Essay - Biometric Entry and Ignition System Executive Summary Background and Introduction...

Biometric Entry and Ignition System

***** Summary

Background and Introduction

Biometric devices such as fingerprint identification gadgets have only recently been applied to the motor industry. Surprisingly, however, Alice Osborn (2005) cites Joao de Barros in his identification of the very first uses of fingerprinting as occurring in China as early as the 14th century. At the turn of the 20th century, Richard Edward Henry of Scotland Yard reintroduced fingerprinting to forensic science. Biometric technology only developed beyond fingerprinting during ***** 1960s and 1970s, with the implementation ***** military biometric authentication procedures. Controversially, biometric technology h***** also become part of security measures after 9/11. ***** airports, for example, biometric ***** *****as been used to increase safety and security during flights. According ***** Osborn (2005), *****, the cost ***** implementation have proved a deterring factor for some *****.

O*****r uses of fingerprint biometric technology include access to personal computers, cell phones and ATMs (Australian Academy of Science, 2001). During 2001, it was also predicted that fingerprinting technology in the future would ***** opening car doors and briefcases, verify online ident*****y, facilitate international travel and prevent fraud during elections. The first has recently ***** a reality. The Australian Academy of Science (2001) however wards that this technology could also ***** negative repercussions in terms ***** consumer resistance and crime. Law-abiding consumers may for ***** be turned away by the criminal connotations of fingerprinting access *****, while *****s may find themselves encouraged to remove fingers in order to gain access to valuable items.

Nevertheless, Simon McBride (2007) writes that the technology has recently become a ***** in the mo*****r *****. According to this author, the latest anti-*****ft device for motor vehicles is a fingerprint device developed by Automotive Technology Rese*****rch and Development (ATRD), based in Coventry. The development of the Biometric Immobilizer is a reaction to the *****crease of car thefts as a result of stealing car keys from homes. ***** device requires both keys and the owner's fingerprint to start ***** engine. Th***** ***** can be fitted to any car, with a sm*****ll *****uchpad mounted onto the dashboard for scanning the fingerprint and matching it to those s*****red in its me*****y. Another advantage is ***** the device can be programmed with multiple *****s, which ***** a useful feature for family and company *****s, where there is more than one driver per car. This provides the driver with the assurance that, even if the ***** ***** are stolen, the thief will not be able to steal the vehicle.

***** fingerprint device ***** ***** comp*****d with examples of normal immobilizers such as the radio frequency ident*****ication (RFID) reader described ***** Claire Swedberg (2005). According to the author, the device h***** been developed to increase motor ***** with three control un***** receiving a correct ID code from ***** key fob. If all three do not receive ***** code, the car will ***** *****. Of course there is the possibility that the key fob ***** be stolen and used to steal ***** car, whereas the fingerprinting