As technology becomes increasingly ingrained in our daily lives, new forms continue to emerge all the time. One novel example that you might have heard about is biometrics. This technology is defined as a means of identifying and authenticating a person using biological characteristics. Common biometric types include fingerprint mapping, facial recognition, and retina scans. Biometrics can be used to either authenticate a person’s identity or identify individuals. Biometric authentication involves comparing a person’s data with their previously stored information. In contrast, biometric identification involves comparing a person’s data to that of others in a database to determine their identity.
Biometrics can be classified into two categories: physiological measurements and behavioral measurements. Physiological measurements can be further divided into two sets. Morphological identifiers refer to physical characteristics unique to an individual and that are unlikely to change, including fingerprints and eyes. For a biological analysis, DNA, blood, or urine samples are used. Contrary to physiological measurements, behavioral measurements look at a person’s actions, such as how they talk, walk, and even sign their name.
While biometrics might seem like a new, cutting-edge technology, it has actually been used for over 100 years. Around the turn of the 20th century, police forces in cities like London and Paris began using fingerprints to identify criminals. Law enforcement remains one of the most common fields where biometrics is employed. This includes using advanced technology like Automatic Biometric Identification Systems that can find criminals based on photos. Biometrics has also become widely used for immigration and border control. Many airports now have passengers scan their faces and fingertips upon entry and exit.
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While advancements in biometrics can be helpful, there are still concerns. Not all biometric tests are 100% accurate, and some facial recognition programs have been known to misidentify people of color more frequently. Hopefully, as this technology further develops, it will be used in ways that prioritize beneficial applications for society.
隨著科技越來越融入在我們的日常生活中，新形式也不斷出現。一個你可能曾聽過的新穎例子就是生物辨識技術。這種技術被定義為使用生物特徵來辨識和驗證一個人的方法。常見的生物辨識類型包括指紋映射、臉部辨識和視網膜掃描。生物辨識可以用來驗證一個人的身分，也可以用來辨別人。生物辨識驗證包含將一個人的資料與其先前儲存的資料進行比對。相較之下，生物辨識識別則是將一個人的資料與資料庫中其他人的資料進行比較，以確定其身分。
生物辨識可以分為兩類：生理測量和行為測量。生理測量可以進一步分為兩組。型態識別符是指每個人獨特的身體特徵，且不太可能改變的，包括指紋和眼睛。在生物分析中，則使用DNA、血液或尿液樣本。與生理測量相反，行為測量看的是一個人的行為，例如他們如何說話、走路，甚至是簽名。
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雖然生物辨識或許看起來像是一種新的尖端技術，但實際上它已經被使用了一百多年。在二十世紀之交左右，倫敦和巴黎等城市的警察開始使用指紋識別罪犯。執法部門仍然是最常使用生物辨識技術的領域之一。這包含使用能夠利用照片來尋找罪犯的先進技術（如自動生物辨識識別系統）。生物辨識也已廣泛用於移民和邊境管制。現在，許多機場都要求乘客出入境時掃描他們的臉部和指尖。
儘管在生物辨識技術上的進步可能有所幫助，但仍然存在一些問題。並非所有生物辨識測試都是100%準確的，而且有些臉部辨識程式已知在有色人種的辨識上時常出錯。希望隨著這項技術的進一步發展，它能夠優先以對社會有用的方式被應用。
What Did You Learn?
1. According to the passage, how does biometric authentication differ from biometric identification?
(A) Biometric identification mainly uses morphological identifiers.
(B) Biometric identification is only used for immigration and border control.
(C) Biometric authentication compares a person’s information to that of other people.
(D) Biometric authentication compares a person’s information to what they previously stored.
2. According to the passage, in what way are airports using biometrics?
(A) They are using fingerprints to give people their tickets.
(B) Eye scans are taking place at domestic security checkpoints.
(C) Faces and fingertips are scanned to record who leaves or enters a country.
(D) Automatic Biometric Identification Systems are being used to find criminals at airports.
3. Which aspect of biometrics is NOT discussed in the passage?
(A) Worries about its accuracy.
(B) Examples of how it is used.
(C) Different types of it.
(D) Costs of utilizing it.
答案：
1. (D)
2. (C)
3. (D)
Word in Use
1. emerge vi. 出現，浮現
The truth finally emerged after years of investigations.
經過多年的調查後，真相終於大白。
2. identify vt. 辨別；認出
identification n. 識別；身分證
The witness identified the killer right away.
目擊證人立刻就指認出殺人凶手。
The police officer asked us to show him some identification.
這名警員要求我們給他看身分證明。
3. characteristic n. 特徵，特色
Lisa’s best characteristic is her smile.
莉莎最棒的特色就是她的笑容。
4. behavioral a. 行為的
Behavioral therapy is commonly used to treat conditions like anxiety disorders.
行為療法通常用來治療像焦慮症之類的疾病。
5. analysis n. 分析，解析（單數形）
analyses n. 分析，解析（複數形）
The researchers’ analysis yielded the conclusion that cranberries are beneficial to everyone.
研究人員的分析得到一項結論，證明蔓越莓有益健康。
Practical Phrases
1. compare A with / to B 比較A與B
My parents always compare me with / to my older sister. 我父母老是拿我和我的姊姊相比。
2. In contrast, ... 相對地，……
John is shy and conservative. In contrast, his brother Tim is active and sociable.
約翰害羞又保守。相對地，他弟弟提姆則是活潑又愛交際。
3. be classified into... 被歸類為……
These butterfly specimens were classified into five groups. 這些蝴蝶標本被分為五類。
4. be unique to... 是……獨有的
Those wooden shoes are unique to that part of the world. 那些木鞋全世界只有那個地區才有。
5. contrary to... 與……相反（的是）
Contrary to popular belief, that country is filled with beautiful scenery.
和一般認知不同的是，那個國家到處都是美景。
聽文章朗讀及講解: https://ivy.pse.is/455bfu
本文出自常春藤解析英語雜誌: www.ivy.com.tw
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