[INFOGRAPHIC] The Science of Biometrics: A Timeline of Biometric Authentication

Biometrics, the study of human metrics, has a long history that dates back to prehistoric times.

Ancient artifacts collected in Nova Scotia, Babylon, and China have been found bearing markings of ridge patterns, fingerprints, and handprints used for everything from business transactions to criminal evidence. Centuries later learned scholars, doctors, and scientists began to study the uses of fingerprints and other metrics as a means of identification.

Eventually, the use of fingerprint identification would be used around the world for identifying criminals and would become lauded as an important method of forensic science. Today, fingerprint technology in consumer devices is widespread, being used in security systems, home automation, mobile devices, access control door locks, and time and attendance. In a technologically driven society, emerging and future applications of biometrics seem to have no limits.

Let’s take a look at some of the most pivotal historical moments in the development of biometrics.

The magic behind biometrics is that we are our passwords. Given the unique weight of this fact, it’s little wonder that the development of this technology has advanced beyond its original forensic purposes into civilian markets and government use. Can you think of a future application for biometrics? Do you think it is bound to become more commonplace?

Data Sourced From: Webcusp Makeuseof Onin