Beyond Fingerprints and Faces – Who Really Knows Us?

1 minute read

Over the past decade, artificial intelligence and deep learning have advanced the way human identity can be analyzed. But, amidst the marvels of technological advancement and the risks that come with that, we must ask ourselves: How do we keep our identity safe?

April 24, 2024

Videography by Haley Martin

Anytime you log into an app using facial recognition, ask Alexa, “What’s the weather today?” or even track your heart rate on your smartwatch, you are contributing a piece of your identity to biometric data. Biometrics are the biological and behavioural measurements that can be used to identify us, such as our fingerprints, the way we walk and what we engage with online. While this technology has created security and convenience for us online and in real life, it is not immune to being compromised and hacked. The Biometric Technologies Lab, led by Dr. Marina Gavrilova, PhD’99, professor in the Department of Computer Science, is committed to using this technology for good and spreading awareness on how to protect ourselves.

Gavrilova has been selected to present at the 17th annual Lecture of a Lifetime, presented by the Chancellor and Senate at the University of Calgary. Lecture of a Lifetime is a dynamic demonstration of academic talent and achievement, and a unique opportunity for the broader community to get a sample of UCalgary’s world-class student experience.