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interoperability of different systems. The next section provides a short overview of existing
biometric standards that were developed to facilitate biometric systems interoperability, and
enhance the effectiveness of biometrics products and processes.
1.3 Biometric Standards Evolution
Technically speaking, standards have been developed so that the electronic templates are
generated, stored and retrieved in a uniformed way. The main impetus of biometrics standards
is to define requirements, formats and software specification enabling interoperability
between biometric systems, especially authentication systems. Biometric standards enable
different streams of interoperability. One stream of standards enables interoperability of data
collections and storage processes. The other steam enables interoperability of signal processing
and matching technologies.
Evolution of standards signifies maturity of the technology, and standardization is envisaged to
enable wide governmental adoption of biometrics. It provides a level playing field for device
vendors and exchanging information at the national and international levels. This is to say that
standards reduces risk to the integrator and the end user alike, primarily because it simplifies
integration, and allows for substitution and upgrade of technologies, and reduces “vendor lockin”
effects (Tilton, 2006). This is likely to lead to a broader range and availability of products and
movement towards commoditization (ibid).
There is still a long way to go for the standards that are developed to be uniformly adopted
across the world. Biometrics standards have been developed by informal and formal standards
organizations. In general, the following organizations are actively involved in the development
of the standards and their adoption:
• International Committee for Information Technology Standards (INCITS) M1
• National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)
• Joint Technical Committee 1 (JTC 1)/Subcommittee 37 (SC 37)
• Organization for the Advancement of Structured Information Standards (OASIS)
• International Standards Organization (ISO)
The standards developed by these organizations provide a good indication to the current
state of the biometric technologies. Currently, there exists a great maturity and consensus and
definitive standards documents that have been released. They include, but are not limited to:
Technical Interfaces, Data Interchange Formats, Application Profile Standards and Performance
Testing. 1 These are briefly discussed next.
1.3.1 Technical Interfaces
These standards are related to the data capture of biometrics interfaces and interactions
between biometric components and subsystems along with security mechanisms to protect
stored data and data transferred between systems. They also include specifications of
1 Refer to pg 138 Biometrics “Foundation Documents” & the document “Biometric Standards” published by NSTC Sub Committee
on Biometrics for Bio-Standards.
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