The author focuses on the very timely subject of biometrics, and on associated biometric verification technologies. The book is very densely written, and at times, demands special attention from the reader.

The first third of the book is a well-written introduction to biometric technology, while the latter two thirds are devoted to a discussion of two specific, and freely available, biometric software packages: Avanti’s Pentakis, and Avanti’s BANTAM Program Manager. Both of these packages are also included on an accompanying CD.

The first third of the book (which is more than 40 pages long) gives the reader a view of the issues raised by biometrics, mainly technology and human factors issues. The reader should keep in mind that this is a book on practical biometrics, and is therefore limited in theoretical foundations.

In the last two-thirds of the book, the emphasis is on how to specifically implement the information provided in the first third of the book, using the Pentakis and BANTAM software packages. Pentakis is a software package designed to help users develop an understanding of the integration of biometrics, and its related technologies, into mainstream applications. The BANTAM Program Manager enables users to track multiple projects or project modules, assigning personnel, managing related documentation, managing suppliers, creating reports, and so on.

Technical readers will probably find little value in the last two-thirds of this book; the information provided is not what one would expect in a professional computing book. However, for technical novices, this book (and its accompanying CD) is a good first overview of practical biometrics.