Biometrics the body as identity

BIOMETRICS, the body as identity Travelling Exhibition, 600 sq meters, available in English, French, Spanish, German, Catalan. www.cite-telecoms.com Although relying on credentials or good looks has always been the preferred way to gain access to some places, the new way involves scanning physical characteristics, checking identity based on fingerprints, hand shape, iris patterns, or even DNA. The time has come for biometrics, a set of techniques based on using the recognition of physical and behavioural characteristic to verify the identity of a person, and even their right to certain advantages. Good-bye keys, badges, codes, and passwords! No more theft, forgetting, impersonation or fraud! It looks like these advantages are promising a bright future for biometrics in both civil and domestic affairs, as well as police work. From electronic ID cards to turning on a PC by entering a monitored workplace, biometrics is supposed to provide comfort and security to our daily life. Sounds perfect, right? Not so fast... Current biometrics is computerized and automated. Computers are entrusted with recognizing and identifying individuals and authorizing access to services or places. However, machines can be defective and make mistakes - whenever they're not being outwitted by hackers. Who is behind the machine? How can this personal information compiled databases be used? What protective devices can be put into place for possible security breaches? Current modern biometric systems implement a broad range of cutting-edge digital technology; however, they also raise many practical, legal, and ethical questions. The exhibit at the Cité des télécoms et de l'Industrie addresses these issues through activities and presentations that both involve and educate the visitor. Getting visitors involved by providing them with opportunities for hands-on testing of a certain number of biometrical applications using their faces, eyes, signature, fingerprints and so on. Challenging them by presenting various applications of biometric techniques in use today in France and throughout the world, so that they can form their own point of view on the advantages and drawbacks of biometrics. The exhibit called Biometrics: the body as identity was designed in partnership with Sagem and the Cité des télécoms.