How the User can Improve Fingerprint Image Quality

Published

May 12, 2008

Author(s)

Mary F. Theofanos, Ross J. Micheals, Shahram Orandi, Brian C. Stanton, Nien F. Zhang

Abstract

Traditionally the biometric field has viewed the user as a passive source of the biometric sample rather than an interactive component of the biometric system. But fingerprint image quality is highly dependent on the human computer interaction and usability considerations of the acquisition system. Those factors which impact the acquisition of high quality images must be identified and real-time feedback for users to ensure acceptable quality images must be integrated into fingerprint capture systems. This paper reports on a usability study that examined the influence of instructional materials on the user performance of a 10 print slap acquisition process. In addition, the relationship of pressure and image quality as a mechanism to provide real-time feedback to the user was also investigated. The usability study included 300 participants who received instructions and interacted with the scanner. How information is provided to the user on interacting with the fingerprint device does indeed affect image quality. The pressure findings are less conclusive, there was no clear relationship between image quality and pressure, however, a minimum pressure was required to initiate our capture process.

Citation

Journal of Electronic Imaging

Pub Type

Journals

Keywords

Biometrics, usability, fingerprint image quality, feedback, pressure

Citation

Theofanos, M. , Micheals, R. , Orandi, S. , Stanton, B. and Zhang, N. (2008), How the User can Improve Fingerprint Image Quality, Journal of Electronic Imaging (Accessed August 23, 2025)