TODAY, in metropolitan public
transport stations, authentication or verification using conventional
technologies is practically infeasible. In such type of applications, biometric
authentication methods are more attractive. Biomechanics research (e.g. gait
analysis, sport or rehabilitation biomechanics, motor control studies) often
involves measuring different signals such as kinematics, forces, and EMG. Gait is
defined as “a manner of walking” in the Webster Collegiate Dictionary. The
extend definition of gait is to include both the appearance and the dynamics of
human walking motion. Gait analysis is the systematic
study of human walking , using the eye and brain of experienced observers,
augmented by instrumentation for measuring body movements , body mechanics and
the activity of the muscles1. Gait analysis can give qualitative
as well as quantitative values for the gait parameter. Human gait is an
identifying feature of a person that is determined by his/her weight, limb
length, and habitual posture. Hence, gait can be used as a biometric measure to
recognize known persons and classify unknown subjects. Gait can be detected and
measured at low resolution, and therefore it can be used in situations where
face or iris information is not available in high enough resolution for
recognition.

1.2
Authentication

Authentication is an area which has grown over the
last decades, and will continue to grow in the future. It is used in many
places today and being authenticated has become a daily habit for most people.
Examples of this are PIN code to your banking card, password to get access to a
computer and passport used at border control. The last is an example of
authenticating a human, which is probably the most used during a day. We
identify friends and family by their face, voice, how they walk, etc. As we
realize there are different ways in which a user can be authenticated, but all
these methods can be categorized into one of three classes:

Something you know, e.g. a password.

Something you have, e.g. a token.

Something you are, e.g.a biometric property
(fingerprints, voice, iris, gait )