What Industries Are Getting the Most Out of Biometric Technology
Biometric technology is one of many new technologies that have gone from being science fiction or a futuristic technology to being a common part of everyday life. In its simplest terms, it uses a biological or behavioral trait to confirm one’s identity. It can be as simple as scanning a fingerprint, although biometric technology can also include a person’s voice pattern or facial features, among other options. While the use of biometric technology isn’t universal, some industries have taken to it quickly and are getting a lot out of it. Let’s look at some industries where you are most likely to find biometric technology widely and effectively used.
Fintech
The financial services industry and biometric technology are a perfect marriage. With more banks, credit unions, and financial companies moving their operations online, it’s only natural for them to embrace other forms of technology. With biometrics, these companies can confirm via fingerprints or facial recognition that the owner of an account is the only person who can access their financial information or conduct transactions. It makes it easy for people to access their financial portfolios on smartphones without having to remember passwords. Biometric technology is also helping the fintech industry cut down on fraud and identity theft. These have become bigger concerns with more transactions being conducted online. However, biometrics has proven to be the perfect response to those threats.
Gaming
Similar to fintech, the gaming industry has taken to biometric technology to help protect customers from identity theft and fraud. Online sportsbooks and online casinos are more popular than ever, largely because users can play games and make bets for real money on their mobile devices. There is even a huge selection of online roulette sites anyone can enjoy. Thanks to biometrics, players on these sites can log into their accounts using a fingerprint or facial recognition. This allows them to easily access their accounts without having to worry about their personal or financial information on those accounts being infiltrated by hackers.
Government
Law enforcement and other government entities need to be cognizant of security, which is why they’ve also adopted biometric technology. Keep in mind that criminals have long had their fingerprints taken to help confirm their identity. Nowadays, facial recognition and iris scans are also used when a criminal is apprehended, giving them a biometric profile on their record. Such technology is also commonly used to track people as they move across international borders. In some areas, biometric fingerprints are also being used to authenticate voters during elections. Granted, biometric technology isn’t used everywhere for these use cases. But it’s likely more government agencies across the world will find uses for it in the years to come.
Education
Not surprisingly, college campuses - and even some high schools - are at the cutting edge of technology with their use of biometrics. After all, many buildings on college campuses are restricted to students, professors, and staff. Dormitories, in particular, require a certain level of security. Therefore, universities can set up fingerprint or facial recognition identity systems to only allow students to access certain buildings. With educational institutions offering more exams online, biometrics has become important for test-taking integrity, as biometric technology can help confirm who is taking the exam, so there is no cheating or mistaken identity.
Healthcare
The healthcare industry is another area where security is valued, which is why there is a lot of biometric technology being used in hospitals and other healthcare settings. For starters, biometrics makes it easier to confirm the identity of patients. This helps to prevent clerical errors while also helping to protect the personal medical information of patients. Likewise, hospitals and similar settings tend to have restricted areas that can only be accessed by medical personnel. This includes operating rooms, pharmacies, and storage areas. If there is fingerprint or facial recognition technology in these areas, doors can remain locked unless someone with authorization uses biometric technology to gain access. This adds an extra layer of security to healthcare facilities.
