There has been an evolution between man and machine. Technology has grown in leaps and bounds and today, flesh and machine have been fused together as one. There have been many science fiction novels and movies of chip implantation representing quick identification to a mainframe. Biometric technology has taken the form of this fantasy and turned it into an immeasurable reality. These technologies include fingerprints, hand geometry and retina scanning.

Software and hardware for running such technology is becoming cheaper by the day and not only that, but also reliable and extremely accurate. Biometric technology is being developed around the world for purposes such as immigration control, election management and mostly control within companies and their staff.

The conventional means of identification

Three conventional forms of identification are in use today. The first is something you have, such as a card. The second form is something you know, such as a password or PIN. The third is something you are, such as a pattern of ridges on a fingertip, the unique colour pattern in your iris or the unique sound waves which your voice box projects. There are huge

A development in the world’s busiest airport, Heathrow is EyeTicket. The technology identifies people by the pattern of their irises. The software then translates the iris pattern into a passport number or frequent-flier number so that the airport and airline computers can identify the passenger. The company said the technology could also be used for baggage checks as well as hotel check-ins and rental car pick-ups.

High-quality identification offers the promise of the avoidance of error and fraud. Biometric technology is your best ID.

In recent years, biometric technology has attained a very high degree of sophistication, and accuracy has been achieved at a level that far surpasses all other forms of identification. The IriScan system (iris scanning company), for example, conducts a scan of the eye, and, according to claims made by the manufacturer, is generally accurate to 1015 on the first scan, and 1022 on the second. Iris recognition does, however, suffer from the problem that many people feel very sensitive and protective of their eyes, and find such technology disturbing.

- The reliability of identification.

Some topics in this essay:
Swipe Cards, Technologies ID, Law Enforcement, Heathrow EyeTicket, Biometric Timeclock, biometric technology, forms identification, people feel, identification method,