Overview
ISO/IEC TR 20322:2023 - "Information technology - Cross-jurisdictional and societal aspects of implementation of biometric technologies - Biometrics and elderly people" - is a descriptive technical report that examines how aging, medical conditions and cognitive changes affect the use of biometric technologies by people aged 65 and over. It builds on ISO/IEC TR 24714‑1, ISO/IEC TR 29194 and ISO/IEC 29138‑1 to provide detailed considerations for designers, operators and policymakers working with biometric systems in eldercare, public services and cross‑jurisdictional deployments. The report is informational (not normative) and focuses on accessibility, usability and social acceptance.
Key topics
- Definition and target group: Clarifies the use of the term “elderly person” as 65+ years and discusses why age-specific guidance is needed.
- Modality‑specific issues:
- Fingerprint recognition: skin xerosis, worn ridges, consequences for contact sensors; benefits of touchless or sub‑dermal sensors; effects of arthritis, neuromuscular disease and reduced vision on capture quality.
- Face recognition: age‑related facial and neck changes and neuromuscular impacts (document continues into these topics).
- Iris recognition: typical age‑related ocular conditions affecting capture (covered in the full report).
- Cross‑modal and shared concerns: cognitive challenges, presentation quality, accessibility and acceptance among elderly users.
- Practical countermeasures: suggested design accommodations such as recessed scanner housings, tactile markers, internal illumination, multi‑sensory feedback (light/sound/vibration), re‑capture strategies and consideration of contactless technologies.
- Empirical observations: references to studies (e.g., JRC) showing fingerprint quality declines with age (noting a linear decline from around 40–45 and continuing through ages 65–90), while ridge width/size remain largely stable.
Applications
- Designing accessible biometric enrollment and authentication systems for healthcare, long‑term care, banking, travel, government services and assisted living.
- Risk assessment and operational policies for border control, identity verification and e‑services involving older adults.
- Procurement and product design guidance for sensor manufacturers, system integrators and UX teams to improve capture success and user comfort.
- Informing public policy, privacy and inclusion strategies where cross‑jurisdictional biometric deployments intersect with aging populations.
Who should use this report
- System architects, biometric developers and integrators
- Accessibility and UX designers
- Healthcare IT and long‑term care administrators
- Public policy makers, privacy officers and standards writers
- Manufacturers of biometric sensors and authentication devices
Related standards
Keywords: ISO/IEC TR 20322:2023, biometrics and elderly people, elderly biometrics, fingerprint recognition, face recognition, iris recognition, accessibility, biometric system design, aging and biometric technologies.