Biometric Fingerprint Readers

In 1892, Sir Fancis Galton discovered that there are 35-50 identification points or minutiae on the typical fingerprint. The odds of two being alike are 1 in 64 billion; current the population is around 6.5 billion, with 65 billion fingerprints. Since idenfications are usually made from 8 to 12 minutiae, only one fifth of the total minutiae, this recudes the potential number of different fingerprints.

Fingerprints that are made from sweat, sebum, dirt and skin contaminants are called latent fingerprints.

Because fingerprints are so distinct, it has become a tool for identifiying criminals, as well as a tool to improve security. Fingerprint readers are becoming more and more popular on personal computers.

The differnt types of minutia include fingerprint ridges such a ridge ending, bifurcation and a short ridge, or dot. A ridge ending is where the ridge simply ends. The bifurcation ridge is the point where the ridge splits into two ridges. A short ridge or dot is a ridge that is signficiantly shorter than the other ridges. These minutiae and varying patterns are what make each fingerprint different.