Identification versus Verification

This appendix expands on information presented in Chapter Two. It begins with a definition of biometrics and related terms, and then describes the steps in the biometric authentication process, reviews issues of template management and storage, and addresses testing issues. The appendix concludes with a brief review of mainstream biometric applications. 1 DEFINITIONS A biometric is any measurable, robust, distinctive physical characteristic or personal trait that can be used to identify, or verify the claimed identity of, an individual. Biometric authentication, in the context of this report, refers to automated methods of identifying, or verifying the identity of, a living person. The italicized terms above require explanation. Measurable means that the characteristic or trait can be easily presented to a sensor and converted into a quantifiable, digital format. This allows for the automated matching process to occur in a matter of seconds. The robustness of a biometric is a measure of the extent to which the characteristic or trait is subject to significant changes over time. ______________ 1 This primer does not cover standards for interoperability or so-called " plug and play " applications because this subject is tangential to this RAND project. In researching and writing this appendix, the authors relied heavily on the following sources: Hawkes