Although several biometric modalities have been studied well in the past, very little is known about the body odor biometric system. Eventhough the concept of Body Odour biometrics is still in its early stages, some applications are already being developed that rely on this technology. So what is body odor (BO) biometrics, and how can it be measured precisely?
A body odor recognition system is a contactless biometric that can be used to confirm an individual’s identity by analyzing the olfactory properties of their body odor. This type of biometric is different from a behavioral biometric.
Human bodies produce a wide variety of complex molecules that can be volatile or non-volatile. They can change based on various factors such as an individual’s genetics, environment, immune system, their diet and stress. They can, therefore, change based on age, gender, climate, and living habits.
The molecules are produced by various parts of the body, such as the skin and the oral cavity. They are categorized into three groups: Perspiration (skin odor),Odor released from the oral cavity (exhaled breath),Odor released from human excreta (urine).
The principle of BO biometric systems is based on the fact that virtually each person’s smell is unique and distinctive.
How can it be measured?
A variety of quantitative approaches can be used to evaluate different types of odors, including concentration and evident severity measurement.
Capturing individuals’ unique smell is possible via gas sensors, such as a metal oxide sensor for detecting volatile organic compounds. The process of extracting and processing human body odors can be performed by either a single chemical sensor or a combination of these devices. Sensors could be placed against body parts like the armpits or the back of the hands in a way that is non-intrusive, according to the literature.
The multiple sensors that are used in the system can be set to determine a specific chemical property that’s included in the sample. Each of the characteristic patterns that the sensor identifies can be used to form a biometric template.
Therefore, BO recognition is a physical but contactless biometric, which can be measured by automated electronic machine olfaction devices that can mimic human olfactory patterns and capture human odours for subsequent analysis and classification as a biometric template. These acquisition techniques are contactless and unobtrusive and consequently could be used with or without the consent or cooperation of the subject.
Biometric variations can also be caused by certain factors, such as the use of perfumes. Additionally, some diseases may disrupt or mask the primary odour. Therefore, it’s recommended to use a multimodal biometric approach with rely on seperate factors when it comes to implementing BO biometric authenticationVerifying the identity of a user, process, or device, often as a prerequisite to allowing access to resources in an information system..
Privacy Concerns:
As with other biometric methods, there are also civil liberty and privacy concerns when it comes to collecting and using data related to human odor.
For instance, the BO biometric can tell a person if they’re under stress, their medication usage, if they’re eating right and lifestyle. It can also analyze their recent actions, including sexual intercourse, and reveal their emotions, like terror, anger, happiness, and disgust.
