BiometricsBiometric security to drive $7.3 billion in five years

A new study by ABI Research concludes that biometric-security applications will account for $7.3 billion of spending in 2013, up from about $3 billion this year. A key factor driving the increase: the work vendors have done to create interoperable standards, according to the market-research firm. Over the next five years, systems with multitechnology, multivendor capabilities will drive adoption in both public- and private-sector applications, ABI said. Fingerprint recognition will continue to be the dominant form of biometric identification, but face-, iris-, hand-, and speech-recognition will also play roles. Importantly, the biometric vendor community will benefit as facility operators realize the value of combining multiple types for increased security.

ABI also notes that as biometric technology gains wider adoption, it will find use in applications where other forms of security are adequate, but where a biometric approach adds convenience. Examples would be the use of biometrics in notebook PCs and in airport check-in procedures.