Finger Print Scanners
Vocab
History
100

The type of fingerprint scanner uses light and a digital camera or prism to capture an image of your finger.

Optical scanner

100

This is the central point or middle of a loop or whorl fingerprint pattern.

What is the core?

100

Around 1955 BC, people in this ancient civilization pressed fingerprints into clay tablets to sign business deals and prevent cheating.

What is Ancient Babylon

200

This scanner creates a fingerprint image by measuring tiny electrical charge differences where your finger's ridges touch the sensor.

What is a capacitive scanner?

200

This triangular point or pattern area is found in loop and whorl fingerprints.

What is the delta?

200

Around 200 BC, this ancient civilization used handprints and thumbprints as evidence in theft cases.

What is Ancient China?

300

This fingerprint scanner uses high-frequency sound waves to create a detailed 3D map of your fingerprint.

What is an ultrasonic scanner?

300

These are the unique ridge details, such as a ridge ending or where a ridge splits, that help identify a fingerprint.

What are minutiae?

300

In 1686, this Italian doctor described loops and spirals found in the skin.

Who is Marcello Malpighi?

400

Which type of fingerprint scanner is best known for creating a 3D depth map of the fingerprint?

What is an ultrasonic scanner?

400

This standard form is used to record and store a person's complete set of fingerprints.

What is a ten card?

400

In 1788, this German anatomist stated that no two people have the same fingerprint.

Who is Johann Christoph Andreas Mayer?

500

A smartphone unlocks by measuring tiny electrical charge differences between the ridges and valleys of your fingerprint. What type of scanner is it using?

What is a capacitive scanner?

500

A fingerprint examiner notices a place where one ridge splits into two and another where a ridge suddenly stops. These unique ridge details are collectively known as what?

What are minutiae?

500

In 1823, this scientist identified and named nine distinct fingerprint patterns.

Who is Johannes Evangelista Purkinje?

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