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Second Generation Biometrics: The Ethical, Legal and Social Context pp 149–176Cite as

Electrophysiological Biometrics: Opportunities and Risks

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Part of the book series: The International Library of Ethics, Law and Technology ((ELTE,volume 11))

Abstract

The use of electrophysiological signals as features to authenticate subjects is a novel approach to biometrics. It has been proven that both electrocardiography (ECG) and electroencephalography (EEG) signals are unique enough to be applied for recognition and identification purposes. Moreover, the use of electrooculography (EOG) and electromyography (EMG), which are related to the movement of the eyes and muscular activity, can also be useful and add an extra dimension to the field of biometrics: the possibility of continuous and transparent biometrics, i.e., biometry on the move. We also comment on the future of the electrophysiological biometrics, highlighting the added value. This includes the use of a Brain Computer Interface (BCI) system for authentication purposes and the application of such a system for the evolving field of telepresence and virtual reality.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Real-time control of wheelchairs with brain waves http://www.riken.jp/engn/r-world/info/release/press/2009/090629/index.html . Accessed October 26th 2009.

  2. 2.

    Cisco Telepresence Solution http://www.cisco.com/en/US/netsol/ns669/networking_solutions_solution_segment_home.html . Accessed October 26th 2009.

Abbreviations

AR:

Autoregression

BCI:

Brain computer interface

CC:

Cross correlation

CO:

Coherence

ECG:

Electrocardiogram

EEG:

Electroencephalogram

EER:

Equal error rate

EMG:

Electromyogram

EOG:

Electrooculogram

ERP:

Event related potential

EU:

European Union

FP:

Framework program

FPR:

False positive rate

FT:

Fourier transform

Hz:

Hertz

MI:

Mutual information

TPR:

True positive rate

USB:

Universal serial bus

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Acknowledgments

The authors wish to acknowledge the ACTIBIO project, a STREP collaborative project supported under the 7th Framework Program (Grant agreement number: FP7-ICT-2007-1-215372) in which Starlab is actively involved. ACTIBIO aims at authenticating subjects in a transparent way by monitoring their activities by means of novel biometric modalities.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Starlab Barcelona S.L., Teodor Roviralta 45, 08022, Barcelona, Spain

    Alejandro Riera, Stephen Dunne, Iván Cester & Giulio Ruffini

Authors
  1. Alejandro Riera
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  2. Stephen Dunne
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  3. Iván Cester
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  4. Giulio Ruffini
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Correspondence to Alejandro Riera .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Cittadinanza (CSSC), Centro per la Scienza, la Società e la, Piazza Capo di Ferro 23, Roma, 00186, Italy

    Emilio Mordini

  2. Centre for Research & Technology Hellas, Informatics & Telematics Institute, 1st km Thermi-Panorama Road, Thermi-Thessaloniki, 570 01, Greece

    Dimitros Tzovaras

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Riera, A., Dunne, S., Cester, I., Ruffini, G. (2012). Electrophysiological Biometrics: Opportunities and Risks. In: Mordini, E., Tzovaras, D. (eds) Second Generation Biometrics: The Ethical, Legal and Social Context. The International Library of Ethics, Law and Technology, vol 11. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-3892-8_7

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