Right then, give me the short, short version. Biometrics, what is it?
OK, short version; the Economist defines it as; ‘High-tech security systems that rely on detailed measurements of the human body.’

‘Measurements’ I’m going to be measured! How do I get measured?
Well there are a lot of different ways. The most traditional is to take a set of fingerprints, as these are said to be unique to any individual. There are other newer ways as well; the retina in your eye is also totally unique to you, as is your DNA and last but certainly not least, your face.

My face?
Facial recognition equipment is one of the things that the biometrics community is most excited about, for obvious reasons.

Sounds a bit James Bond to me, or maybe that should be George Orwell. Can they really do it?
All the technology has been invented, but as the Economist definition implies, it is still high technology, and thus quite expensive.

So no one’s using it. Why get excited?
It may still be expensive, but that has not stopped the US government ordering that every individual who enters the country by air, land or sea is to have their face scanned and their fingerprints taken to assist in the war on terror. Whatever the expense might be George Bush is ready to pay it to prevent another nine eleven.

Similar initiatives are happening in Europe and the Middle East. Expense, it seems, is no longer a big issue.

But this will make us safer though won’t it?
Hmmm, well that is a moot point; a lot of experts are suggesting that the technology is far from infallible. It may be that the political pressure to be seen to be doing something is what is driving governments to the introduction of biometrics.

Oh well, back to praying then. So is there anything else this biometrics stuff can be used for, or is it all government fluff?
Well, the blue skies predictions are that this software will replace security passes and passwords, and that you may even be logging in to your computer one day using your fingerprint or by quick scan of your retina. Or how about having your fingerprint recorded as the key to your car?

One day, biometrics will become a reliable mature technology, and the investment going in from governments is only going to speed that process up. Watch this space.