the different biometric data types used in smartphones? Let’s get started.

Fingerprint scanning

Fingerprint recognition is the most commonly used biometric feature in smartphones.

It works by looking for specific characteristics in the line pattern on the surface of the finger. This line pattern is stored in the form of an image.

While the Pantech GI100, launched in 2004, is credited as the first mobile phone to have a fingerprint scanner, the Toshiba G500 is considered the first mobile to take mobile fingerprint scanning to the mainstream. HTC, Acer, and LG followed suit, soon after — as more mobile phones adapted the fingerprint scanning feature.

In 2013, Apple’s iPhone 5s was released and the modern-day fingerprint scanning revolution began.

Samsung’s Galaxy Note4 was the company’s first smartphone with the feature.

Today, smartphones like the Vivo X20 Plus UD have in-display fingerprint scanners, while some like the Xiaomi Mi 10I have fingerprint sensors mounted on the side of the phones.

Although some smartphone companies like to add a touch of their own to their fingerprint scanners like Apple’s TouchID, the idea behind fingerprint scanning fairly remains the same.

As of 2021, there are three main types of fingerprint scanners: Optical, Capacitive, and Ultrasonic.

Source: Eze Wholesale

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Facial recognition

From the phrase ‘facial recognition,’ you can guess what this biometric data type is about. It’s a system that analyses the shape and position of different parts of the face to determine a match.

In 2011, the Samsung Galaxy Nexus featured a facial recognition system — Face Unlock. But not long after, the difficulty in using the feature made the buzz die down. Subsequently, the Galaxy S8 was released with a facial recognition feature; and its cool new way of unlocking devices gained popularity among users.

Apple’s FaceID takes facial recognition up a notch with a 3D scanning feature, designed in such a way that even with cosmetic makeup or wearing hats, users can still securely unlock their devices. The iPhone X is the first iPhone to have this feature.

Other smartphone companies like HUAWEI, OnePlus, and Xiaomi have all joined in adopting facial recognition technologies for their devices.

Iris scanning

The patterns in eye ligaments are unique to each individual, which makes iris scanning a viable option for biometric identification. It’s a more secure method when compared to facial recognition and fingerprint scanning, because, unlike other biometric modalities, the iris is not affected by external conditions. The Arrows NX F-04G debuted in 2015 as the first smartphone to have the iris scanning feature. In 2017, Samsung introduced this feature on its Galaxy S8 and Galaxy Note 8 smartphones.

Voice recognition

With digital assistants like Google Assistant, Siri, and Bixby, speech recognition is something that is used by many smartphone users today. However, in terms of using this feature for security, smartphone companies have not fully embraced this feature.

To match a voiceprint, you’re required to match the tone and the normal voice that was recorded; this can be difficult when you have a cold or if you’re not in the right emotional state. The voice recognition is deemed less secure when compared to other identification types because your phone can be unlocked by someone else that says the correct voice password. This, however, did not deter LG as the LG V30 unlocks with voice command.

Biometrics over passwords?

Biometrics offers several advantages over passwords, a reason many users prefer it to passwords.

The main benefit of biometrics is that they cannot be replicated (unlike passwords, which could get hacked or stolen).

Another benefit is simplicity. Users, like myself, are tired of having to memorize passwords upon passwords. So the convenience that comes with biometrics gives it an edge over passwords and PINs. And while many argue that biometrics should be used as complements and not replacements for passwords, the tendency for a passwordless era has only kept growing.

Source: Eze Wholesale

Also, biometric payments are now implemented in banking apps and various online apps, as they provide ease of payment and greater security.

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Looking to the future

We’ve looked at the various biometric identification types, a bit of the history of each, and current developments.

While the advantages of biometrics over passwords are glaring and attractive, there are also risks involved with mobile biometric usages, such as those associated with the storage of biometric data, imposter attacks, and spoof attacks.

As we mitigate these risks with more research and development, it’s certain that there are more biometric solutions the consumer electronics industry can offer. And yes, we can’t wait to see them arrive.