In information technology, biometrics refers to technologies that measure and analyze human body characteristics, such as DNA, fingerprints, eye retinas and irises, voice patterns, facial patterns and hand measurements, for authentication purposes. A program that focuses on the application of statistics and other computational methods to the study of problems in the biological sciences and related
fields in agriculture and natural resources. Includes instruction in computational biology, mathematical statistics, matrix algebra, applied calculus, experimental design, linear modeling, sampling theory, stochastic processes, spatial and temporal analysis, longitudinal analysis, sparse/unbalanced data and complex error, and applications to such topics as population genetics, animal breeding, forest genetics, population dynamics, wildlife biometry, ecology, and agricultural and natural resource management. There are several types of biometric identification schemes:
1. Face: the analysis of facial characteristics
2. Fingerprint: the analysis of an individual's unique fingerprints
3. Hand geometry: the analysis of the shape of the hand and the length of the fingers
4. Retina: the analysis of the capillary vessels located at the back of the eye
5. iris: the analysis of the colored ring that surrounds the eye's pupil
6. signature: the analysis of the way a person signs his name.
7. vein: the analysis of pattern of veins in the back if the hand and the wrist
8. voice: the analysis of the tone, pitch, cadence and frequency of a person's voice. Though the field is still in its infancy, many people believe that biometrics will play a critical role in future computers, and especially in electronic commerce. Personal computers of the future might include a fingerprint scanner where you could place your index finger. The computer would analyze your fingerprint to determine who you are and, based on your identity, authorize you different levels of access. Access levels could include the ability to use credit card information to make electronic purchases.
