John D. Woodward, Jr.
Links to Biometrics

Technology Links

• The BioAPI Consortium is an industry-wide group working to define an API for biometrics. On April 6, 2000, the BioAPI Consortium introduced the BioAPI v1.0 specification.
  
  
• The Biometric Consortium ("BC") serves as the U.S. Government's focal point for research, development, test, evaluation, and application of biometric-based personal identification/verification technology. Under the leadership of Co-Chairs Jeffrey Dunn of NSA and Fernando Podio of NIST, the BC has grown in size and influence. BC membership is free--a great "biometric bargain." I highly recommend a visit to this site.



• The Biometric Resource Centre, hosted by Ted Dunstone and his Australian colleagues, is a comprehensive web resource for biometrics products, news and analysis.



• The International Biometric Group ("IBG"), headed by Raj and Samir Nanavati, is an excellent source of on-line information about biometric vendors, biometric products, and biometric applications.



• Latent Fingerprint Examination contains valuable information about dermatoglyphics hosted by Ed German, one of the world's leading fingerprint experts.

Law, Regulatory, & Policy Links

• The Pentagon's Biometrics Web Site reflects the U.S military's increased interest in biometric technologies. Since October 2003, I have been privileged to head this activity.



• Digital Imaging: Connecticut's Biometric Imaging Project of the Connecticut Department of Social Services ("DSS") contains comprehensive information on biometrics. The newsletter, Biometrics in Human Services User Group, (available free of charge) is another great "biometric bargain."



• The Electronic Privacy Information Center ("EPIC") is an essential site for understanding privacy concerns.



• Information and Privacy Commissioner, Ontario, Canada--Head north of the border for this link to one of the world's leading experts on law and policy concerns of biometrics, Commissioner Ann Cavoukian, Ph.D.
  
  
• The International Biometric Industry Association ("IBIA") is a trade association that advances, advocates, defends and supports the collective international interests of the biometric industry.



• Inventions Like This Give Biometrics a Bad Name--United States patent 5,878,155 is a method for verifying human identity during sales transactions involving a scannable bar code or design that is tattooed on an individual. Characteristics about the scanned tattoo are compared to characteristics about other tattoos stored on a computer database in order to verify the identity of the buyer.



• Privacy International, headed by Simon Davies, also deserves a visit.



• RAND's Home Page provides links to information on RAND Corporation's work in national security, intelligence, biometrics, and other areas.



• Whalen v. Roe, 429 U.S. 589 (1977) is a leading Supreme Court case addressing information privacy concerns. In Whalen, the Court decided the constitutional question of whether the State of New York may record, in a centralized computer database, the names and addresses of all persons who obtained certain drugs pursuant to a doctor's prescription.

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