One、Fingerprint password locks: advantages and disadvantages
1、Independent information management
Advantages: The biggest advantage is its practicality for users who frequently have caregivers, hourly workers, or rent out their homes. When caregivers or tenants leave, their fingerprints can be immediately removed, and once removed, they cannot re-enter, providing a high level of security.
Disadvantages: In reality, these are not significant disadvantages. The biggest drawback is that fingerprint input and deletion require multiple steps, making the process somewhat cumbersome. However, this complexity is intended to enhance security, and it is currently acceptable.
2、Voice-guided instructions
Advantages: Simplifies operation and makes it easier to understand. This feature is primarily targeted towards elderly individuals or children, who may encounter difficulties in operating the product. Voice guidance can help them complete the operation more quickly and overcome the psychological barrier of rejecting high-tech products due to lack of understanding.
Disadvantages: Due to the machine-generated voice, it may sound overly mechanical. Furthermore, most voice operations only support switching between English and Chinese, which makes it unusable for elderly people and children who do not understand these two languages.
3、Anti-break-in alarm function
Advantages: It emits a loud alarm in response to unauthorized opening, external force damage, or slight misalignment of the door lock, similar to a car horn, effectively attracting attention and preventing theft. This feature is particularly useful for users in complex environments.
Disadvantages: Due to the temporary disconnection of the alarm system from the residential or police security system, it cannot automatically trigger alarms. This feature requires further improvement for organizations with higher security requirements. Additionally, not all locks have this functionality, and users may need to customize their systems.
4、Placeholder password
Advantages: The primary function is to prevent unauthorized access to passwords. By adding or inserting multiple random codes before or after the correct password, the data can be opened only if the correct password is present.
Disadvantages: One of the most frequently discussed "impractical" features of this functionality is the "fingerprint lock" that allows access using "correct password + random characters." Since a user can open the door using "correct password + random characters," a thief would simply remember the password combination used previously. This feature would only be unusable if the "correct password + random characters" combination could not be used again.
5、 Use the remote control to unlock the door.
Advantages: Easier to operate with a remote control, providing a similar experience to automatic car door locks, and offering enhanced intelligence to meet the needs of different users. For example, in a company setting, the company owner can lock the office door, and when an employee knocks, they can simply press the unlock button without having to go to the door to open it.
Disadvantages: Cannot be connected to the internet, and can only be controlled manually using buttons within a limited range.
6、Remote control door opening
Advantages: You can directly enter the password remotely, regardless of your location. If someone visits or your parents come home, you can also remotely unlock the door for them. This feature is connected to the internet, allowing you to control the door lock from anywhere in the world via your mobile phone, further enhancing the intelligence of the fingerprint lock.
Disadvantages: If the function is accidentally activated when no one is home, it could potentially open the door, which could have serious consequences.
II. How to select a fingerprint lock
1、Inspect the finger joint
There are still many confusions regarding fingerprint reading, and there are two types of fingerprint collection: optical fingerprint collection and semiconductor fingerprint collection. Optical fingerprint locks have price advantages, but cannot accurately identify genuine and fake fingerprints. Additionally, they are susceptible to issues with dirty fingers, shallow fingerprints, and low recognition rates in cold, dry conditions. For civilian use, this type is generally reliable. Semiconductor fingerprint locks utilize the principles of capacitance, electric field, temperature, and pressure to achieve fingerprint image collection, completely eliminating the possibility of false fingerprints. Furthermore, they are unaffected by the depth and moisture of the fingerprints, and offer faster and more accurate recognition than optical fingerprint locks. The security level of this type of fingerprint lock is higher than that of optical fingerprint locks, but the price is also significantly higher!
2、Evaluate the functional design
Functionality and design should prioritize practicality and effectiveness over complexity. In theory, products from manufacturers with equivalent technical capabilities should have a single, well-defined function. However, adding more features increases the likelihood of product failure.Conversely, products from manufacturers with superior technical capabilities can offer a comprehensive range of features and superior quality. Therefore, the key to selecting a product is not to simply choose the one with the most features, but to assess whether the associated risks are acceptable.