By Denise Ogden

Biotechnology

Using Biometrics in online learning systems

By Denise Ogden

Problem• Because of the growing popularity of online

learning, there is an increased need for online universities to find ways to authenticate student identity.

• There is a need to know whether or not the student enrolled is the one actually doing the work.

• Biotemetrics is needed to authenticate student identity in online learning systems.

Is the goal of online learning institutions to educate those who are enrolled or to simply make money?

Research

Ph. D. student, Pranab Mohanty (2007) study focused on using a mantle for hand or face recognition.

Levy & Ramim (2008) focused on learner’s response to multibiometric systems.

Pons & Polack (2008) focused on potential future users of biometrics who have the choice between using and not using biometrics.

ResearchLead Thinkers: Government Officials Researchers work closely with government

officials in developing high tech biotechnology devices.

Evidence of biotechnology is seen in airports, some intersections, and mostly in crime solving.

Apple products that uses a form of biometric technology

These devices prove that use of biometric technology is not as costly and difficult to use as they once were. Would it be to much to ask that online learning universities employ biometric technology to ensure student authentication?

Development• Biometric technology not fully used by

online learning systems. • Hearsay, Blackboard uses some form of

biometric technology, but research has not confirmed this.

• One potential problem with use of biometric software is compromising users’ privacy.

Cost of Development of implementation must be

considered: How much will it for universities to

install a biometric device on learning platforms? Will the costs outweigh the benefits?

Commercialization• Production—development of device that is

conducive to an online platform learning system; pilot test, applied research

• Manufacture—university funded• Marketing, packaging, and distribution will

depend on the success of the product. In addition, online learning universities will need to determine the importance of authenticating students’ identities.

Innovation-Decision Process of Biotechnology

Knowledge StageBiologists studied organisms and cells

Increase of understanding of organisms and cells led to control of the their many functions

Computer Scientists used a form of biotechnology, called biometrics for recognition of eyes, hands, fingers, faces, and body movement

Persuasion Stage

Terrorism

•DNA

•Face Recognition

•Body movement

•Signature

•Voice Recognition

•Hand or palm geometry

•Eye scan

•Fingerprints

Decision Stage1905 -- the U.S. Army put fingerprints to use. Within the next three years, the U.S. Navy started, and was joined by the Marine Corp.

During the next 25 years more and more law enforcement agencies join in the use of fingerprints as a means of personal identification

Decision Stage

Most Popular Form of Biometric is use of fingerprints

Explanation of Previous DiagramFinger touches the silicon sensor, pattern

of ridges and valleys is determined by the capacitance at any point during cycle of charging and discharging the capacitor array.

The data are scanned at 500 dots per inch, converted to digital form,

A map of unique finger characteristics is created on the basis of minutia detection.

This map is then compared with a data bank of known prints.

Implementation Stage

Forensics use Fingerprint DNAHome Security SystemsSurveillance cameras in schools, workplace,

airports, traffic lights, CCTV to fight crimeWebcams for social networking and educationBanks

Blink! A biometric technology using complex algorithms to enhance the

security of computer use.Log onto computer using face-recognitionJournaling account logins helps identify

hijacked accounts and can determine who logged in using stolen credentials.

Enables users to add safe access in folders and secure access to Windows logon.

O2Face will recognize your presence and provide access as long as you face the camera directly. In addition, O2Face provides several other modules, including Live Detection, Leave Detection, Face Sense, SSO for websites, etc.

Confirmation StageUsing surveillance cameras in airports was

first seen as an invasion of privacy

Face recognition devices are controversial regarding minors; therefore the education system has to make some decisions

Word of Mouth, usually by innovators

Research Journals

Commercials

Channels of Communication

Education

BIOMETRICSThe S-Curve of Biometrics

Computer Scientists use biotechnology, coining it:

2011

Early 1980’s

Fingerprints

Face Recognition

Voice Recognition

Hand or palm geometry

Eye Scan

Signature Dynamics

Innovators - Brave people, pulling the change—very important to communication

Early Adopters - Respectable people, opinion leaders- Try out new ideas, but in a careful way

Early Majority - Thoughtful people, careful- accepting change more quickly than the average

Late Majority - Skeptic people- Will use new ideas or products only when the majority is using it

Laggards - Traditional people, caring for the 'old ways'- Critical towards new ideas and will only accept it if the new idea has become mainstream or even tradition

Explanation of RateThe rate of biometric use is growing due to

the government’s need to stop terrorism.

Another reason for the increase growth is the low cost of computers and other software to produce biometric devices.

In terms of using biometrics for distance learning, the cheapest, yet most full-proof solution is a fingerprint device

Biometrics in the FutureGrowing and controversial fieldCivil liberties groups concern over privacy

and identity issues. Biometric laws and regulations are in

process and biometric industry standards are being tested.

Face recognition biometrics not reached the prevalent level of fingerprinting

B/C of constant technological pushes & the threat of terrorism, researchers and biometric developers will hone this security technology for the twenty-first century.

Distance Learning & Future Use of BiometricsRegional accreditors state they will not

stress the use of authentication technologies.

Online & distance learning universities are required to use, at minimum, a secure login and pass code or proctored exam and, as they become available and widely accepted, new identification technologies and practices.

“When biological technology becomes further advanced, human beings as we know them, will become a modified species. If we as human beings fail to include the possibility of this development in our overall, social evolution we will witness the decline of our species” -Jacque Fresco The Best that Money Can’t buy, Beyond Politics, Poverty, and War.

Quote on future use of biometrics

Innovators/Early Adopters

The innovators and early adopters of biometrics are government agencies and computer scientists.

Some strategies to get online universities to adopt biometrics for authentication may include trialability, relative advantage, and compatibility.

LaggardsLaggards—feel that using biometric

software is a an Invasion of Privacy

Observability and trialability are related to the rate of adoption (Rogers, 2003);

Attributes

All are necessary to diffuse biometrics to the mass of online universities.

Centralized

Use of Biometric

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Change Agent

Adopters

Innovation

Most likely key change agents for biometric technology b/c of their collaboration on securing online learning activities in the past.

Key Change Agents

KEY CHANGE AGENTS

Critical Mass met in Society

Critical mass has not been reached in distance learning environments.

Recommend: Incentives for early adoption is free service for a year to a piloted distance learning institute.

ChampionshipU. S. Department of Education mandateFor accreditation, all institutions of distance

learning and higher education need to improve on student authenticity.

Is the goal of online learning institutions to educate those who are enrolled or to simply make money?

Are you a champion for the use of biometric technology for student

authentication?

References

Levy, Y. & Ramim, M.M. (2009). Initial Development of a Learners' Ratified Acceptance of Multibiometrics Intentions Model. Interdisciplinary Journal of E-Learning and Learning Objects.

McNabb, L. (2010). An update on student authentication: Implementation in context. Continuing Higher Education Review, 74. Retrieved from ProQuest database.

ReferencesMohaunty, P. (2007). Learning from biometric

distances: Performance and security related issues in face recognition systems (Doctoral dissertation). Retrieved from ProQuest database.

Pons, A. & Polak, P. (September 2008). Understanding user perspectives on biometric technology. Communications of ACM, 51(9). DOI:10.1145/1378727.1389971

Rogers, E. M. (2003). Diffusion of Innovations (5th ed). New York, NY: Free Press.