An assessment of the usability of biometric signature systems using the human-biometric sensor interaction model’

Signature biometrics is a widely used form of user authentication. As a behavioural biometric, samples have inherent inconsistencies which must be accounted for within an automated system. Performance deterioration of a tuned biometric software system may be caused by an interaction error with a biometric capture device, however, using conventional error metrics, system and user interaction errors are combined, thereby masking the contribution by each element. In this paper we explore the application of the Human-Biometric Sensor Interaction (HBSI) model to signature as an exemplar of a behavioural biometric. Using observational data collected from a range of subjects, our study shows that usability issues can be identified specific to individual capture device technologies. While most interactions are successful, a range of common interaction errors need to be mitigated by design to reduce overall error rates

The Application of the Human-Biometric Sensor Interaction Method to Automated Border Control Systems

Biometrics components are used in many different systems and technologies to verify that the user is whom they say they are. In Automated Border Control systems, biometrics components used in conjunction with a traveller's documents to make sure the user is whom they say they are so that they can cross into a countries borders. The systems are expected to verify the identity with a higher degree than officers who manually check travellers. Each year the number of travellers crossing through a country borders increases and so systems are expected to handle bigger demands; through improving the user experience to ensuring accuracy and performance standards increase. While the system does bring its benefits through increased speed and higher security, there are drawbacks. One of the main issues with the systems is a lack of standardisation across implementations. Passing through an automated process at Heathrow may be different to Hong Kong. The infrastructure, information, environment and guidance given during the transaction will all greatly differ for the user. Furthermore, the individual components and subsequent processing will be evaluated using a different methodology too. This thesis reports on the contrasts between implementations, looking at solutions which utilise different biometric modalities and travel documents. Several models are devised to establish a process map which can be applied to all systems. Investigating further, a framework is described for a novel assessment method to evaluate the performance of a system. An RGB-D sensor is implemented, to track and locate the user within an interactive environment. By doing so, the user's interaction is assessed in real-time. Studies then report on the effectiveness of the solution within a replicated border control scenario. Several relationships are studied to improve the technologies used within the scenario. Successful implementation of the automated assessment method may improve the user's experience with systems, improving information and guidance, increasing the likelihood of successful interaction while maintaining a high level of security and quicker processing times

Usability in biometric recognition systems

Mención Internacional en el título de doctorBiometric recognition, which is a technology already mature, grows nowadays in several contexts, including forensics, access controls, home automation systems, internet, etc. Now that technology is moving to mobile scenarios, biometric recognition is being also integrated in smartphones, tablets and other mobile devices as a convenient solution for guaranteeing security, complementing other methods such as PIN or passwords. Nevertheless, the use of biometric recognition is not as spread as desired and it is still unknown for a wide percentage of the population. It has been demonstrated [1] that some of the possible reasons for the slow penetration of biometrics could be related to usability concerns. This could lead to various drawbacks like worst error rates due to systems misuses and it could end with users rejecting the technology and preferring other approaches. This Thesis is intended to cover this topic including a study of the current state of the art, several experiments analysing the most relevant usability factors and modifications to a usability evaluation methodology. The chosen methodology is the H-B interaction, carried out by Fernandez-Saavedra [2], based on the ISO/IEC 19795 [3], the HBSI [4], the ISO 9241-210 [5] and on Common Criteria [6]. Furthermore, this work is focused on dealing with accessibility concerns in biometric recognition systems. This topic, usually included into the usability field, has been addressed here separately, though the study of the accessibility has followed the same steps as the usability study: reviewing the state of the art, pointing and analysing the main influential factors and making improvements to the state of the art. The recently published standard EN 301 549 – “Accessibility requirements suitable for public procurement of ICT products and services in Europe” [7] has been also analysed. These two topics have been overcome through the well-known user-centric-design approach. In this way, first the influential factors have been detected. Then, they have been isolated (when possible) and measured. The results obtained have been then interpreted to suggest new updates to the H-B interaction. This 3-steps approach has been applied cyclically and the factors and methodology updated after each iteration. Due to technology and usability trends, during this work, all the systems/applications developed in the experiments have been thought to be mobile directly or indirectly. The biometric modalities used during the experiments performed in this Thesis are those pointed as suitable for biometric recognition in mobile devices: handwritten recognition signature, face and fingerprint recognition. Also, the scenarios and the applications used are in line with the main uses of biometrics in mobile environments, such as sign documents, locking/unlocking devices, or make payments. The outcomes of this Thesis are intended to guide future developers in the way of designing and testing proper usable and accessible biometrics. Finally, the results of this Thesis are being suggested as a new International Standard within ISO/IEC/JTC1/SC37 – Biometric Recognition, as standardization is the proper way of guaranteeing usability and accessibility in future biometric systems. The contributions of this Thesis include: • Improvements to the H-B interaction methodology, including several usability evaluations. • Improvements on the accessibility of the ICT (Information and Communications Technology) products by means of the integration of biometric recognition systems • Adaptation and application of the EN 301 549 to biometric recognition systems.El reconocimiento biométrico, que es una tecnología ya madura, crece hoy en día en varios contextos, incluyendo la medicina forense, controles de acceso, sistemas de automatización del hogar, internet, etc. Ahora que la tecnología se está moviendo a los escenarios móviles, el reconocimiento biométrico está siendo también integrado en los teléfonos inteligentes, tabletas y otros dispositivos móviles como una solución conveniente para garantizar la seguridad, como complemento de otros métodos de seguridad como el PIN o las contraseñas. Sin embargo, el uso del reconocimiento biométrico es todavía desconocido para un amplio porcentaje de la población. Se ha demostrado [1] que algunas de las posibles razones de la lenta penetración de la biometría podrían estar relacionadas con problemas de usabilidad. Esto podría dar lugar a diversos inconvenientes, ofreciendo un rendimiento por debajo de lo esperado debido al mal uso de los sistemas y podría terminar con los usuarios rechazando la tecnología y prefiriendo otros enfoques. Esta tesis doctoral trata este tema incluyendo un estudio del estado actual de la técnica, varios experimentos que analizan los factores de usabilidad más relevantes y modificaciones a una metodología de evaluación de la usabilidad, la "H-B interaction" [2] basada en la ISO / IEC 19795 [3], el HBSI [4], la ISO 9241 [5] y Common Criteria [6]. Además, este trabajo se centra también en los problemas de accesibilidad de los sistemas de reconocimiento biométrico. Este tema, que por lo general se incluye en el campo de la usabilidad, se ha tratado aquí por separado, aunque el estudio de la accesibilidad ha seguido los mismos pasos que el estudio de usabilidad: revisión del estado del arte, análisis de los principales factores influyentes y propuesta de cambios en la metodología H-B interaction. Han sido también analizados los requisitos de accesibilidad para las Tecnologías de la Información y la Comunicación (TIC) en Europa, bajo la norma EN 301 549 [7]. Estos dos temas han sido estudiados a través de un enfoque centrado en el usuario (User Centric Design - UCD). De esta manera, se han detectado los factores influyentes. A continuación, dichos factores han sido aislados (cuando ha sido posible) y medidos. Los resultados obtenidos han sido interpretados para sugerir nuevos cambios a la metodología H-B interaction. Este enfoque de 3 pasos se ha aplicado de forma cíclica a los factores y a la metodología después de cada iteración. Debido a las tendencias tecnológicas y de usabilidad, durante este trabajo, todos los sistemas / aplicaciones desarrolladas en los experimentos se han pensado para ser móviles, directa o indirectamente. Las modalidades utilizadas durante los experimentos realizados en esta tesis doctoral son las que se señalaron como adecuados para el reconocimiento biométrico en dispositivos móviles: la firma manuscrita, la cara y el reconocimiento de huellas dactilares. Además, los escenarios y las aplicaciones utilizadas están en línea con los principales usos de la biometría en entornos móviles, como la firma de documentos, el bloqueo / desbloqueo de dispositivos, o hacer pagos. Los resultados de esta tesis tienen como objetivo orientar a los futuros desarrolladores en el diseño y evaluación de la usabilidad y la accesibilidad en los sistemas de reconocimiento biométrico. Por último, los resultados de esta tesis doctoral se sugerirán como un nuevo estándar de ISO / IEC / JTC1 / SC37 - Biometric Recognition, ya que la normalización es la manera adecuada de garantizar la usabilidad y la accesibilidad en los futuros sistemas biométricos. Las contribuciones de esta tesis incluyen: • Mejora de la metodología de evaluación H-B interaction, incluyendo varias evaluaciones de usabilidad. • Mejora de la accesibilidad de los sistemas de información / electrónicos mediante la integración de sistemas biométricos y varias evaluaciones. • Adaptación y aplicación de la norma de accesibilidad EN 301 549 al campo de los sistemas biométricos.Programa Oficial de Doctorado en Ingeniería Eléctrica, Electrónica y AutomáticaPresidente: Patrizio Campisi.- Secretario: Enrique Cabellos Pardo.- Vocal: Marcos Faundez Zanu