Bachelor of Science in Biometric Systems
Biometric systems are composed of complex hardware and software designed to measure a signature of the human body, compare the signature to a database, and render a decision for a given application based on the identification achieved from this matching process. Uses of biometric systems for positive personal identification are experiencing rapid growth in such areas as law enforcement, access control, banking, and a wide range of business and administrative systems. In an even broader application context, biometric systems are having a revolutionary impact on health care and the enhancement of the human computer interface including in vivo identification of specific human conditions via implantable devices and the automated administration of life-saving medical therapies. The continued rapid advance of integrated sensor, signal/image processing, computer, and mass storage technology promises to extend these applications further into our daily lives with even the most inanimate objects able to identify, interact with, and assist their users.
Biometric systems for personal identification are based upon fundamental biometric features which are typically unique and time invariant, such as features derived from fingerprints, faces, irises, retinas, and voices. Biometrics for biomedical, human computer interface, and other applications may include these but will necessarily extend to a wide range of physiological signals which possess identifiable patterns that may change in time, albeit predictably. The spectrum of usable biometrics is defined by human physiology, the bioengineering implied by their measurement, and the application. As biometric system capabilities and applications evolve, biometrics will extend to any known measurement of the human body.
Biometric identification is a highly interdisciplinary field mixing traditional engineering with the forensic sciences. As a result, the engineering design and development of biometric systems requires knowledge of the biometric as well as the engineering disciplines. Designers work with the physics of the sensor to obtain measurements of the biometric defined by human physiology. Signal and image processing techniques are applied to the sensor signal to extract features usable for identification. Databases combined with artificial intelligence enable rapid storage, retrieval, and pattern matching while decision theory supports the mechanisms whereby systems can provide the needed identification results. Underlying the entire system is a foundation of statistics and mathematics which provides the language for implementing and evaluating biometric technology and systems.
