As is known to all, the possibility that two humans have identical fingerprints is almost zero. In addition, unlike other human characteristics, such as face and stature, fingerprints hardly change with age. Therefore, fingerprint is one of the most convincing evidence in the scene of crime.
Decades ago, fingerprint technicians had to use magnifiers to check the fingerprints obtained from the crime scene, comparing them with numerous fingerprint records in the database. To finish such onerous work, they often needed several months and could eventually find alike ones. Fortunately, the advance of computer science has successfully solved this problem.
Using Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS) to do the same work needs only five minutes. "Automated Fingerprint Identification is the process of automatically matching one or many unknown fingerprints against a database of known and unknown prints." (Wikipedia) After the fingerprints are scanned and input to computer, it can find out alike fingerprints and their owner's information, or tell the fingerprint technician that there is no identical fingerprint in the database.
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Picture Reference:
1.https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwihz5L5turOAhUGPiYKHYHzB80QjRwIBw&url=https%3A%2F%2Fforensicsciencelaw12.wikispaces.com%2FFingerprints&psig=AFQjCNESbscuiZFA63gn3okDGszh7H4eNA&ust=1472690815472547
2.http://usa.selex-comms.com/internet/localization/IPC/media/images/Afis1.jpg
Writing Reference:
1.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automated_Fingerprint_Identification_System
2.http://baike.baidu.com/link?url=_qCsSkKxql5os-3vydxmp_ZhaiBxtdRQ21x351eRdtSVpc6KcvQlo1Ow6Xur4R62z4OsR5KZYm3Sb_t8C0k2WK
