What are Biometric Finger and Facial Scans?

Lets start with the biometric finger scan. The biometric finger scan is already being used on driver's licenses, and will be used on the REAL ID. When a finger scan is taken it is converted to a numeric code as described in the illustration below.


What is a numerical set of numbers? A bar code! Are you getting a weird feeling yet?

What else is going on the REAL ID? Facial recognition photos! These too are already being issued on drivers licenses! I facial recognition photo marks certain geometric locations on your face and places them on a grid where is it converted to a numerical number just as a finger scan is.

Every face has numerous, distinguishable landmarks, the different peaks and valleys that make up facial features. The computer software used for Facial recognition scans defines these landmarks as nodal points. Each human face has approximately 80 nodal points. Some of these measured by the software are:

• Distance between the eyes
• Width of the nose
• Depth of the eye sockets
• The shape of the cheekbones
• The length of the jaw line

These nodal points are measured creating a numerical code, called a faceprint, representing the face in the database.




The software used to create these scans can pick a face out of a crowd and match it up with the face in their database. It doesn't matter where you are, walking in the bank, driving down the road... Just about anywhere, your SSN, birth certificate, REAL ID number and everything else will be available for anyone who has the software to detect your facial features.



If these two things are not an invasion of a persons identity I don't know what is.

Here is an interesting site to look at http://computer.howstuffworks.com/facial-recognition.htm

What Makes a DL "REAL"?

This question was asked in a comment and I am going to do my best to answer it.

"Can you explain the connection between the ID and the license? What makes something "REAL"?"

The DHS says, "In the future, individuals may use a State-issued driver’s license or identification card to board a commercial aircraft, gain access to a federal facility, or enter a nuclear power plant only if it is REAL ID-compliant."

So what makes it REAL ID compliant. Let's see if we can find out.

Right now your boring old driver's license contains the following;

-Full Name
-Address
-Date of Birth
-ID Number
-Picture
-Signiture

Now what do they need in addition to make it "REAL"?

The biggest thing is an Electronic Chip that will be inside the card.

What does this chip contain?

-Full Name
-Address
-Birth Certificate
-Social Security Number
-Facial Recognition
-Possibly a Biometric Finger Scan
-Possibly an Iris Scan
-Signature
-And more, I have heard that it is also a GPS tracking device.
-The government has no limit as to what can be stored on this chip.

An interesting fact: Anyone with the right technology (which is very easy technology to get) can scan through your wallet or purse and retrieve the information from your REAL ID.

Coming soon! What are biometrics and facial recognition scans?

Getting Real?

On the front page of the business section in the Oklahoman news paper it has a picture of the REAL ID and asks "Getting real" Below is what part of the article stated;

"Oklahoma is one of the 17 states opposing the REAL ID Act, which was spurred by the 9/11 commission and requires states to comply with a set of standards for issuing driver's licenses and personal identification cards.
Although the deadline of compliance is not until Dec. 31, 2009 states have until May 11 to agree to comply with the act or face the threat of their IDs not being accepted at airports." "That means there will be delays," said Stewart Baker, assistant secretary of policy for the Department of Homeland Security. "If you have a passport it is no problem, but we are not allowed to accept a drivers license that is not REAL ID"

Imagine that. Why won't they take a STATE issued Drivers License? Why do they need a FEDERAL passport or a NATIONAL ID? Can you really believe this is not a "control" thing?

Rep. Charles Key said, "The first issue for many of us is whether it's unconstitutional for the federal government to say, 'OK, you are going to have to do X,'" He said the act is another way for the government to dictate and control the Nation.

Want to see some more interesting information including what states have or have not complied to the REAL ID? Visit http://www.reelcast.blogspot.com/

Estimated cost for the nation is 3.9 Billion;
Estimated cost for Oklahoma would 8 Million;