Biometrics is now used widely across the world for a variety of applications. The main purpose of these applications is to identify users by their biometric details. Due to its reliability and accuracy, biometric data is the preferred method now to identify a person. With advancing technology, this identification technique is now available even in smartphones where it is used to unlock the phone.

1. You Use OpenSource Biometrics?-Bahaa
Abdul Hadi
Biometrics is now used widely across the world for a variety of applications. The
main purpose of these applications is to identify users by their biometric details. Due
to its reliability and accuracy, biometric data is the preferred method now to identify a
person. With advancing technology, this identification technique is now available
even in smartphones where it is used to unlock the phone.
Some biological features like fingerprint, iris, retina, voice recognition, face and DNA
are unique for each individual. The unique properties of biometrics are used to
process ID data in biometrics systems. The biometrics details of a person are first
captured and stored in the record. When it is time to identify the same person, the
biometric data of that person is captured again and matched to the one in the record.
A matching record approves and validates the person’s identity. The high level of
accuracy obtained from the biometrics systems are accepted all over. They are
accepted as proof in legal matters.
Open Source Biometrics Software
Developers of these programs hold the copyright but make the programs available to
everyone for free. Other programmers can obtain the programming rights to these
programs, allowing them to make changes to the original source codes of the
software. These changes let them use the software according to their project
requirements.
Pros and cons of open source biometrics programs listed by Bahaa Abdul Hadi
include:
Pros
Customization: Programmers can customize the program as per the requirements of
their project.
Affordability: Open source software programs are affordable. They do not require
paying high yearly license fees as demanded by proprietary program developers.
The savings made in license fees can be huge, especially when calculated over
several years. Some development and maintenance costs remain even with these
programs.
Community support: Most popular open source software programs build a large
community that supports each other in different ways. This support proves helpful
especially for small companies that cannot afford hiring programmers. They can
harness the expertise and experience of other community members.

2. Transparency: The source code of the program is made available to everyone,
making it easy to modify the program according to the project requirements. All
program development details are available publicly.
Cons
Security issues: Biometrics data must be secured in a foolproof way. An open source
software program is vulnerable to breaches because its source code is available
openly. The company using such a program must use its own security features to
protect the data of its users.
Maintenance Cost: The maintenance cost with an open source biometrics software
program is higher. In case of a proprietary program, this cost is borne by the program
developer.
Open source biometrics programs offer affordability, adaptability and scalability
advantages, but they have some limitations. Choose such a program based on your
requirements, expected data volume demand and other factors.
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