Biometric System Integration in Public Health: Challenges and Solutions
Tajinder Kumar, Manoj Arora, Vikram Verma, Shashi Bhushan, Sachin Lalar · 2024
The COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly impacted various aspects of society, including the field of biometrics. Biometric systems, which rely on physical contact and proximity, face unprecedented challenges in the current health crisis. This paper explores the challenges faced by biometric systems during the pandemic and discusses potential solutions and adaptations. The risks of virus transmission through contact-based modalities, such as fingerprint and palmprint recognition, are examined, highlighting the need for enhanced hygiene practices and regular cleaning of biometric devices. Face masks, a widely adopted preventive measure, present significant obstacles to face recognition systems, affecting accuracy and performance. Strategies and algorithms to improve face recognition with masked faces are explored. The shift towards contactless biometric modalities, including iris recognition, voice recognition, and gait recognition, is discussed as a viable solution to reduce the risk of virus transmission. Privacy and security concerns associated with collecting and storing biometric data are also addressed. The long-term impact of the pandemic on biometric technologies and the future trends and advancements in this field are examined. Finally, recommendations for policymakers, researchers, and industry practitioners are provided to navigate the challenges posed by COVID-19 and ensure the continued development and implementation of secure and effective biometric systems. The authors highlight the problematic terrain of incorporating biometric systems into public health, providing insightful viewpoints on difficulties and workable solutions. The author contributes substantially to the discourse and understanding of this crucial public health and biometrics nexus.