This study analyzed fingerprint data from two sensors to determine the impact of age on fingerprint quality. Fingerprint data including quality score, age, and number of minutiae points for the right index finger were collected from the Digital Persona U.are.U and Fujitsu Touch sensors. The data showed mean quality scores were slightly lower and mean minutiae points were slightly higher for individuals ages 26 and older compared to individuals ages 18-25, suggesting age may decrease fingerprint quality and increase complexity.

1. THE IMPACT OF AGING ON FINGERPRINT QUALITY
The purpose of this study is to determine the impact of age on fingerprint quality. We will be comparing two different sets of data from two different sensors,
Digital Persona U.are.U and Fujitsu Touch. The data that is being used to answer our question includes, quality score, age, and number of minutiae points for
only the right index finger. By taking these two sets of data and comparing them we plan on being able to determine if there are similarities between the results.
We will be looking to see if the quality score decreases with age and if the number of minutiae points increases with age.
Chelan Simonds, Darryl McLaurin, Michael Brockly, Stephen Elliott
Overview
Digital Persona U.are.U
18-25 26 - 63
Fujitsu Touch
18-25 26 - 61
Ages 18-25 Ages 26 & Above
# People
Mean
Quality
Mean
Minutiae
# People
Mean
Quality
Mean
Minutiae
Digital Persona
U.are.U
55 73.82 38.03 11 69.87 45.17
Fujitsu Touch 146 83.32 28.14 36 78.69 31.15
Results Conclusion
All the quality scores for 18-25
year olds. Most of the quality
scores are above 70. There is an
outlier with a quality score of 28.
Number of minutiae points for 18-
25 year olds. Most fingerprints
have between 35 and 45 minutiae
points.
All the quality scores for 26 years
old and above. Most of the quality
scores are between 65 and 75.
There is an outlier with a quality
score of 26.
Number of minutiae points for 26
years old and above. Most
fingerprints have 45 minutiae points.
There are a few outliers with 108,
116, and 121 minutiae points.
All the quality scores for 18-25
year olds. Most of the quality
scores are above 80. There is an
outlier with a quality score of 44.
Number of minutiae points for 18-
25 year olds. Most fingerprints
have around 30 minutiae points.
All the quality scores for 26 years
old and above. Most of the quality
scores are 75 and above. There are
some outliers who have quality
scores of 43 and 47.
Number of minutiae points for 26
years old and above. Most
fingerprints have a mean of 30
minutiae points. There is an outlier
with 60 minutiae points.
This table shows the mean
quality scores and mean
number of minutiae points for
ages 18-25 and ages 26 and
above. The data came from
analyzing the Digital Persona
U.are.U and Fujitsu Touch
fingerprint sensors.
We have determined that people in that 18-25 age
range have better quality pictures. For each sensor
the difference between the mean quality scores for
the two age groups was an average of 5 which is not
a very significant difference. Another thing we noticed
was that the Fujitsu Touch had higher mean quality
scores for each group by 10. This could also be due
to the fact that Fujitsu Touch has over double the
amount of people represented in each age group. We
also can conclude that ages 26 and above have a
greater number of minutiae points.