Biometric modality: Odour- what is it?
The primary body odour of individuals has been studied to determine the extent that it is distinctive and stable over time and potentially can be separated from other odours conveyed by the human body from sources such as soaps, perfumes, diet and the environment. Some diseases may disrupt or mask the primary odour. Animals such as bears and dogs have a very acute sense of smell and can track and trail humans but the biometric application of odour requires the use of machine olfaction devices that can detect 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. It should be noted that odour biometric recognition is primarily a research subject and has not yet proven to be effective or practical in real applications.
Odour key considerations | Odour use cases | Other modalities
