"Access control is central to biometric market development. The driving market forces for commercial biometric fingerprint systems relate to demand for more granular intelligent security systems that provide more access control. Intelligent networks are global. Biometrics is a part of these new markets for access control.
A system will have access control at some level. A very advanced feature set is implemented as software in combination with biometrics security systems. Middleware software has highly evolved voice feature systems that complement software systems that implement over 1,000 different functions for the desktop. It is in this context that biometrics are achieving market penetration.
Biometrics is a method of authentication based on physical or behavioral characteristics. Market growth depends on demand for a quick, secure way to identify people. The Internet security industry is composed of hardware tokens, software tokens, and biometrics. All are used for authentication. The hardware token segments are the most widely used authentication devices set to be replaced by fingerprint identification systems as they become more cost efficient.
Microsoft and the International Biometric Industry Association (IBIA), BioAPI consortium represent standards forces driving market growth. Microsoft is integrating biometric authentication technology into its next version of Windows, thereby validating the technology. The Microsoft implementation sends a message to the market that this technology is ready for widespread adoption.
The law enforcement markets are anticipated to continue to grow at a rapid pace, joined soon by commercial and healthcare markets. The availability of sensors at a cost below $5 is the most significant market driver. The higher price sensors are for door and other applications that people prefer a larger aspect presentation. Low cost and wide applicability of the technology will drive use in every industry.
U.S. Biometric Reader, Sensor, and Scanner Fingerprint equipment market forecasts indicate that markets at $142.4 million in 2004 are anticipated to continue growing through 2010 when they reach $12.6 billion." (more)