Will Gesture Biometrics Become a Conventional Biometric Modality?

How soon could we expect to see gesture biometrics vault into the mainstream as a viable biometric modality? According to an article in ZDNet Asia today, gesture biometrics, at least for ATM security banking purposes, is “unlikely to happen anytime soon.”

Part of the reason is that gesture biometrics requires investment in an intricate system of high powered cameras and sensors in order to recognize the individual movements that are used to create a biometric identity template and recognize someone for future identity checks. Cameras and sensors that are powerful enough to capture the gestures of the person seeking to be identified and have the ability to filter any other movements from objects or people who may be within view. In addition, just as you would register your fingerprint to create a unique biometric template, gesture biometrics would require software and hardware that can capture and record a series of hand or finger movements (or perhaps other movements of body parts) and use this as subsequent identification for future check-ins.

The second point that the ZDNet Asia article makes is that society has not quite accepted waving hands and making odd or quirky movements as normal behavior so culturally speaking, gesture biometrics is perceived as outside the scope of a reasonable interface to secure individual identity. Click to continue reading