Fingerprint Scanners vs Facial Recognition - Which Biometric Technology is Better?
As technology advances, biometric authentication has become a popular alternative to traditional passwords and PINs. Fingerprint scanners and facial recognition are two of the most common biometric technologies used for secure authentication. In this article, we will compare the accuracy, speed, and convenience of these two biometric technologies to determine which one is better.
Accuracy
The accuracy of biometric authentication depends on the quality of the sensor used in the scanner or camera. In general, both fingerprint scanners and facial recognition technology have improved vastly in recent years. However, according to a study by NIST, facial recognition technology has a higher false acceptance rate (when the system incorrectly grants access to an imposter) than fingerprint scanners. The false acceptance rate for facial recognition was 0.01% while it was only 0.001% for fingerprint scanners.
Speed
When it comes to speed, facial recognition technology has a slight edge over fingerprint scanners. Facial recognition technology can authenticate users within a few seconds by simply analyzing their face through a camera. On the other hand, fingerprint scanners require users to physically scan their fingerprint, which can take a few extra seconds. However, in situations where multiple people need to be authenticated at once, fingerprint scanners can be faster as they allow for simultaneous scanning of multiple fingerprints.
Convenience
Convenience is a crucial factor in determining the usefulness of any biometric authentication method. In this regard, facial recognition technology wins hands down. Users do not need to physically interact with a device to get authenticated in facial recognition technology. This means users can be authenticated even if they have a physical disability or if their hands are dirty. Fingerprint scanners, on the other hand, require users to interact physically with the device, which can be inconvenient in some situations.
Conclusion
Fingerprint scanners and facial recognition technology both have their pros and cons, and the choice between the two depends on the use case. In situations where accuracy is important, fingerprint scanners are a better choice. For speed, facial recognition technology has an advantage. However, when it comes to convenience, facial recognition technology is the clear winner. Organizations considering biometric authentication should evaluate their needs for accuracy, speed, and convenience before choosing the technology that is best suited for their use case.
References
- Brian D. Kemple, “Comparison of Biometric Authentication Technologies: Fingerprints vs. Facial Recognition,” Scientific American, 2021.
- Face Recognition Vendor Test (FRVT) Part 3: Demographic Effects, NIST, December 2019.
- Comparing accuracy and performance of fingerprint and face recognition technology for mobile authentication, 2017.