Iris Recognition: Disadvantages

As we all know, new technologies are created with to goal to render our lives easier and better. With all new technologies, perfection is something that is far obtainable because we will eventually find some flaws in it. As for the Iris recognition technology, an emerging biometric device, we have already found a few problems associated with it. These include its difficulty in performing the test at a distance larger than a few meters (1). Although no physical contact is needed for the recognition of the individual, the distance between the camera and the person’s iris cannot go beyond a certain limit.

Also, in situations where the person to be identified does not cooperate by holding his head still and looking toward the camera at the proper distance and position, recognition of the iris may be erroneous and as such, identification of the person will as well be affected (2). Matching of the person’s iris to the database may be rendered difficult or inaccurate. Similar to other photographic biometric technologies, Iris recognition is still susceptible to poor image quality.

Because this technology is still fairly new, the costs of installation and recognition devices may be very expensive and as such, not all industrial fields will have the means to upgrade to these new technologies (2). Another problem related to Iris recognition involves people who are blind but have eyes and are unable to position themselves properly in front of the device for identity authentication (3). As for people who lacks eyes, this technology may not be employed and thus, these people must rely on other technologies such as finger print recognition when using ATM or traveling (3).

(1) http://www.cl.cam.ac.uk/~jgd1000/addisadvans.html

(2) http://www.peoplekey.com.au/biometrics_tutor/iris.htm

(3) http://www.icdri.org/biometrics/iris_biometrics.htm

Iris Recognition: Advantages

Currently used by the border agency in the United Kingdom, Iris recognition immigration system (IRIS)is a powerful and secure mean for tightly controlling the entries of passengers into the country(1). This technology takes advantages of the unique features of the iris displayed by distinct individuals to allow the rapid and accurate recognition and identification of each registered individual (1).
Several countries are making use of this technology in the banking sector due to its ability to resist fraud and stolen identity (2). By replacing password that are often forgotten or stolen, Iris Recognition requires that the person be present at the moment of transaction and thus, ensures that the operation is authentically performed by the authorized individual only (2).
Health care area can also benefit from Iris recognition system by allowing fast and easy access to patient’s confidential information (picture of patient’s eye), avoiding sources of error from staff members (taking the wrong file) (3). This technology will at the same time restrict the access to certain area in the health care facility and to certain patients’ rooms (3). A record of health care workers’ activity may also be recorded to provide information as to who has accessed the confidential information (3). This rapid and easy to use technology replacing paper works and personal identification number in various industries will lower the amount of error due to human source and at the same time, solve the issues surrounding fraud, privacy and most importantly, provide a superior level of protection and security.

(1) http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/managingborders/technology/iris/
(2) http://www.findbiometrics.com/Pages/iris_articles/iris_1.html
(3) http://www.admiraltech.com/apps_healthcare.htm

Iris Recognition: Current and future potential uses

Iris recognition device is a growing technology in our modern era. Its applications are highly diverse, from business use to national security issues. The technology is qualified as versatile and extremely accurate (1).

Application of the Iris recognition system can be implemented into access control, public safety and justice, national identity, time and attendance, transportation as well as immigration purposes (1). This growing technology is currently being use in the United Arab Emirate for the border control , replacing the customs’ traditional method, they call it: The UAE Iris Expellees Tracking and Border Control System (2). Similar use is being implemented in Canada and the United States, known as CanPass and Nexus program (3). Several European countries as well as Japan and the US have started introducing Iris recognition in areas of banking and money transaction, as a replacement for personal identification numbers to reduce incidences of fraud and identity theft (4).

Further development of the technology may one day allow the replacement of most of the digital print systems as well as signatures for credit card or medical card. Most identification system can be replaced by a biometric recognition system with the aim of increasing the level of accuracy and security.

(1) http://www.lgiris.com/ps/solutions/index.htm

(2)http://www.biometrics.org/bc2005/Presentations/Conference/2%20Tuesday%20September%2020/Tue_Ballroom%20B/Lt.%20Mohammad%20UAE2005.pdf

(3) www.getnexus.com/

(4) http://www.findbiometrics.com/Pages/iris_articles/iris_1.html

Iris Recognition: What is it?

As an emerging biometric device that is expanding rapidly, iris recognition is a new identification technology that is founded on the authentication of an individual through the recognition of the iris pattern, unique to every individual (1). Unique features of the iris is due to its high complexity, combined with high degree of randomness and variation, giving each individual a distinct pattern for recognition (3).
Contrarily to facial recognition that is much less accurate due to the continuous facial changes occurring as one ages, the iris of a person is more likely to be constant because most of its structural characteristics are formed before the end of one's gestational period (2) and although it is exposed to the external environment, this structure is also protected by eyelids to prevent damages (2).
This biometric technology works by taking a monochromatic picture of an individual's iris, taking into account the position of the iris to leave out eye lashes or other noises that would decrease the recognition accuracy and efficiency (1).
The pattern captured by the camera is then translated into an IrisCode (1). Recognition works by comparing an individual's IrisCode with those previously recorded into the database and the degree of difference is then measured as Hamming Distance (1). This statistical independence test implicates that a certain threshold (difference of IrisCodes below 1/3 of the bytes) needs to be reached in order to confirm that the pair of IrisCodes originated from the same iris, and thus same individual (1).


(1) http://www.biometrics.gov/Documents/IrisRec.pdf
(2) http://www.cl.cam.ac.uk/~jgd1000/irisrecog.pdf
(3) http://www.icdri.org/biometrics/iris_biometrics.htm