Access Control
& Security Systems

In a poll of more than 2,000 adults, biometric uses by government and the private sector are gaining momentum and acceptance among the general public. Commissioned by SEARCH, a group funded by U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics, the survey was developed by Dr. Alan F. Westin of Privacy Consulting Group.

Here are some of the results:

Of those who underwent some kind of biometric identification in 2002, the following percentages had high "general comfort" in taking the following tests:

• Signature dynamics: 85 percent
• Fingerprint scan: 83 percent
• Facial recognition: 83 percent
• Voice recognition: 79 percent
• Hand geometry: 72 percent

Although the survey found that 88 percent were concerned about possible misuse of their personal information, 80 percent said they support governmental and private organizations' use of biometrics "as a means of helping prevent crimes."

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