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Fingerprint

Note: for "digital fingerprints" see Message digest.


A fingerprint is an imprint made by the pattern of ridges on the pad of a human finger. These prints are often left on objects at a crime scene and are therefore used in forensic science to identify suspects. No two humans have ever been found to have identical fingerprints, thus fingerprints are widely believed to be unique.

Fingerprints are an early example of biometrics, the science of identifying individuals by their physical characteristics. There is no clear date at which fingerprinting was first used, some examples being from prehistory. However, some significant modern dates are as follows.

  • 1880 - Dr Henry Faulds published his first paper on the subject in the scientific journal Nature in 1880. Returning to Britain in 1886, he offered the concept to the Metropolitan Police in London but was dismissed.
  • 1901 - Sir Edward Richard Henry devised the Henry Classification System used in England and Wales.
  • 1902 - Dr. Henry P. DeForrest used fingerprinting in the New York Civil Service.

Sometimes the prints are invisible, in which case they are called latent fingerprints, but there are chemical techniques such as cyanoacrylate fuming and ninhydrin spray that can make them visible.

Recently the American Federal Bureau of Investigation adopted a wavelet-based system for efficient storage of fingerprint data, developed by Ingrid Daubechies.

In the 2000s, electronic fingerprint readers have been introduced for security applications such as identification of computer users (log-in authentication). However, early devices have been discovered to be vulnerable to quite simple methods of deception, such as fake fingerprints cast in gels.

There is some controversy over the uniqueness of fingerprints. Even those who accept their uniqueness sometimes argue that the techniques used to compare fingerprints are fallible.

Fingerprint analysis (or Dactylography, a term mainly used in the US) is the science of using fingerprints to uniquely identify someone. Humans leave behind prints of the ridges of the skin on their fingertips when handling certain materials. The pattern of ridges is thought to be unique for each person and in practice has proved unique enough to identify the person who left the fingerprint.

Fingerprint analysis emerged in the early 20th century, when it was the first method in forensic science for unique identification. As a result of its early success, it acquired a mystique of infallibility. It has only recently been subjected to systematic analysis by investigators from outside the field.

Fingerprint examiners have certainly disagreed with one another: the case of Shirley McKie was a notable case involving fingerprints.

William West

The most famous case in the history of fingerprinting occurred in the late 1800s when a man was spotted in the incoming prisoner line at the U.S. Penitentionary in Leavenworth, Kansas by a guard who 'knew' him and had just seen him already in the prison population. Upon examination, the incoming prisoner claimed to be named Will West, while the (not escaped) existing prisoner was named William West. According to their Bertillon measurements they were essentially indistinguishable. As they were not twins, the Bertillon system came into some question. However, their fingerprints were different, and fingerprint identification received a significant boost in credibility.

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Biometric Access Company (BAC, Texas,USA)
Offers hardware and software for fingerprint and facial recognition.
http://www.biometricaccess.com/

I/O Software
Biometric software solutions. Developer of biometric applications based on the Biometric API (BAPI) standard.
http://www.iosoftware.com

Keyware Technologies (USA)
Biometric Identification Solutions for Business Applications.
http://www.keyware.be

Recognition Systems, Inc. (USA)
HandKey and HandPunch terminals utilizing hand geometry for identification.
http://www.recogsys.com/

Optel (Poland)
Fingerprint recognition with ultrasonic holography, recognizes living fingers. Software for fingerprint recognition. Synthesis of fingerprints (compression - 8 bytes needed). Ultrasonic technology, R&D in biometric and acoustics.
http://www.optel.com.pl

Identix Incorporated
Provides optical fingerprint readers and identification systems, and face recognition systems.
http://www.identix.com/

Dermalog GmbH (Germany)
Software House - Biometric Identification and Security Systems (fingerprint and hand geometry)
http://www.dermalog.de/

VeriVoice (USA)
patented industrial strength voice verification technology.
http://www.verivoice.com/

Printrak (USA)
Fingerprint identification - AFIS
http://www.printrakinternational.com

PenOp
Signature recognition
http://www.penop.com/

Heimann Biometric Systems GmbH (Jena, Germany)
(Subsidiary of Rheinmetall Elektronik) optical fingerprint recognition.
http://www.hbs-jena.com/

Nuance Communications
Natural language speech recognition systems for self-service transactions and network applications.
http://www.nuance.com/products/verifier.htm

MbD EDV Management
German company offers biometric access control, time and attendance, and data acquisition technologies.
http://www.mbd-edv.de/html/eng/index.html

VoiceProve
Develops user-authentication and digital signature applications based on proprietary voice verification technology.
http://www.voiceprove.com

Aware (USA)
Implementation of the FBI's Wavelet Scalar Quantization fingerprint compression standard
http://www.aware.com/products/compression/wsq.html

Persay - Speaker Verification
Offers voice and speaker verification and authentication systems for remote services.
http://www.persay.com

Miaxis Biometrics Co.(China)
offers advanced, reliable and cost efficient identification solutions to a dynamic global market
http://www.miaxis.com

Fingerprint Cards AB (Sweden)
Cards with fingerprint recognition
http://www.fingerprint.se

ILI Technologies
Company based in India offers biometric access solutions.
http://www.ilitec.com

Imaging Automation, Inc.
Identfication - complex solutions
http://www.imagauto.com/

IdentAlink (Germany)
biometric solutions for all security aspects, access and time control.
http://www.identalink.de

Opticom (Israel)
integration of biometric technology, maintaining system flexibility, simplicity in installing and operating.
http://www.opticom-tech.com/

FingerPrint USA
Consulting and technical services in fingerprint biometric technologies and the specification, development and acquisition of complex automated identification systems.
http://www.fpusa.com/

Unidas (Germany)
Face recognition.
http://unidas.com/indexe.htm

App Informatik Davos
Visual and/or Automatic Signature Verification
http://www.signplus.com/

BiometriKa (Italy)
Italian company develops and offers OEM versions of the FX 2000 fingerprint scanner engine.
http://www.biometrika.it/eng/

NextgenID
Offers fingerprint and face recognition products.
http://www.nextgenid.com/

Indivos
Offers Pay By Touch voluntary service which authenticates consumer identity at the point of purchase in any retail environment.
http://www.indivos.com

BrainTrust Marketing GmbH & Co. KG (Germany)
develops and markets products for reliable user authentication by means of finger ID.
http://www.goldfinger-secure.com/

Sonetech Corp. (USA)
Speaker Recognition
http://www.sonetechcorp.com/

Cross Match Technologies, Inc. (USA)
Optical Finger Print Capture Devices
http://www.crossmatch.net/index.html

Aditech Ltd (UK)
Distributor of Iriscan equipment in Europe, total solutions provider and technical support.
http://www.aditech.co.uk/

i d ~ arts
Passface system: It works by showing a number of groups of human faces. Somewhere within each group, in a position that varies randomly, is a face that user recognise authenticate to the system by finding those familiar faces - passfaces.
http://www.id-arts.com

SOFTPRO - Software Professional GmbH & Co. KG (Germany)
Signature Verification
http://www.softpro.de

Kinetic Sciences Inc. (KSI)
Fingerprint Biometrics sensor and solutions provider
http://www.kinetic.bc.ca

CyberSign
Offers signature authentification and verification solutions.
http://www.cybersign.com/

Biometrica Systems, Inc.(Usa)
Supplies surveillance and security solutions for the gaming industry.
http://biometrica.com/

Sense Technologies Inc. (USA)
Fingerprint Identification for Time and Attendance.
http://www.senseme.com/

T-NETIX (USA)
Developer of call management and fraud prevention technologies (Speaker Verification), which determines a match between a person's spoken word and their digitally stored 'voice print'.
http://www.t-netix.com/

SecuGen Corporation (USA)
Biometric Solution Provider. Manufacturer of fingerprint recognition devices for integration into 3rd party hardware products and offer total biometric solution into market segments such as e-Commerce, Healthcare, Financial Services Industries, Network Security and many others.
http://www.secugen.com

Key Tronic (USA)
Keyboards with fingerprint recognition
http://www.keytronic.com

Net Nanny (USA)
Keystroke Dynamics
http://www.netnanny.com/

Idtek (USA)
Smartcards with fingerprint recognition
http://www.idtek.com

Neurotechnologija, Ltd. (Vilnius, Lithuania)
Pattern recognition and image processing software (eye iris and fingerprint recognition for person identification and criminalistics).
http://www.neurotechnologija.com/

Sannaedle (Korea)
Manufacturer of linear array fingerprint sensor, pc-keyboard, mouse, door-lock, time& attendance, access control and other associated goods.
http://www.cecrop.com

Delsy (Germany)
utilizes a CCD-chip with fiberglass surface (without mirror system or lens optics)for fingerprint recognition.
http://www.delsy.de

Eyematic (USA)
Face recognition
http://www.eyematic.com

Labcal Technologies (Canada)
SmartPrint security solution applies biometrics and smartcard technologies to eliminate the common problems associated with passwords and PINs (personal identification numbers), storing fingerprints on smartcards instead.
http://www.labcal.com/smartprint.php3

Visionsphere Technologies Inc. (Canada)
Face Recognition hardware and software for computer network access and secure access applications.
http://www.visionspheretech.com

Biometrics.co.za (South Africa)
Biometric applications and development tools that support a variety of biometric devices.
http://www.biometrics.co.za

AIMS Technology Inc.
Company specializes in biometric identification involving the fingernail nailbed.
http://www.nail-id.com/

Thomson CSF
Thermal silicon chip fingerprint sensor.
http://www.tcs.thomson-csf.com/Us/fingerchip/FC_home.htm

Oxford Micro Devices, Inc. (USA)
Civic-Minded Internet Imaging Solutions company providing biometric solutions intended for real-world applications, plus fully programmable, image/video processing/compression devices.
http://www.oxfordmicrodevices.com/

Thomson-CSF Semiconducteurs Spécifiques (TCS)
fingerprint recognition with Thomson CSF Fingerchip
http://www.tcs.thomson-csf.com/

Rayco Security, Inc. (CA)
Biometric systems vendor: devices, software.
http://www.raycosecurity.com/

Sentry Kids
manufacturer of portable electronic fingerprinting and digital imaging systems designed for children.
http://www.SentryKIDS.com

AST (Spain)
Fingerprint authentication systems for access control, software
http://www.ast-afis.com/

Aurora Computer Services Ltd. (UK)
Consulting company offers biometric solutions for identification and verification needs.
http://www.auroraserv.co.uk/

ImageWare Software, Inc. (USA)
PC-based digital imaging, face recognition, software solutions for the law enforcement industry.
http://www.iwsinc.com/

BioLink Tchnologies International, Inc. (USA)
full line of biometric products: U-Match BioLink Mouse(tm), a BioLink-enabled PC line, authentication servers for speed and additional security, and a secure e-commerce protocol for Internet transactions.
http://biolinkusa.com

Bioidentix
Offers Active-X development kits that allow integration of fingerprint security into existing applications and web sites. Supports most fingerprint scanners.
http://www.bioidentix.net

BioLynx Inc.
Texas company offers biometric time and attendance solutions featuring hand recognition technology.
http://www.biolynx.com/

J. Markowitz
Offers consulting services and publications specializing on the applications of speech recognition.
http://www.jmarkowitz.com/

Ex-Clé (Argentina)
Argentinian Company specialized in Biometrics, Fingerprint and Eye Iris recognition.
http://www.ex-cle.com/

Print Electronics (India)
Access Control with fingerprint recognition
http://www.printelectronics.com

ITC (Italy)
SpotIt! - an integrated system for the creation of photographic quality composites which is able to create, find, compress, and morph faces.
http://spotit.itc.it/SpotIt.html

Visionics Corporation (USA)
Makers of FaceIt face recognition technology.
http://www.visionics.com

ASTRON Advanced Technology Solutions (PL)
Vendor of biometrics security products, fingerchip scanners, hand geometry, iris, face and voice recognition.
http://www.astrontech.pl

PSE TechLab (USA)
Siemens Company, manufacturer of ID Mouse (uses capacitive chip fingerprint recognition technology).
http://www.psetechlab.com/index.htm

Biometri Systemer (Norway)
Biometrics company in Norway that offers products and services for fingerprint, face, voice, iris scanning.
http://www.biometrics.no

Yasmin Teknologies (Malaysia)
Fingerprint identification and access control solutions provider and integrator in Malaysia.
http://www.yasmin.com.my

Buytel
voice verification
http://www.buytel.com/

CIC (USA)
creator of Sign-it and other electronic signature software which authenticate electronic handwritten signatures and original contents of digital documents and digital forms.
http://www.cic.com/

Graphco Technologies Inc. (USA)
develops and markets technology and solutions for Biometric Authentication, Secure Access, and Expert Knowledge Systems.
http://www.graphcotech.com

Fidelica Microsystems, Inc.
fingerprint sensors.
http://www.fidelica.com

Smart Biometrics Incorporated
Offers fingerprint scanning engines for OEM, specializing in user authentification devices for hand-held guns.
http://www.smartbiometrics.com

Biomet Partners (Switzerland)
2-finger geometry recognition
http://www.biomet.ch/

East Shore Technologies
Automated fingerprint identification system ( AFIS ) search matching algorithmic software supplier and provider of fingerprint identification search / authentication systems.
http://www.east-shore.com/

Almex Ltd. (USA)
Hand and fingerprint recognition devices vendor.
http://www.almexltd.com

Mesa SIC (Italy)
Italian manufacturer of biometric security devices including fingerprint scanners and access control solutions.
http://www.mesa-sic.com

Random Biometrics, LLC
Random Biometrics provides enhanced biometric security solution patent use rights for the individual or enterprise.
http://www.randombiometrics.com

Rofin Australia Pty Ltd
optical fingerprint recognition
http://www.rofin.com.au/pr-bss.htm

FaceBase, Inc.
Provides biometric face recognition applications using undithered bilevel images, reducing the risks of "racial profiling" and identify theft based on facial photos.
http://www.facebase.com

CSIRO (Australia)
CSIRO has developed real-time, automatic face capture and recognition technology capable of enhancing security.
http://www.tip.csiro.au

Intuate Biometrics (Spain)
Distributes and provides consulting services for fingerprint security identification & authentication systems in Spain.
http://www.intuate.com

FIST Co., Ltd. (Korea)
access control using fingerprint veryfying.
http://www.fist.co.kr/

Bioacesso (Portugal)
Retailer of access control and time and attendance products using finger and iris recognition.
http://www.bioacesso.com

P.L.B Technologies Ltd.
software developer and exporter of identification and security systems.
http://www.plbtec.com/

Precise Biometrics (Sweden)
fingerprint identification (software and processors).
http://www.precisebiometrics.com

Anovea Authentication Technology Inc.
speaker authentication technology: design of complete, custom authentication solutions using speech, fingerprint and other biometric modalities for enterprise computing, e-commerce and telephony markets.
http://www.anovea.com

Autostar Technology Pte Ltd (Singapore)
A Hardware and Software Developer and Solutions Provider for fingerprint recognition and identification on access control and time & attendance systems.
http://www.autostar.com.sg

Interbiometrics (German)
Provides enterprise solutions in the field of biometric systems, new chip technologies and services.
http://www.interbiometrics.com

Aeon Systems
London-area company offers intruder alarms, CCTV and access control systems. Specializes in monitored systems.
http://www.aeonsystems.co.uk

BioEnable Technologies (India)
Online retailer offers a selection of different biometric hardware and software solutions.
http://www.bioenabletech.com

Biocentric Solutions Incorporated
Offers fingerprint sensor technology for physical access control; handheld, mobile, wireless environments; and large scale, consumer product applications.
http://www.biocentricsolutions.com

International Biometric Group
IBG provides independent biometrics research and reports, technology and system design, deployment strategies, and testing services to government and corporate clients.
http://www.biometricgroup.com/a_bio1/vendor/cic.htm

Financial Information System
Inkless Fingerprint Sticker
http://www.stopfraud.com/

Simple Technology Inc. (Canada)
Canadian Distribution source for biometrics, smart cards, and other computer components.
http://www.simpletechnology.com

Ensigma (UK)
speaker and voice recognition.
http://www.ensigma.com/

1010 Net/Soft Systems
Canadian company offers biometric systems design and integration.
http://www.securenet.bc.ca

AGMA (France)
French company offers biometric face recognition access control systems.
http://perso.wanadoo.fr/agma-morpho/aagma.htm

Veridicom, Inc. (USA)
Develops and markets fingerprint-based authentication products to serve the Internet security infrastructure (capacitive fingerchips).
http://www.veridicom.com/

AcSys Biometrics Corp.
Provider of neural technology applications for the financial, manufacturing, security and medical sectors. Owns exclusive worldwide HNet license for face and speech recognition applications.
http://www.acsysbiometrics.com

Cherry Corporation
Manufacturer of keyboards and computer mice incorporating fingerprint recognition, barcode, magstripe and smartcard technology.
http://www.cherrycorp.com

Photobase Ltd
Offers fingerprint verification systems for use in controlling building access and in time and attendance systems. Product catalogue with prices. Based in London, United Kingdom.
http://www.photobase.co.uk

Bioscrypt Inc.
Fingerprint verification and identification systems for use in commercial and industrial applications for access control.
http://www.bioscrypt.com

VeriTouch
Produces advanced Biometric Smartcard Terminals including Voice Verification, RFID, and USB Functionality.
http://www.veritouch.com/

Idex (Norway)
optical fingerprint recognition
http://www.idex.no/about.html

Fujitsu (Japan)
FingerPass Card, a PC Card-Based optical Fingerprint Recognition Device for Mobile PCs.
http://www.fujitsu.co.jp/hypertext/news/1998/Aug/19-2e.html

Biometrics Direct
Provides secure biometric authentication products, software and services for home and corporate use.
http://www.biometricsdirect.com

Visual Automation (UK)
Offers customized software security solutions for business.
http://www.wiau.man.ac.uk/VAL/index.htm

ComSec Enterprises (Australia)
Offers biometric and IT infrastructure and security consulting and integration.
http://www.comsecent.com.au

Iridian Technologies
Offers security authentication software and hardware for physical facilities, commerce, and computer networks.
http://www.iridiantech.com

Automa (Australia)
Offers fingerscan units for IT security systems, time and attendance applications, and access control.
http://www.automa.com.au

AuthenTec, Inc
Manufactures biometric fingerprint scanning engines for OEM.
http://www.authentec.com

TMA Associates (CA)
publications and consulting in speech recognition and other advanced speech technologies, including SPECH RECOGNITION UPDATE newsletter. The site includes recent news. TMA also publishes market studies.
http://www.tmaa.com/

Digital Descriptor Systems Inc.(DDSI - USA)
optical fingerprint recognition.
http://www.ddsi-cpc.com/

Titan Corporation (USA)
fingerprint card scanners and supporting workstation equipment.
http://www.titan.com/

Axcess Inc. (USA)
Fingerprint reader in a RFID-tag.
http://www.axsi.com/

NCTI (USA)
Speech recognition and speaker verification.
http://nct-active.com

Sonda (RU)
Afis system
http://www.sonda.ru/

Instytut Maszyn Matematycznych (PL)
access control software and hardware with fingerprint recognition.
http://www.imm.org.pl

Biometric Partners (Germany, USA)
Identification of fingerprints and palmprints from touchless optical imaging (see also T.A.S.).
http://www.biometricpartners.com

Cassini (PL)
Polish manufacturer of biometric identification solutions.
http://www.cassini.pl

Cogent Systems
Offers fingerpint recognition software and hardware for access control.
http://www.cogentsystems.com

Voice Security Systems (VSS)
uses the voice's multitude of speech tones and tempos to uniquely identify individuals.
http://www.voice-security.com/

Datastrip Inc. (USA)
Barcode symbology reader from Datastrip: PDF417 code reading and biometric verification, 2D software, and hardware.
http://www.datastrip.com/

Guardware Systems (Hungary)
Retailer of advanced fingerprint recognition systems for computer/network security and physical access control.
http://www.guardware.com

Proxtec Technology (Hong Kong)
Specializes in biometric systems designed for physical building access, and time and attendance.
http://www.proxtec.com

Axis Software Pvt. Ltd
Offer access control systems with integrated fingerprint recognition for banking, desktop security and time and attendance systems. Based in Pune, Maharashtra, India.
http://www.axistech.com/

TeKey Ltd. (Israel)
We have combined our efforts in order to develop a new generic technology that allows the great majority of the existing identification and protection systems to be turned into a simple, cheap fingerprint recognition procedure.
http://www.tekey.com/

Lockheed Martin (USA)
AFIS - fingerprint recognition
http://www.lockheedmartin.com/lmis/level3/fingiden.html

SOS Depot - Biometrics Store
Online store offers a biometric mouse with fingerprint scanning authentication and other related biometric security products.
http://www.sos-depot.com

SecureTech Solutions
Provides biometric access control and time/attendance solutions using iris and fingerprint recognition systems.
http://www.securetechsolutions.com

Digitus s.r.o. (CZ)
vendor of fingerprint and hand geometry recognition devices in Czech Republic
http://www.digitus.cz/

C-VIS Computer Vision und Automation GmbH (Germany)
FaceSnap recorder - digital recording and face recognition.
http://www.facesnap.de

Time&Technology Inc. (USA)
produces NextTime and HandLink software for the HandPunch biometric reader by Recognition Systems.
http://www.nextsoft.com/

Tennyson Systems (TN USA)
Tennessee company offers biometric time & attendence and finger scan computer access products.
http://www.tennysonsystems.com/

Nexus Group International
Biometric research and development firm.
http://www.nxsgrp.com

Biometric Associates, Inc.
Developer of fingerprint identification system modules for biometric smartcards and subsystems.
http://www.biometricassociates.com

ThumbAccess Biometrics Corporation (Australia)
Offers range of hardware and software business solutions for biometrics ranging from Access Control and Network Security through to proprietary software solutions.
http://www.thumbaccess.com

Exresource
Provider of IT security and access control systems, specializing in biometric access control.
http://www.exresource.com

Securstar GmbH
German company offers biometric (fingerprint) and smartcard readers.
http://www.securstar.de

Unilink Computers plc
Offers products and services including development of security solutions using biometrics for police, immigration and high security installations.
http://www.unilink.co.uk

Sagem Morpho, Inc.
Offers optical fingerprint recognition systems.
http://www.morpho.com/

ID Tech, Ltd.
Manufacturer of biometric access control and touch pad access control solutions. Korea
http://www.idteck.com

Public Sector Products
Offers digital mugshot and lineup solutions and networking services for law enforcement.
http://www.publicsectorproducts.com

Hectrix Limited
Provider of smart card and biometric authentication Internet Appliances for e-commerce, m-commerce, PC-network security, secure access and secure communication. Hong Kong
http://www.hectrix.com

Techwise Consulting
Offers fingerprint verification that can detect living fingers using a patented biosensor, thus, eliminating all finger surrogates.
http://www.t


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