Timothy Egger
When it comes to security features, it’s no secret that tech is driving change in the way we consider verification. While fingerprint scanners are not a new inception, they have become more popular in recent years, and are consistently proving their worth across a host of applications. With this in mind, we’re going to take a look at what fingerprint scanners are and how they can be of benefit in the modern environment.
What is a fingerprint scanner?
The first thing to understand is that a fingerprint scanner is an electronic security system that works with biometric data to authenticate users and provide access to digital services via devices of all shapes and sizes. As a result, this software can be used to verify identities, approve transactions, award access to restricted or sensitive information and more. These can work in place of pattern and pin codes or passwords and can be an alternative to facial and voice recognition, or in cases where an iris scanner will be too complicated or advanced.
Fingerprint scanners are often found on smartphones, but are now being incorporated into PC security, alongside real-world applications such as biometric door locks that use fingerprint scanners alongside touch screens and keypads for manual entry, car starting kits and also for locking mechanisms such as padlocks and safes.
A fingerprint scanner will use either an optical, capacitive, or ultrasonic sensor to scam and analyse fine details such as the ridges of your fingerprint – and then combine point plotting capabilities with the orientation of the users’ fingerprint patterns (including arches, loops and whorls) to identify whether the fingerprint matches the source data that users will have given as an initial scan for the software to work from.
Why use a fingerprint scanner?
Fingerprint scanners can provide a tamper-proof security solution for a host of digital services where security is the biggest concern. More and more institutions such as banks and healthcare services are beginning to roll out fingerprint scanning software to verify users and ensure they provide the top level of security services available today.
