All Those in Favor Say, "Eye!"

DerKlempner writes "Space.com is spotlighting a newer, cheaper type of eye-scanning device called the Authenticam. Developed by Iridian Technologies, the Authenticam, instead of scanning the subject's retina, scans the iris of the person it's trying to identify. What makes it most interesting is its price: approximately $300. So, how long before you'll need a password AND an 'eye exam' to log into your school's computer?"

Comments

How does it tell if you are a living being...

[human bean]

or a glass eyeball? Or an organic, freshly removed eyeball? Or an eyeball still firmly attached to it's eyesocket, which is in turn attached to a head, which in turn is being aimed at by a gun?

Retina scanners are not fooled by dead eyeballs because the various fluid pressures involved cause the retina to look a certain way. Does the iris change signifigantly after removal? Don't know, but I am sure we will find out, just after sombody is fool enough to use one of these things to lock up something valuable.

When are folks going to get it through their mental filters? You have to be able to give away value (or access to...) as a last resort to avoid violence or coersion. To do otherwise is a safety hazard, and should be viewed as irresponsible.

Do you have to take your contacts out to have this item work? Glasses on or off? Folks with glass eyes? Cataracts? Blind people?

Not to mention the question of whether the iris pattern is truly exclusive. It is one thing to say it is, but has anybody done any serious sized studies (n>100,000)?

Plus, the iris of a person's eye is visible from the outside of their body. Can a good photo portrait be used to fake a key? Doubt it, but it might be possible.