Types of Fingerprint Readers
 
  There are four primary types of fingerprint scanners: Optical Scanners: How they work:  Use a light source (LED) and a camera to capture an image of the fingerprint's ridges and valleys. Pros:  Relatively inexpensive and easy to manufacture.  Cons:  Can be susceptible to dirt, moisture, and spoofing attempts using fake fingerprints made from materials like gelatin or Play-Doh.  Capacitive Scanners:  How they work:  Measure the changes in electrical capacitance caused by the ridges and valleys of a finger placed on a sensor. Pros:  More resistant to dirt and moisture than optical scanners, and generally more accurate.  Cons:  Can be more expensive to produce. Ultrasonic Scanners:  How they work:  Emit high-frequency sound waves that penetrate the skin's surface and map the fingerprint's 3D structure. Pros:  Highly accurate and resistant to spoofing attempts.  Cons:  More expensive and complex to manufacture. Thermal Scanners:  How they work:  Detect the temperature differe...