Because everybody needs rules

One setback haunting biometric technology from time to time is the absence of standards. Usually this is the case in large deployments, such as the National ID card and immigration control projects. Every fingerprint sensor, for example, can be different, and hardware from different vendors may not co-exist successfully. Also, FRR (false rejection rate) and FAR (false acceptance rate) and such specifics of the devices and their software aren't always the same, making research a long process. If requirements are set, customers (i.e. government) will know exactly what to expect from a fingerprint, iris, hand, etc. device.
From Computerweekly.com:

The British Standards Institute is leading the development of the international biometric technology standards that will underpin the government's plans for a national ID card system and immigration controls at airports.
The standards, due to be published next year, will lay down the first internationally agreed data formats for fingerprint, iris and facial recognition system.
International collaboration on the standards has followed pressure from the US for the worldwide adoption of biometric passports following the 11 September terrorist attacks.
"Although political pressure is certainly expediting this process, there is also growing demand from the biometric and IT industry itself to develop an ISO standard," said Mike Low, director at the British Standards Institute.
The standards will make it easier for businesses to implement biometric systems and to understand the reliability of different identity verification systems, he said.
BSI leads work on biometric standards.

Comments

[Biometric Time Clock]

.