In Motion Identification - A Novel Biometric Tool

No typing, no swiping, no speaking, no fingerprinting; get authenticated and authorized as you just walk by.

- Dr. S. Chellaiah

Authentication refers to verification/identification of a person before granting access or privileges. It evolved from the all too popular password, which is called as one factor authentication. Then to make it more secure, an additional parameter such as answering a security question/ having a token / or using a key was included and it is called as two-factor authentication. As both password (which is what you know) and token/key (which is what you have) could be lost, a third factor – biometrics (which is what you are) was included. These are unique to a person and cannot be lost or duplicated.

Biometrics refers to the use of unique human measurements - physical and/or behavioural characteristics. Physical aspects include fingerprints, face, iris, retina, voice, and vein structure. Behavioural characteristics include gait (manner of walking), signature (pattern of hand movements), and typing patterns. A few people have even coined the term ‘Behaviometrics’ to denote use of behaviour as biometrics.

The collection of physical biometrics requires the user to stand in front of a scanner/camera for at least a few seconds. This is intrusive and invasive. It also takes a finite amount of time, albeit of the order of seconds, thereby introducing a small latency and possibly a waiting queue to have the biometric data recorded and approved.

What, if you have a system where you don’t have to stop, or record anything but just as you are walking your identity is authenticated. Voila! Welcome to In Motion Identification (IMID).