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Our smartphones, tablets, PCs, laptops, and wearables are only as secure as the weakest authentication method that we employ. Biometrics is one of the most used methods of identifying or authenticating the identity of an individual using unique physical or behavioral characteristics.

Biometric authentication may be needed for several reasons, including security, convenience, accuracy, fraud prevention, and compliance. For example, a smartphone may use fingerprint scanning to prevent unauthorized users from accessing the device. Biometric authentication can be more convenient than using a password or other authentication method as it does not require the user to remember and enter a password. Biometric authentication can be more accurate than other methods because it uses unique physical characteristics (e.g., fingerprints, facial features) to identify users. Biometric authentication can help prevent fraud by verifying the identity of the user before allowing access to sensitive information. And in some cases, biometric authentication may be required to meet regulatory or compliance requirements, such as for financial institutions or healthcare organizations.

Lastly, some biometric solutions are using artificial intelligence (AI) to improve their accuracy and security. For example, AI can be used to analyze facial features more accurately and to detect attempts to deceive the system (e.g., using a photograph or video of a person instead of the actual person).

In this week’s Tech Tuesday, we will explore medical biometric solutions from Maxim Integrated and an intelligent facial recognition module from Kneron.

Maxim Integrated MAX32663A Ultra-Low Power ECG Biometric Sensor Hub is a low-power sensor hub with embedded firmware and HeartKeyR ECG algorithms from B-Secur for wearable and medical devices. It connects seamlessly to Maxim's low-power ECG sensors like the MAX30003, providing a complete solution for delivering patient health information to an application. In addition to low power consumption, accurate and robust health data, and a tiny form factor for footprint-constrained designs, this proven ECG solution also removes the software licensing burden.

Kneron RLC-MS3F Intelligent Face Recognition Integrated Module is a structured light smart lock face recognition module with liveness detection and facial recognition functions. It can output IR images, liveness detection results, and face recognition results. The module can be used at night, in normal indoor lighting, outdoor sunlight, and various lighting conditions. Offering strong anti-counterfeiting performance, the structured light face recognition solution can capture facial information dynamically and identify it accurately and quickly. Kneron's proprietary liveness detection algorithm has passed the Bank Card Test Center (BCTC) enhanced level certification, which can eliminate all kinds of printed photos, electronic photos or videos, 3D head molds, 3D masks, and other attacks. It is more secure and accurate than traditional 2D single-camera or dual-camera face recognition.

With the advances in AI, biometrics has become one of the most popular methods of identifying and authenticating individuals. Biometric solutions offer security, accuracy, and convenience. In the medical field, biometric sensors in wearables can capture and deliver patient health information to doctors and hospital staff. Biometrics in smart face recognition cameras can capture facial details and identify them accurately and quickly.

The consensus is that the need for biometric solutions to identify and authenticate will only grow as the digital revolution morphs into an era of large-scale digitalization.