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Iris recognition system is considered to be the most trusted and reliable biometric security solution around the world. There are many facts and myths that surround iris biometrics. This article looks into various facts regarding iris recognition systems.
Iris technology is the most trusted and reliable biometric security solution. Financial transactions and enterprise log-in are now using iris biometrics. Automated identity verification and strong credentials are the most considered features when it comes to biometrics. In principle, iris technology can be easily understood. The image of an eye is captured and the iris part is separated out. The iris pattern is then changed to a binary template and is stored in the database. The templates are used for authentication. If templates don’t match there’s a high degree of confidence that the template wasn’t created from the same eye.
Human iris has a unique pattern and characteristics. A match between irises can be detected if a simple test of statistical independence between the two templates fails. The most common technique is to calculate Hamming Distance, a procedure based on an exclusive OR comparison between the binary digits of the templates. The human eye offers potentially more than 250 degrees of freedom. Screencheck, leading distributors of biometric solutions in Dubai explains fact and myths surrounding the iris recognition system.
1. Scanning with a laser
People have a popular misconception that iris technology uses a laser beam scanned across the eyes. That is not actually the case. Iris recognition system uses an invisible infrared light which is used to take the image of the eye. The user can see a dim red glow on the scanner. The frequency of the light is too high for humans to notice and doesn’t affect them.
2. Image of the eye
Iris recognition is also known as retinal recognition. Inside the eye, on the back surface lies the retina. A tissue which detects light coming in through the pupil and translates it into neural impulses. Retinal imaging is a difficult process which needs close proximity of the subject. The regular eye test uses retinal photography, the vein structure can reveal a lot about the health of the individual.
3. Laser Pain
Iris cameras illuminate the eyes for a fraction of time with eye-safe LEDs, using NIR- just below the visible band between 750-900nm. Lasers are not employed in iris technology. Years before, LED was classified along with lasers. But now they have their own classification.
4. Every Iris
Every human iris is different and unique. The Indian government ran Universal Identity scheme across India and collected over 1 billion individual data. Iris scanning was made essential for everyone. The iris has proven to be the single strongest method of ensuring that enrollments into the UID database are unique and not duplicated.
5. Identical Twins
Identical twins have two different iris patterns even though they have the same DNA. The left and the right eye of every individual is different.
6. Medical condition
Studies are still happening to link the iris pattern with general body conditions. Studies have shown that the iris structure is stable within a few months of birth. Iridology, which in alternative health practice claims to be able to recognize illness from the iris, hasn’t been proven in any medical studies, and moreover relates to the iris colour.
7. Eye dilution drop
Some individuals found that using eye dilation drops before the scan could make a fake identity. This happened because the iris texture with the pupil heavily dilated was an insufficient match. This was fixed by checking the iris-to-pupil diameter ratio.
8. Sensor and Lens size
Iris recognition systems vary in size in accordance with its employed environment. Access control system and airport use large commercially available iris recognition systems. Lens and sensors are now manufactured in micro-level that can be used in mobile devices.
9. Colour and Age
NIR illumination is used to make sure that the iris recognition can work accurately on all eye colours. In the dark coloured eye, the melanin pigment protecting the iris won’t allow light to reach the visible spectrum. As far as ageing is considered, the iris is protected by the cornea.
Studies show that iris are remarkably stable. Few recent research pointed out that small changes happen to iris-recognition performance over the years. But statistical reports say that true recognition performance isn’t hampered and doesn’t inquire about many changes. Small variations observed in Hamming Distance scores could be accounted for by environmental and equipment effects.
Screencheck is one of the leading providers of iris recognition system in Dubai. Before you implement iris system for security, its important to understand the biometric system completely.
