Biometrið

Biometrið is the Icelandic term for biometric measurement and identification systems. It refers to the practice of capturing and analyzing biological or behavioral traits to identify or verify individuals, or to monitor health or physiological states. The term covers both physiological and behavioral data and can be used in security, healthcare, and research contexts.

Common traits include physiological characteristics such as fingerprints, facial geometry, iris or facial scans, voice patterns, and handwriting, as well as behavioral traits like gait, keystroke dynamics, or drawing styles. Data can be collected via sensors, cameras, scanners, microphones, or wearable devices.

Applications range from device authentication and access control to border screening, timekeeping, patient monitoring, and athletic performance analysis. In consumer technology, biometrics are used to unlock smartphones or authorize payments; in security settings, they support identity verification in restricted environments or high-risk transactions.

Technologies rely on sensors and signal processing, feature extraction, and pattern recognition or machine learning to assess similarity to stored templates. Depending on the trait and implementation, processing may occur locally or in the cloud, with considerations for speed, accuracy, and spoof resistance.

Privacy and ethics are central in the governance of biometrið. As biometric data are highly sensitive, collection and storage are subject to strict consent, minimization, and security requirements, particularly under GDPR in the European Economic Area. Organizations must address bias, false positives, and the right to deletion, with oversight by data protection authorities.