The linked article focuses on the products one firm, DigitalPersona. The market that the sensors are built to address is also well described.
These devices are increasingly being used around the world in Civil ID applications such as voting, benefits-checking and micro-finance.In order for biometric technologies to reach their full potential, several things need to converge: Algorithms, Sensors, Applications, Deployment.
Many emerging countries are turning to biometrically-enabled mobile ID terminals in an effort to combat fraud in delivering essential services such as voting, benefits, pensions and banking. These devices were initially used for military and law enforcement, but the rapid growth of Civil ID programs is creating demand for smaller, more affordable versions that deliver high-quality identification.
Algorithm - A limited sequence of instructions or steps that tells a computer system how to solve a particular problem. A biometric system will have multiple algorithms, for example: image processing, template generation, comparisons, etc.
Sensor - Hardware found on a biometric device that converts biometric input into a digital signal and conveys this information to the processing device.
Application - The software that allows sensors and algorithms to be used to meet a need.
Deployment - Installing, setting up, testing and running. This military term, which means the placement of troops and equipment in the field, is widely used with computers as an alternate to the word "implementation."
Software companies like SecurLinx need algorithms and sensors to make applications and deploy systems. There is a huge demand for mobile applications and it's good to see the manafacutrers developing the prerequisite hardware.
