Indeed, it would be correct to say that technology is substantially aiding the field of Dermatoglyphics. It has made it reliable, accurate and speedy to obtain as well as scrutinise the fingerprint set. Today, electronic digital technology is deployed which has hardware and software customised for this application.

Digital Technology In The Field

The procedure is inkless and it digitally captures the fingerprint on a system. The obtained data is then forwarded to the network server in Hong Kong for in-depth analysis. This system eliminates the scope for human or mechanical error as inking is not involved. It also enhances the accuracy of the pattern matching and reduces the time to generate the report. At the same time, it is important to keep the scanning equipment clean and calibrate it according to the manual. This will ensure the image quality each time the fingerprints are obtained. Today, the automated systems are also incorporating the Surround Imaging Technology which enables even more accurate registration of the minutest details of the patterns and this three- dimensional imaging technique is an advancement in the capture and processing of patterns . The scanners are sophisticated and they extract features from a given fingerprint, including the ridge lines. The terminal point or divergence point of the ridge lines is also noted. The scanner/reader is also consistent in performance across a very large number of scans. Typically, very minimal user training may be required as there are LED indicators which prompt the user. Silicon sensing technology is gaining ground over the optical sensing, while they both produce certified image quality ( FIPS 201 standard). The emerging application in rapid methods to record Fingerprints is that of a three-camera system. It scans under the fingers and obtains prints that are rich in details of finger ridge and valley. This system has incorporated highly sophisticated image-processing algorithms. Thus the frontier of technology in the field of Dermatoglyphics ? both for recording and for analysis of Fingerprints ? is being extended every year. At IMI Academy Limited and IMI, we are keenly noting the developments so that our systems and procedures can be duly upgraded to reflect the state-of-the-art.