Gait-recognition biometrics to assist other biometric measures

Scientists are about to infuse the term “walk the walk” with new meaning as they try to develop a biometric technology which would identify people by the way they walk. John Carter of the University of Southampton says that the gait recognition technology has the potential to support fingerprint and iris recognition technology. He says that the way a person walks is unique, and the system could be used to identify individuals in a closed environment such as airports.

“The technology is also relevant for the police, military and any business interested in access control,” he said. “‘Tests have been 100 percent accurate and now we want to expand trials to as many as 3,000 people.”

The university has developed a tunnel that contains eight digital cameras that record a person’s movements and generates a 3D model of the individual. Note that the cameras also capture facial recognition information to assist identification if one biometric method is unsuitable. “[Gait recognition] will not work in isolation, but offers a degree of security that is less invasive,” Carter says.

ITWeek reports that the technology could be used as passengers pass through initial security checks and be linked to airport check-in databases to allow passengers to be matched to their gait. A spokesman for BAA, which operates seven U.K. airports, says it is interested in emerging biometric technologies.

Analyst Henry Harteveldt of Forrester says the gait system may be more suited to airport employees accessing restricted areas. “What it does show is how many aspects there are to biometrics beyond the obvious applications such as iris recognition and fingerprints,” he said. “It is good to incorporate as many as possible to verify people and anything that enriches the information security has to keep people safe is beneficial.”