Wednesday, January 7, 2004
Press Release
SOURCE: International Biometric Group

IBG's Comparative Biometric Testing Round Five Available for Purchase

New York, NY—January 7, 2004—International Biometric Group announced today the commercial availability of results from Round Five of its Comparative Biometric Testing (CBT), the industry's leading independent comparative biometric test effort. The Testing measures systems' ability to enhance security in real-world applications such as border management, air travel and logical access.

Sponsored by Honeywell, Microsoft, and the Financial Services Technology Consortium, CBT Round Five was conducted between August and December 2003. The Test evaluated fingerprint, facial recognition, iris recognition and hand geometry systems from the following vendors:

• AuthenTec

• BIO-key

• Biometric Security Card

• Cognitec

• Delean Vision

• LG Iris

• NEC

• NITGen

• Precise Biometrics

• Recognition Systems

• SAGEM Morpho

Test results show wide variance across systems' ability to enroll and match users. 

• Failure-to-enroll rates ranged from 0% to more than 23%

• False accept rates ranged from 0% to more than 5%

• "Day 1" false reject rates ranged from 0% to more than 35%

• After six weeks, false reject rates ranged from 0% to more than 66%

This underscores the fact that while biometric technology can be a highly effective security tool, end users need to understand in detail how different technologies, products, and implementation policies impact overall performance. 

"The report contains critical information for government agencies, systems integrators and other businesses that are seriously considering biometrics," stated Dr. Douglas McGovern, Test Director.

IBG has conducted Comparative Biometric Testing since 1998. New features of CBT Round Five include the following:

• First time IBG has tested "match-on-card" fingerprint technology

• First time IBG has tested a fingerprint system in which subjects enroll on one device and verify on another

• First time IBG has tested facial "skin recognition" technology

About International Biometric Group

International Biometric Group has provided independent and objective testing, research, consulting, design, and implementation services to government and commercial entities since 1996. IBG brings extensive, hands-on experience with fingerprint, facial recognition, iris recognition, voice verification, AFIS technology, and multimodal systems from all leading vendors. IBG provides packaged reports and customized services ranging from benchmark tests, market reports, security audits, and smart card integration to privacy impact assessments, Common Criteria pre-evaluation, ROI analysis, and standards conformance assessments. IBG services span network access, physical access, identification systems, and card issuance applications. Learn more at http://www.biometricgroup.com.