4 ms·

I don't know just how accurate the 1 in 50 number is but it is pretty close to my observations. I worked on a fingerprint recognition system several years ago

I don't know just how accurate the 1 in 50 number is but it is pretty close to my observations. I worked on a fingerprint recognition system several years ago and collected many thousands of live fingerprints and processed hundreds of thousands of other records (scans of inked prints for example). Recognizing a good quality print is almost trivially easy. Most of the work is pulling good information out of low quality images. Fingerprints are a reliable source of information in most cases for most people but are a far cry perfect form of identification most people think.

bhousel 16y ago
So tell us.. Wouldn't being "that guy with no fingerprints" be a more clear identifier, and draw more attention to yourself, than just having the same boring blurry imperfect fingerprints that the rest of us have? If the goal is to increase your privacy, walking around with sanded off fingerprints sounds about as contrary to that goal as walking around with one of those fake eyeglass-nose-mustache disguises.
- JonnieCache 16y ago
  It would seem best to sand your fingerprints to the point where they still produce an image, but one that is too low quality to stand up in court, yet is still within the 'normal' bounds and won't arouse suspicion.
- madmoose 16y ago
  Ceramists and brick layers often have vague or worn-off fingerprints. Just say you do a lot of ceramics.
  - pbhjpbhj 16y ago
    I came to mention that I do some ceramics and hadn't thought about losing fingerprints before but definitely have pretty smooth fingers now. Using grogged clay to throw with can be torture on your hands if you're not used to it. Like someone mentioned I imagine the prints can be gathered directly by a photographic imaging method - my fingertips are smooth but they still have visual fingerprint patterning. Perhaps if I'm throwing more regularly that would go?
- te_platt 16y ago
  Probably not that much. I would say it's like shaving your head to disguise your hair color. Most people don't have shaved heads but enough do that it wouldn't make you stand out too much.
cstross 16y ago
I used to have severe atopic eczema on my hands and fingers (it cleared up about a decade ago, before the fingerprint nonsense came in). Typically between 2 and 6 of my fingers at any time would be so swollen or inflamed that the fingerprint was distorted or entirely absent. This varied over time. Eczema isn't that uncommon (although mine was pretty severe) and frequently affects the fingers and hands (as well as elbows and backs of knees). If the biometric-with-fingerprint passports had been standard back then I'd have been in a world of hurt, with fingerprints morphing over a period of multiple months.

bhousel 16y ago

So tell us.. Wouldn't being "that guy with no fingerprints" be a more clear identifier, and draw more attention to yourself, than just having the same boring blurry imperfect fingerprints that the rest of us have? If the goal is to increase your privacy, walking around with sanded off fingerprints sounds about as contrary to that goal as walking around with one of those fake eyeglass-nose-mustache disguises.

JonnieCache 16y ago
It would seem best to sand your fingerprints to the point where they still produce an image, but one that is too low quality to stand up in court, yet is still within the 'normal' bounds and won't arouse suspicion.
madmoose 16y ago
Ceramists and brick layers often have vague or worn-off fingerprints. Just say you do a lot of ceramics.
- pbhjpbhj 16y ago
  I came to mention that I do some ceramics and hadn't thought about losing fingerprints before but definitely have pretty smooth fingers now. Using grogged clay to throw with can be torture on your hands if you're not used to it. Like someone mentioned I imagine the prints can be gathered directly by a photographic imaging method - my fingertips are smooth but they still have visual fingerprint patterning. Perhaps if I'm throwing more regularly that would go?
te_platt 16y ago
Probably not that much. I would say it's like shaving your head to disguise your hair color. Most people don't have shaved heads but enough do that it wouldn't make you stand out too much.

cstross 16y ago

I used to have severe atopic eczema on my hands and fingers (it cleared up about a decade ago, before the fingerprint nonsense came in). Typically between 2 and 6 of my fingers at any time would be so swollen or inflamed that the fingerprint was distorted or entirely absent. This varied over time. Eczema isn't that uncommon (although mine was pretty severe) and frequently affects the fingers and hands (as well as elbows and backs of knees). If the biometric-with-fingerprint passports had been standard back then I'd have been in a world of hurt, with fingerprints morphing over a period of multiple months.