Granted we could use a dodgy algorithm to turn the fingerprint image into gobbledegook and send that around the countryside (along with the gobbledegook creating readers) and when a single person's biometrics are compromised just deploy a new form of gobbledegook to every reader. Sounds like gobbledegook to me.

Apart from the proven difficulty of cross-referencing fingerprints same day when you have millions of fingers to compare, fingerprints don't always work for everyone. It is only ever practical to compare a sample with a known print.

I'm just waiting for the next SARS or TB outbreak for the US to scrap them at the borders. As for using fingerprint scanners in public places - can you guarantee that the last Chinese peasant didn't pick his nose or worse before sticking their dirty finger on the reader. The US don't even clean them in between fingers.

Citi is/was? testing fingerprint readers in Singapore, really user friendly (not) - you just have to remember your 7 digit PIN and type that in first and guarantee a good dose of the last person's germs. Even dumb 'smart cards' make slightly more sense if you have money to burn.