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Biometric technology systems
3. School fingerprint or palm recognition systems
3.1 A number of the biometric systems that have been established or are being considered in Scottish Schools have typically been based on fingerprint or palm recognition technology. Manufacturers and suppliers of such systems state that their systems employ the second of the two approaches to capturing biometric details described above. These systems work in the following way.
Fingerprint recognition
3.2 A numerical value is derived from the child's fingerprint when it is first placed on the reading device. It is this numerical value which is then stored. Each time the child's fingerprint is subsequently re-read, a numerical value is again generated. This is compared with the set of stored values, uniquely identifying the child within the population of the school if a match is found. Schools do not keep an image of the fingerprint.
Palm recognition
3.3 The palm of the hand is placed above the sensor and a near infrared image captured. The vein pattern data is encrypted and the captured pattern data then encrypted and stored. Matching is with the template data.
4. Examples of the use of biometric technology in schools
4.1 Biometric technology has been promoted by manufacturers for a range of systems in schools. Some examples of such systems, showing the role that biometric technologies can play in them are described below. However, such systems do not have to be supported by biometric systems and other identification mechanisms (such as smartcards) can be used.
- Cashless catering system for school meals: Parents pay in advance for pupils' school lunches, crediting the pupils' accounts with the amount paid in. Pupils then use this credit to pay for their school lunches. Individual pupils can be identified at the till by an automated fingerprint or palm recognition mechanism, with the cost of their lunch being deducted from the credit paid for by the parent. In some instances pupils can also add cash on themselves using machines based in the school;
- Automated system for recording attendance: Pupils register via an automated fingerprint or palm recognition mechanism at the school gate or entrance at the start and end of each day;
- School library automation: use of biometric technology to help manage lending from the school library. An automated fingerprint or palm recognition system identifies and records the pupil's name and the items they have borrowed or are returning.
4.2 Biometric technologies are said by suppliers to possess certain advantages over other automatic identification systems e.g. in relation to catering or borrowing books, pupils do not need to remember to bring anything with them to the canteen or school library, so nothing can be lost, such as a swipe card. On the other hand, biometric systems can be perceived as more intrusive than other systems. There is also the question of whether such systems are proportionate and appropriate for use in an educational environment (see 8.1 below).
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