Given the pervasive nature of Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs), the security of these devices and the data they generate is a key concern. One possibility for securing WSNs would be to use biometrics. Biometrics are the use of physical characteristics to control access to computing systems. Biometrics are also used for monitoring reasons. Examples include retina or fingerprint scans and voice recognition. The use of biometrics for WSNs is certainly possible but the questions we will investigate here is why we would use biometrics in WSNs and which WSN applications in particular would be appropriate for the integration of biometric technology.

The clearest use for biometrics would be for WSNs that monitor the human body. These WSNs are commonly referred to as Wireless Biosensor Networks or Body Area Networks (BANs). Wireless biosensors can either be implanted in the human body or can be worn by individuals. Biosensors have the capacity to gather real time medical data from different parts of the human body. This data is then typically sent to an external data gatherer and this data can be translated into interpretable information for decision making by the Vertoda Framework.

Like other sensors, biosensors are constrained in terms of their processing and computational power, memory and communication rate. Security is another challenge given the confidential nature of medical data and biometrics is one way of addressing this issue. Like cryptography solutions, biometrics can ensure the privacy and integrity of the medical data over the wireless network and also can ensure that only authorised medical personnel can access the data. Give the ease with which biosensors could be removed or stolen, biometrics can also ensure that sensitive medical data cannot be retrieved from a stolen sensor.

Biometrics can also be potentially used for authenticating users for sensors used in Personal Area Networks (PANs). Such authentication could be more efficient for activating the sensor than a user having to remember a password for what is an ad-hoc network. An example application would be the use of WSNs in emergency response situations where only authorised personnel would be permitted to use monitoring equipment and the status of the emergency personnel themselves could be monitored. Indeed, there are many areas in which biometrics could complement WSN technology. The algorithms used for encrypting and signing data are computationally complex and place a high demand on their host device. This is an issue for the contrained environment of the sensor mote. As noted previously, it is comparatively easy to remove or steal sensors. Furthermore, there are several areas in which biometrics would contribute to the technical solution along with WSNs.  The integration of biometric technology with WSNs could lead to solutions in many areas. For example, a security system that uses WSNs for intrusion detection might also use biometrics for retina scans. A WSN device might only release its data or indeed activate on recognising the voice of an authorised person.

Biometric devices then, along with WSNs, RFID and GPS, can play a role in delivering smart ecosystems and context aware services. Given the volume and ad-hoc nature of many smart systems, it is unrealistic to expect their users to remember PINs and passwords. Biometric recognition is a good alternative in such cases.