There are several techniques that can be applied for verifying and confirming a user’s identity. They can be broadly classified as below:

• Something the user knows, such as a password or PIN
• Something the user has, such as a smart card or ATM card
• Something that’s part of the user, such as a fingerprint or iris. The strongest authentication involves a combination of all three

The technology used for identification of a user based on a physical characteristic, such as a fingerprint, iris, face, voice or handwriting is called Biometrics.

Advancements in technology has made possible to build rugged and reliable Biometric authentication systems, and the costs of biometrics authentication systems have been dropping as reliability is improving.

The key steps involved in a biometric authentication system are:

• Image capture – Using scanning devices available in the market
• Image recognition - Using standard algorithms
• Template creation - Using standard algorithms
• Matching – Using application and standard algorithms

1. Fingerprint recognition
2. IRIS identification
3. Face verification
4. Palm authentication

Biometrics growth and advantages
The biometrics is experiencing fast development across the world because of two main reasons.
1> Evolutions and rapid expansion of Information technology and web which claims for secure access control and secure data transfer.
2> Terrorism has put a lot of threat to Governments, which has raised the demand for accurate identification of individuals.

Consequently, new biometrics detectors are explored and more and more impeccable biometrics systems are being invented. This situation demands for in-depth biometric research. There are many conferences held frequently, which bring together the biometrics researcher at one place. Companies and researcher come forward to share their knowledge about biometrics trend. Such exhibition showcases the latest biometrics products.

Following kinds of research takes place in biometrics

Basic biometrics research
Physiological biometrics
Behavioral biometrics
Biometrics image processing or template processing
Latest biometrics technologies like biometrics palm reading, face reading, IRIS, Retina, ear and finally DNA etc.
Biometrics systems and analysis
Multimodal biometrics systems
Biometrics encryption systems
Biometric authentication in networking
Biometric recognition and identification system
Survey of biometric recognition methods
Ethics and usage
Ethical challenges
Deployment of biometric systems for usage in Health care industry, law enforcement, financial sector, security
Database creation and management, theoretical limitations, future and issues of biometrics.

Applications of Biometric
1. Physical access control
2. Justice judiciary law enforcement
3. Logical access control
4. Time and attendance
5. Healthcare biometrics
6. Border control/Airport biometrics
7. Financial and transactional
8. Biometric integrators/Resellers
9. Mobile biometric
10. Lock system
11. Home automation biometric