The most commonly used biometric security device nowadays is a fingerprint scanner or reader. Identity and access management systems are often embedded with a fingerprint sensor, which recognizes a person based on the unique markings on the underside of the fingertip. Thus, they are widely being used in the government, BFSI, corporate, and industrial premises, apart consumer electronics.
Access Report Summary - Fingerprint Sensors Market Segmentation Analysis Report
Types of Fingerprint Sensors
Optical: These sensors rely on capturing an optical image, more specifically a photograph, which is further used to detect the unique patterns on the finger’s surface, such as ridges or marks, by analyzing the darkest and lightest areas of the image.
Capacitive: These scanners rely on a large number of small capacitor circuits, which store electrical charge and are connected them to conductive plates on the scanner’s surface. The points on the sensor where the ridge of the fingerprint touches witness a change in the amount of electrical charge, whereas places where the troughs touch witness no change. This comparison between the charges allows for the detection of the fingerprint.
Ultrasonic: It comprises both an ultrasonic transmitter and a receiver, which facilitates the transmission of ultrasonic pulse at the finger placed over the scanner. Several pulses are absorbed by the ridges, pores, and other features on the fingertip, while several bounce back to the sender.
Fingerprint Sensors in Consumer Electronics and Smart Homes
Numerous consumer electronics use fingerprint detectors to make easy identification of the user and ensure safety and security-enabled data protection from unverified users. Fingerprint sensors are utilized in smartphones and wearables, as well as smart electrical appliances and the smart home industry for data security and entry identification.
As the mobile industry is transforming, the fingerprint sensor technology is expected to offer reliability in new design innovations. For instance, Xiaomi has launched a curved fingerprint sensor in its innovative, foldable screen phone. The curved design offers effortless integration into the mid-frame, which doubles up as a power button.
Fingerprint Sensors in BFSI Sector
The BFSI sector widely utilizes fingerprint sensors for employee identification and security. Financial data security is of great importance; a large amount of data and increasing footfall in banks create the require for extensive security. Banking processes now involve securing the transaction records and increasing their accessibility to authorized customers or personnel.
Moreover, several financial institutions are focusing on rolling out payment cards that utilize biometric authentication instead of a signature or PIN. It will enable the user to authenticate the card transaction with fingerprint recognition at point-of-sale terminals that have the same technology.
Fingerprint Sensors in Government Sector
The government sector is also massively relying on fingerprint sensors for authenticating a person’s identity. For instance, the Aadhaar-based biometric identification system is utilized for distributing the benefits of various social welfare schemes to the EWS population. The fingerprint of people is used to authenticate their identity while dispersing the benefits.
This system is extensively used in government offices for attendance tracking. During COVID-19, the process of fingerprint detection for attendance recording was stopped out of fear of contracting the infection from touching things that many others have also touched, but post COVID-19, it has been reintroduced from June 1, 2022. The practice is also resumed at the Rajya Sabha Secretariat, which has 1,300 staff members.
Fingerprint Sensors in Corporate Offices
Numerous companies in the IT/ITeS sector have implemented fingerprint readers to improve remote access and management, with the addition of another layer of network security for system administrators. Biometric fingerprint scanners, such as USB fingerprint readers, are massively used to track attendance and employee work hours. These devices provide highly accurate data with reduced human labor, for attendance marking. It ensures ease in payroll calculation by tracking each employee’s work hours, so that they get paid as per their work. It also improves the punctuality of the employees in the office.
