Kiwis embrace biometrics

Unisys survey suggests users comfortable with fingerprint, iris scans

By Reseller News Staff, Auckland | Wednesday, 21 October 2009
Sixty percent of New Zealanders are prepared to use biometrics to prove their identity, according to the latest Unisys Security Index.

The index, which surveyed 500 people, suggests more people would support the introduction of fingerprints (81 percent), iris (68 percent) and facial scanning (48 percent). Traditional identifiers such as pins and passwords actually dropped in popularity with 57 percent and 54 percent respectively.

In the 2008 index, pins and passwords received 64 and 63 percent.

Unisys NZ managing director Brett Hodgson says it is not surprising that New Zealanders are so keen to use sophisticated biometric technology to prove their identity.

“These are very strong results and show New Zealanders are ready for the next roll out of biometric identification technology where it has obvious benefits for the protection of private and personal information.”