The ear as a biometric

It is more than 10 years since the first tentative experiments in ear biometrics were conducted and it has now reached the “adolescence” of its development towards a mature biometric. Here we present a timely retrospective of the ensuing research since those early days. Whilst its detailed structure may not be as complex as the iris we show that the ear has unique security advantages over other biometrics. It is most unusual even unique in that it supports not only visual and forensic recognition but also acoustic recognition at the same time. This together with its deep three-dimensional structure and its robust resistance to change with age will make it very difficult to counterfeit thus ensuring that the ear will occupy a special place in situations requiring a high degree of protection.