Available:*
Library | Item Barcode | Shelf Number | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
Searching... Batavia - Richmond Memorial Library | 34020003697776 | J570.1 BIRM | Searching... Unknown |
Searching... North Tonawanda Public Library | 34120006076885 | J006.4 BIRM | Searching... Unknown |
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Summary
Summary
Biometrics -- the science of using the body to identify a person -- is everywhere, not just in science fiction, but in everyday life. Today, biometrics is on the cutting edge of security. It's used for access into banks and airports, as well as to keep money and personal information safe. Methods like fingerprinting and retinal scanning might be more familiar, but biometrics can also identify people based on ear shape, scent, vein pattern, and much more.
This book explores nine biometrics in detail, explaining how each works, where it's used, its pros and cons, and how it compares to other techniques. It also discusses privacy, security, why we need methods of identification, and touches on biometrics of the future. Engaging and colorful design and playful illustrations alongside surprising anecdotes, historical context, and humor make this an enjoyable, in-depth look at a hot topic. Informational text features include sidebars, diagrams, sources, a glossary and an index.
Author Notes
MARIA BIRMINGHAM is a longstanding contributor to OWL and chickaDEE magazines, writing numerous features and recurring sections for both. She is the author of four books for young people, including the Norma Fleck Award nominee A Beginner's Guide to Immortality: From Alchemy to Avatars . Maria lives in Brampton, Ontario.
IAN TURNER is an illustrator whose client list includes Cottage Life , Reader's Digest , Toronto Life , and many more. Biometrics is his first children's book. Ian lives in Toronto, Ontario.
Reviews (4)
School Library Journal Review
Gr 5 Up-Biometric identification uses technology to collect information about the unique physical and behavioral characteristics of individuals in order to authenticate their identity. There are more than seven billion humans on our planet, so it makes sense, according to Birmingham, to ditch the ubiquitous and easily hackable password method of identification in favor of new technologies. Written in a friendly and accessible style, chapters are short and full of vibrant cartoon illustrations that add some levity to the subject matter. (Frankenstein's face appears in the lineup in the "Facial Recognition: Face the Facts" sidebar.) Birmingham explores established and emerging biometric identification methods, explaining how fingerprint, hand geometry, and facial recognition work and where they are already being used. Iris, retinal, voice, and vein scanning are also covered. The future of biometrics is wide open. There might come a day when we are identified by our tongues, ears, gait, or even scent! For each method of biometric identification there is a highlighted sidebar detailing the type (physiological or behavioral), the difficulty involved in collecting data for the biometric, and how reliable and secure it is. Areas of concern such as issues of privacy and potential malfunctions of biometric systems are addressed. VERDICT The use of biometrics in the science of identity authentication is here to stay. This compelling and comprehensible overview of the field is recommended for middle school readers.-Ragan O'Malley, Saint Ann's School, Brooklyn © Copyright 2017. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Horn Book Review
Birmingham examines various means used to uniquely identify people--from fingerprints, faces, and voices to odors and signatures. The technologies used to collect each biometric, the historical development of these technologies, and the relative strengths and weaknesses of each are discussed in a lively narrative. Each spread is jam-packed with text boxes and cartoony illustrations. Bib., ind. (c) Copyright 2018. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
From fingerprints to voice, tongue, and even odor recognition, Birmingham explores the ways our identities are being linked to unique physical features or behaviors.It's a quick overview, with general looks at several types of established or experimental biometrics and briefer glances at a few more-speculative ones. For each of the former the author rates collection difficulty and (putative) level of security on a simple scale, then goes on to discuss in nontechnical language collection methods, current uses, and distinctive pros and cons. As food for thought, she does weigh the convenience of using biometrics rather than plastic or passwords as identification over such larger privacy and security issues as the proliferation of surveillance cameras in public places. This nuance is missing, however, with her closing, superficial observation that even if it's "anyone's guess" where the science of biometrics is headed, at least it shows that we're all "unique through and through." Turner's small cartoon views of stylized high-tech gear and simplified (if diversely hued) human figures brighten the presentation without adding much of substance. It's a light once-over that really doesn't do the complex topic justice, but it may spur young readers into taking care with their IDs and personal information. (index, source list) (Nonfiction. 9-11) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
Biometrics, the science of using your body's unique codes for identification, is appealingly presented here. Common biometrics, like fingerprints; facial, voice, and hand geometry recognition; and retina scans are described. Also mentioned are other biometrics currently being studied: ear shapes, tongue ridges, or a person's breath. A prototype that can accurately identify someone by their unique odor, or smellprint, is just one biometric being tested. Others include bum recognition, from Japanese scientists who are working on a car seat that identifies you by your bum, eliminating the need for a key. With all of these possibilities, security passwords and physical keys may become obsolete. Privacy concerns and disadvantages of each biometric are also addressed, and cute cartoon illustrations accompany the text, which includes an index, selected sources (mostly adult), and sidebar overviews of each biometric. There's a real need for information on this topic for this age, and although its brevity makes this most useful as supplementary material for reports, young readers will find it interesting.--Rawlins, Sharon Copyright 2017 Booklist
Table of Contents
| Introduction | p. 4 |
| Why Identification? | p. 6 |
| Fingerprints | p. 8 |
| Hand Geometry | p. 12 |
| Facial Recognition | p. 16 |
| FYI: The Downside of Biometrics | p. 20 |
| Iris Recognition and Retinal Scanning | p. 22 |
| Voice Recognition | p. 26 |
| Vein Recognition | p. 30 |
| FYI: Biometrics of the Future? | p. 32 |
| Signature Recognition | p. 34 |
| Odor Recognition | p. 38 |
| FYI: There's More in Store | p. 42 |
| Conclusion | p. 44 |
| Index | p. 46 |
| Selected Sources | p. 48 |