Project SEARCH (Scanning EARs for Child Health): validating an ear biometric tool for patient identification in Zambia [version 1; peer review: 2 approved]

Patient identification in low- to middle-income countries is one of the most pressing public health challenges of our day. Given the ubiquity of mobile phones, their use for health-care coupled with a biometric identification method, present a unique opportunity to address this challenge. Our resear...

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Main Authors: Lauren Etter, Alinani Simukanga, Wenda Qin, Rachel Pieciak, Lawrence Mwananyanda, Margrit Betke, Jackson Phiri, Caroline Carbo, Arnold Hamapa, Chris Gill
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: F1000 Research Ltd 2020-11-01
Series:Gates Open Research
Online Access:https://gatesopenresearch.org/articles/4-168/v1
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author Lauren Etter
Alinani Simukanga
Wenda Qin
Rachel Pieciak
Lawrence Mwananyanda
Margrit Betke
Jackson Phiri
Caroline Carbo
Arnold Hamapa
Chris Gill
author_facet Lauren Etter
Alinani Simukanga
Wenda Qin
Rachel Pieciak
Lawrence Mwananyanda
Margrit Betke
Jackson Phiri
Caroline Carbo
Arnold Hamapa
Chris Gill
author_sort Lauren Etter
collection DOAJ
description Patient identification in low- to middle-income countries is one of the most pressing public health challenges of our day. Given the ubiquity of mobile phones, their use for health-care coupled with a biometric identification method, present a unique opportunity to address this challenge. Our research proposes an Android-based solution of an ear biometric tool for reliable identification. Unlike many popular biometric approaches (e.g., fingerprints, irises, facial recognition), ears are noninvasive and easily accessible on individuals across a lifespan. Our ear biometric tool uses a combination of hardware and software to identify a person using an image of their ear. The hardware supports an image capturing process that reduces undesired variability. The software uses a pattern recognition algorithm to transform an image of the ear into a unique identifier. We created three cross-sectional datasets of ear images, each increasing in complexity, with the final dataset representing our target use-case population of Zambian infants (N=224, aged 6days-6months). Using these datasets, we conducted a series of validation experiments, which informed iterative improvements to the system. Results of the improved system, which yielded high recognition rates across the three datasets, demonstrate the feasibility of an Android ear biometric tool as a solution to the persisting patient identification challenge.
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spelling doaj.art-ff4dd2097be048c4be371eaf7a11c8582022-12-21T19:05:00ZengF1000 Research LtdGates Open Research2572-47542020-11-01410.12688/gatesopenres.13197.114405Project SEARCH (Scanning EARs for Child Health): validating an ear biometric tool for patient identification in Zambia [version 1; peer review: 2 approved]Lauren Etter0Alinani Simukanga1Wenda Qin2Rachel Pieciak3Lawrence Mwananyanda4Margrit Betke5Jackson Phiri6Caroline Carbo7Arnold Hamapa8Chris Gill9College of Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA, 02215, USADepartment of Computer Science, School of Natural Sciences, University of Zambia, Lusaka, ZambiaDepartment of Computer Science, College of Arts and Sciences, Boston University, Boston, MA, 02215, USADepartment of Global Health, School of Public Health, Boston University Medical Campus, Boston, MA, 02118, USARight to Care Zambia, Lusaka, ZambiaDepartment of Computer Science, College of Arts and Sciences, Boston University, Boston, MA, 02215, USADepartment of Computer Science, School of Natural Sciences, University of Zambia, Lusaka, ZambiaCollege of Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA, 02215, USARight to Care Zambia, Lusaka, ZambiaDepartment of Global Health, School of Public Health, Boston University Medical Campus, Boston, MA, 02118, USAPatient identification in low- to middle-income countries is one of the most pressing public health challenges of our day. Given the ubiquity of mobile phones, their use for health-care coupled with a biometric identification method, present a unique opportunity to address this challenge. Our research proposes an Android-based solution of an ear biometric tool for reliable identification. Unlike many popular biometric approaches (e.g., fingerprints, irises, facial recognition), ears are noninvasive and easily accessible on individuals across a lifespan. Our ear biometric tool uses a combination of hardware and software to identify a person using an image of their ear. The hardware supports an image capturing process that reduces undesired variability. The software uses a pattern recognition algorithm to transform an image of the ear into a unique identifier. We created three cross-sectional datasets of ear images, each increasing in complexity, with the final dataset representing our target use-case population of Zambian infants (N=224, aged 6days-6months). Using these datasets, we conducted a series of validation experiments, which informed iterative improvements to the system. Results of the improved system, which yielded high recognition rates across the three datasets, demonstrate the feasibility of an Android ear biometric tool as a solution to the persisting patient identification challenge.https://gatesopenresearch.org/articles/4-168/v1
spellingShingle Lauren Etter
Alinani Simukanga
Wenda Qin
Rachel Pieciak
Lawrence Mwananyanda
Margrit Betke
Jackson Phiri
Caroline Carbo
Arnold Hamapa
Chris Gill
Project SEARCH (Scanning EARs for Child Health): validating an ear biometric tool for patient identification in Zambia [version 1; peer review: 2 approved]
Gates Open Research
title Project SEARCH (Scanning EARs for Child Health): validating an ear biometric tool for patient identification in Zambia [version 1; peer review: 2 approved]
title_full Project SEARCH (Scanning EARs for Child Health): validating an ear biometric tool for patient identification in Zambia [version 1; peer review: 2 approved]
title_fullStr Project SEARCH (Scanning EARs for Child Health): validating an ear biometric tool for patient identification in Zambia [version 1; peer review: 2 approved]
title_full_unstemmed Project SEARCH (Scanning EARs for Child Health): validating an ear biometric tool for patient identification in Zambia [version 1; peer review: 2 approved]
title_short Project SEARCH (Scanning EARs for Child Health): validating an ear biometric tool for patient identification in Zambia [version 1; peer review: 2 approved]
title_sort project search scanning ears for child health validating an ear biometric tool for patient identification in zambia version 1 peer review 2 approved
url https://gatesopenresearch.org/articles/4-168/v1
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