Digital Identity

The myth of fingerprint authentication?

[Dave Birch] Jerry Fishenden pointed me to this extract from Mythbusters.  My kids love Mythbusters, which is a show on the Discovery Channel where a couple of guys set up experiments to test "myths" like: would a penny dropped from a skyscraper kill someone?  I like the show because they design and build the experiments themselves: they don't take anyone's word for anything.  I wonder if they'll be showing Episode 59 at Biometrics 2006?

Technorati Tags: biometrics

Tokens mean credentials mean reputations

[Dave Birch] It's hard to validate -- I mean really, really validate -- someone's real identity in a transaction.  By "hard", of course, I also mean "expensive".  That's why transaction mechanisms that don't validate real identity (eg, credit cards) are easy to use and cost-effective.  Luckily, we don't often really need actual identity validated to conduct a transaction.  What we need is reasonable assurance that the parties to a transaction are authorised.  So, when you are conceptually carded, it should be to see that you are over 21 (or whatever), not who you are.  There's a big difference.  Over time, the credentials that are being presented begin to acquire a history, a reputation if you like.  Once can certainly envisage markets in which transactions depend on that reputation: not "snapshot" credentials or identity no matter how well validated.

Technorati Tags: authentication, ID cards, privacy, security

Digital ID Forum agenda for 2006

The "final" agenda for this year's Digital Identity Forum is now available online or for downloading.

Technorati Tags: ID cards, internet, privacy, security