Biometric Accessibility

1. Biometric Accessibility A Study on Assistive Methods for the Visually Impaired Brian Stanton

2. Questions: • How will the visually impaired use a fingerprint scanner? • Location – Where is the scanner? • Placement – Where to place the hand? • Duration – How long is the hand left in place?

3. Interviews • 10 visually disabled interviewees • All had experience with fingerprinting • Some had experience with electronic fingerprinting • In both cases their hands were manipulated by the operator • Suggested verbal and/or audible cues • Suggested tactile guides

4. Location Locator tones are used to locate crosswalk activators

5. Placement • Tactile Guides • Determined Placement • Determined Size • Cutout Opening in Textured Overlay

6. Duration • Tone • Beeping different from locator tones • Haptic • Mild vibration • Start and End Indicators • Constant throughout scan

7. Scanner Mockup Clear Acrylic Case Speaker Vibration Device Texture Overlay

8. Scanner Mockup Clear Acrylic Case Speaker Vibration Device Texture Overlay

9. Study Procedure • Participant was given instructions • Placed before scanner • Locator tone sounded • Stopped when scanner was touched • Using textured surface, participant placed hand on scanner • Duration was indicated • Start tone and stop vibrate • Continuous tone • Continuous vibration

10. Results • Start Beep – End Vibrate : Mismatched cues lead to confusion • Constant Tone: Wasn’t sure what the ending of tone meant • Constant Vibration: Correctly Indentified

11. Study Procedure 2 • Participant was given instructions • Placed before scanner • Locator tone sounded • Stopped when scanner was touched • Using textured surface, participant placed hand on scanner • Duration was indicated • Start tone and stop tone • Continuous vibration • Accelerating Beeping

12. Results 2 • Start Beep – End Beep : Ending tone was not identified • Constant Vibration: Correctly identified • Accelerated Beeps: Pause before final 2 beeps lead to confusion

13. Study Procedure 3 • Participant was given instructions • Placed before scanner • Locator tone sounded • Stopped when scanner was touched • Using textured surface, participant placed hand on scanner • Duration was indicated • Start tone and stop tone • Continuous vibration • Accelerating Beeping-2

14. Results 3 • Start Beep – End Beep : Tones was not identified • Constant Vibration: Correctly identified • Accelerated Beeps -2: Correctly identified

15. Conclusions: • Location – All participants located scanner • Tone can be used for location • Placement – All but one participant placed hand correctly • Texture can be used for placement • Duration – Either tone or vibration can be used for duration. But, duration indicator must be associated with a process.

16. Bigger Question If biometric devices will become a commonly acceptable method of secure identification, how will people with disabilities be able to use them?

17. Personal Identity Verification of Federal Employees and Contractors Subject HSPD 12 : Policy for a Common Identification Standard for Federal Employees and Contractors (1) Wide variations in the quality and security of forms of identification used to gain access to secure Federal and other facilities where there is potential for terrorist attacks need to be eliminated. Therefore, it is the policy of the United States to enhance security, increase Government efficiency, reduce identity fraud, and protect personal privacy by establishing a mandatory, Government-wide standard for secure and reliable forms of identification issued by the Federal Governmentto its employees and contractors (including contractor employees).

18. Integration of Biometric Data into ID Badges

19. Possible Entrance Scenario • Person approaches sensor • Sensor looks for a biometric • Face/Iris • Fingerprint • Voice

20. Question of AccessibilityMobility Impaired • Reach the badge reader? • Where to point camera? • Use the fingerprint scanner? • How long does the door remain open?

21. Question of AccessibilityHearing Impaired • Sounds can’t be used to indicate status

22. Question of AccessibilityVisually Impaired • How to locate the badge reader? • Iris scan might not work • How to locate a fingerprint sensor • Can’t see status lights

23. Question of Accessibility • System has to accommodate a wide range of accessibility needs • But doesn’t have to do it all at once for every person

24. Make the System Adapt to the User • Not only have biometric data on a smartchip • Have directions for sensor on distance readable format so sensor can adapt

25. Adaptable Sensor Adaptable Sensor: Texture Fingerprint Camera Voice Recognition Visual Indicators Audible Indicators Encoded Badge: Transmits directions to scanner

26. Adaptable Entrance Scenario • Sensor receives info and knows what actions to perform • E.g., Use camera and fingerprint • Display status lights to sighted user

27. Adaptable Entrance Scenario 2 • Sensor receives info • Sensor adapts, e.g., directs iris camera • Door is held open longer

28. Adaptable Entrance Scenario 3 • Sensor receives info • Sensor adapts, emits locator tone • Doesn’t enable iris camera, listens for voice and expects fingerprint • Emits success tone instead of lights

29. Further Research Nature of the information to be encoded Interaction between badge and system Temporary user conditions Fallback process Appropriate timings and indicators Etc.