Biometric modality: Odour – key considerations
Human body odours can be collected and processed by (1) a single chemical sensor device or (2) more commonly, an array of sensors that can be set to measure a different, pre-selected chemical property contained within the odour sample or (3) a hybrid construction of (1) & (2). Each chemical property (odorant) identified by the sensors produces a characteristic pattern and these patterns form the biometric template. As with other biometric systems that can collect data without the knowledge or cooperation of data subjects there are privacy and civil liberty concerns about when and under what circumstances such systems, including odour recognition, should be used (Refer to the Biometrics Institute Good Practice Framework B.1.1, C.1.1/2/3/4 and the Biometrics Institute Three Laws of Biometrics – formulate policy then processes and then the technology).
