Methods, apparatuses, and systems to identify biometric characteristics of people and things are disclosed. Embodiments generally comprise sensors that contain arrays of pads or electrodes. In various embodiments, current or voltage sources generate quantum tunneling currents from the arrays of pads to biometric components using select elements as ground return paths. In many embodiments, currents sources apply varying magnitudes of voltages to individual pads in the arrays to create the quantum tunneling currents. In these embodiments, the sensors or electronics coupled to the sensors create voltage profiles of the biometric components by measuring the individual magnitudes of voltages. In some embodiments the individual magnitudes of voltages may be acquired via accumulation state machines and stored in random access memory. In many embodiments, the profiles are compared with other voltage profiles to identify people. Some embodiments involve granting access to computing services when the profile matches a known profile.