Identity markers: Face, iris and fingerprint biometrics good.

• Author: Magnuson, Stew

Federal agencies that collect biometric data to screen individuals should concentrate their efforts on fingerprints, faces and irises, and perfect the collection of those technologies first, said a White House official.

The growing fields of biometrics and identity management have brought forth a plethora of small businesses and startups with ideas on how to confirm the identity of an individual through his or her unique physical characteristics.

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Scanning the patterns of the veins in the palm of the hand, along with the shapes of ears, voices and the way a person walks are some technologies proposed during the past few years.

Monte Hawkins, director of identity management and biometrics policy at the White House national security staff, said there must be consistency in the way federal agencies collect such data.

"At least in the screening world, we have to focus on the three primary modalities, which are face, fingers and iris ... especially given the financial constraints we're in now," he said at the National Defense Industrial Association biometrics conference in Arlington, Va.

"Not to say that other modalities aren't useful for other agencies or individual programs. ... [But] you've got to build the databases to make them worthwhile," he added.

Federal agencies are falling short in their efforts to collect and share biometric data, he said, adding that consistency in the collection realm is one solution.

This proclamation from the White House may seem like bad news for vendors who are touting some of the more esoteric biometric data collection systems. However, different agencies use biometric data for different reasons.

The Department of Justice and the FBI, for example, are focused on forensics. In this case, investigators seek to solve the identity of perpetrators of crimes, or acts of terrorism, rather than screening individuals to confirm that they are who they say they are. The Defense Department is also heavily involved in forensics as it tries to uncover bomb-making networks. But it also wants screening systems that can identify those who have access to its facilities and bases.

The Departments of State and Homeland Security are screening individuals to ensure they are not on terrorist watch lists, or are criminals attempting to illegally enter the United States.

"You don't leave a face on a bomb. You don't leave an iris on a bomb," said Navy Cmdr. Ty Schaedel, deputy chief of the...