In the trenchesBiometric technologies save lives in the field

Published 4 January 2011

This is not your father’s military: Within minutes of knocking down the door of a suspected bomb maker in the Middle East, U.S. troops can fingerprint everyone they find inside, send scans across a satellite link, and find out if the subjects are suspected terrorists

Within minutes of knocking down the door of a suspected bomb maker in the Middle East, U.S. troops can fingerprint everyone they find inside, send scans across a satellite link, and find out if the subjects are suspected terrorists.

Military Technologies report that biometrics — the science of identifying a person through their unique body measurements such as fingerprints, iris scans, voice prints or DNA — has come a long way, so much so, that a submission from theater can be searched in the Department of Defense (DoD) Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS) with a response back to theater in less than two minutes.

In keeping with these developments, Dr. Harry Wechsler, Professor of Computer Science at George Mason University (GMU), spoke with IDGA’s senior editor Nick Younker on biometrics and specifically facial recognition software. He details his FERET facial database developed at GMU and how this type of technology can be utilized by DoD and DHS. He also talks about what he sees as robust biometric authentication and describes its challenges and tasks. In addition, Wechsler elaborates on the future of R & D and how it will impact future use and implementation of this technology and systems.

Hear how facial recognition is saving lives daily and access the complete interview podcast here.

Wechsler will be speaking at IDGA’s 4th Annual Biometrics for National Security and Defense taking place 24-26 January 2011 at the Sheraton Premiere at Tysons Corner Hotel, Vienna, Virginia. For more information on attending the summit, and to see a full list of subject matter, visit the event Web site.