Biometric Time Clocks and the History of Biometrics - By: Mark Etinger

Biometric time clocks are the wave of the future. They seem like something out of a sci-fi movie but they've been around for some time now. But people often don't know the meaning behind biometrics. Some don't realize that it means fingerprint time clocks. Biometrics are a really important technology that has changed the way we do a lot of things.

Biometrics is a way of recognizing humans based on unique and intrinsic traits, whether physical or behavioral. Physical traits are often the most common used and that's where the fingerprint time clock comes from. But fingerprints aren't the only physical trait that can be used. Retina and iris recognition, palm prints, face recognition and even DNA can all be used to properly identify someone.

The way that characteristics are chosen to be useful for biometrics is with several factors that they have to have; universality, uniqueness, permanence, collectability, performance, acceptability and circumvention.

In the 1890s, the first concept of biometrics came about. A man named Alphonse Bertillon, an anthropologist and police desk clerk, came up with a system of measurements of a person to use for identification. It was aptly named Bertillonage. When they discovered it was possible to share the same exact measurements with another person, though, it was thrown out. After this, the police started using fingerprinting instead, which they still successfully use today.

Biometric systems today are made to do one of two things, or both, which is verification and identification. Identification lets the system identify someone brand new who is a previously unknown individual. Verification is a one to one comparison of the biometrics already in the system to the person who is using it, making sure they are who they say they are. This is how fingerprint time clocks work.

The biggest advantage to fingerprint time clocks is that they stop buddy clocking. Which is when one employee clocks in for another which is time and attendance fraud. It cuts down drastically on these sort of issues since no one can fake another person's fingerprint.

Fingerprint locks are also used for safety and security. For the areas of a building or home that need the utmost security, biometrics are used to stop others from accessing rooms they shouldn't be. These sort of locks are used in buildings with high classified materials.

Biometric technology has come a long way and is used in a lot more day to day uses than it used to be. As the technology advances, the products to use it get cheaper and more and more fingerprint time clocks will be found in the work place.

About the Author

Fingertec USA offers the highest security technology for businesses around the world. Offering the best in employee clock in software, fingerprint time clocks, attendance system, time clock software and more!

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