ISO/IEC 17839-2:2024

Overview

ISO/IEC 17839-2:2024 specifies the physical characteristics required for Biometric System-on-Card (BSoC) devices within the field of information technology. This standard focuses on two main card types: type ID-1 BSoC and type ID-T BSoC, detailing requirements around their physical dimensions, the positioning and size of embedded biometric capture devices (such as fingerprint sensors and microphones), and essential aspects like mechanical durability and ergonomics. Notably, this document does not apply to cards featuring on-card elements such as electronic displays or keypads.

Key Topics

• Card Dimensions:

  • ID-1 BSoC dimensions follow ISO/IEC 7810 standards.
  • ID-T BSoC dimensions align with ISO/IEC 18328-2.

• Biometric Capture Device Placement:

  • Defines recommended regions on the card for biometric sensors.
  • Ergonomic guidelines ensure sensors are not placed too close to card edges and do not interfere with other card elements.

• Biometric Modalities Addressed:

  • Fingerprint: Supports both area and swipe sensors, each with detailed positioning and dimension recommendations.
  • Voice: Microphone placement avoids obstructions and is clearly marked for user operation.
  • Face: Camera position is guided by ergonomic considerations, especially when cards are used with terminals.
  • Signature: Signature pad location and minimum area are specified, with attention to card rigidity and user comfort.

• Minimum Performance Requirements:

  • Mechanical Durability: Cards must withstand standard handling and stress as per related ISO/IEC standards.
  • Human-Machine Interface (HMI): BSoC devices should provide intuitive feedback mechanisms, such as LED indicators or tactile markings, to assist users during biometric capture.

• Ergonomics and Usability: Human factors are integral to design, ensuring that interaction with biometric features is straightforward and accessible.

Applications

• Personal Identification Cards: National ID cards, healthcare cards, and driver's licenses benefit from secure, on-card biometric verification.
• Payment Cards: Secure financial transactions are enabled through embedded fingerprint or voice recognition.
• Access Control: Physical and logical access systems (such as company badges or secure login tokens) employ BSoC technology to verify user identity reliably without external biometric readers.
• Border Control and Government Issued Credentials: Compliance with ISO/IEC 17839-2:2024 supports robust, interoperable identity documents needed for international travel and border management.

Implementing ISO/IEC 17839-2:2024 ensures the physical integrity and user-centric design of identity and authentication cards, supporting applications requiring a seamless, secure biometric experience.

Related Standards

Organizations implementing or referencing ISO/IEC 17839-2:2024 should also be familiar with the following standards for comprehensive coverage and interoperability:

• ISO/IEC 7810: Identification cards - Physical characteristics
• ISO/IEC 18328-2: ICC-managed devices - Physical characteristics and test methods for cards with devices
• ISO/IEC 17839-1: Biometric System-on-Card - Core requirements
• ISO/IEC 17839-3: Biometric System-on-Card - Logical information interchange mechanism
• ISO/IEC 19794-2 / ISO/IEC 39794-2: Biometric data interchange formats - Finger minutiae data
• ISO/IEC 19794-5 / ISO/IEC 39794-5: Biometric data interchange formats - Face image data

By adhering to ISO/IEC 17839-2:2024 and its related standards, organizations can ensure interoperability, enhanced security, and ease of use in biometric card-based identification systems.