Re: [XPOST] A unique number for every "person" - can it be done?

From: Jeremy Boden (jeremy_at_jboden.demon.co.uk)
Date: 02/28/05


Date: Mon, 28 Feb 2005 10:26:06 +0000

In message <slrnd24d3o.27l2.willem@toad.stack.nl>, Willem
<willem@stack.nl> writes
>Ioannis wrote:
>) The simplest idea I can come up with would be to find a way to
>) mathematically encode one's fingerprints, since they are unique
>
>Not absolutely unique, it's just that collisions are so unlikely that we
>can treat them as unique for present day purposes.
...
The presumption that fingerprints are unique came about long before
computer databases were invented. I wonder how many distinct people have
had their fingerprints compared to test this assumption?

Surely identical twins would have identical fingerprints because they
would share the same DNA signature?

-- 
Jeremy Boden


Relevant Pages

  • Re: [XPOST] A unique number for every "person" - can it be done?
    ... >) The simplest idea I can come up with would be to find a way to ... >) mathematically encode one's fingerprints, ... The presumption that fingerprints are unique came about long before ... Surely identical twins would have identical fingerprints because they ...
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  • Re: [XPOST] A unique number for every "person" - can it be done?
    ... >) The simplest idea I can come up with would be to find a way to ... >) mathematically encode one's fingerprints, ... The presumption that fingerprints are unique came about long before ... Surely identical twins would have identical fingerprints because they ...
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