2017 to early 2018 saw a huge increase in the adoption of biometric technology in companies and various sectors with biometric-enabled passenger processing becoming a common feature at major airports. Banking and the corporate sector have also embraced biometric authentication to enhance security and employee safety. Healthcare and even schools are also looking to increase their levels of security. We explore the future trends in biometrics and the growth of these particular markets.
HOW BIOMETRICS IS CHANGING THE LANDSCAPE
Our society has justifiably become increasingly security conscious. The spike in sophisticated card compromising and skill levels of cyber-criminals have made the issue an ever more pressing one because of which it’s necessary to make use of cybersecurity for healthcare and other industries. With the implementation of biometric technology and authentication in many companies and even airports, the concept of biometric security should not be a foreign one. Rather, we are seeing more businesses embracing fingerprint security and the like, making for a smooth transition as the technology becomes more and more common.
Traditional authentication methods like PIN numbers and key cards are slowly becoming obsolete. Many companies making use of PINs have reeled from millions lost to scams, from shoulder surfing and phishing. With everything else seemingly moving towards a digital platform, it is expected that security will follow suit.
Biometric authentication provides heightened security levels. Fingerprint scanners for instance are becoming so clever that they can pick up a user’s fingerprints from wet, damaged, aged or dry skin. Biometric technology provides a clearer means through which to distinguish an individual and, therefore, will not only assist in one industry but transcend a great range of other sectors.
BIOMETRICS IN HEALTHCARE
There is an increasing demand to address healthcare fraud and protect patient privacy, which means that biometric authentication technologies will play a huge role in the industry going forward. According to a Credence Report, biometrics in healthcare is already expanding and is expected to increase by 22.9% between 2015 and 2025.
Biometric technology is deployed in many areas in the identification of hospital personnel and to control and restrict user access to specific areas within the hospital. Biometric authentication can be used in conjunction with passwords and cards for accessing sensitive records, further enhancing the security. The technology can also help with automating areas of healthcare, such as attendance records, time management etc.
The University of California San Diego has developed a new biometric technology as a future trend, which could help securely identify individuals in situations of disaster relief, migrations, preventing human trafficking and refugee settlement.
And it’s not just for security reasons that technology is now being used in the healthcare sector. There is a seismic shift in thinking about empowering patients to take an active role in their care plan on a global scale. For instance, Oneview, a healthcare firm, has seen firsthand how technology, when used correctly, can support patient-centered care. What’s exciting now is that healthcare technology even includes entertainment systems for patients – fitness trackers, video education, digital food journals, and other communication tools. All these things help patients better understand their health and prepare them to speak with doctors in the right way, with the right knowledge.
BIOMETRICS IN SCHOOL
The recent school shootings in the US have opened up a debate on the enhancement of school security. Politicians, parents and the community have largely been divided on the issue, but biometric technology could prove to be more effective and less intrusive than having armed guards at each school. Biometrics in schools can be used in the physical identification for entry and access into classrooms, reducing the risk of unwanted visitors and assisting in ‘locking down’ a school if and when required.
BIOMETRICS IN THE MAINSTREAM
Other security trends that can be used in conjunction with biometrics include the likes of voice printing. While this is not related to biometric authentication, it is indeed another aspect of security that is gaining traction. Millions of voice prints are being stored to help deal with any kidnappings or other criminal activities. If the person behind the crime speaks on the phone, for instance, they can be identified by voice print.
While we are a long way from seeing the above two security technologies become commonly adopted, biometric technology offers lots of potential for companies. You can read about more advantages of biometric authentication, or look further into the industries adopting the technology here.
