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Public Iris Scanning Device In the Works

Posted by kdawson on from the road-you're-on-john-anderton dept.

Nonfinity writes "A public iris scanning device has been proposed in a patent application from Sarnoff Labs in New Jersey. The device is able to scan the iris of the eye without the knowledge or consent of the person being scanned. The device uses multiple cameras, captures multiple images, and then selects the best image to process."

6 of 154 comments (clear)

  1. Won't Work by giafly · · Score: 4, Interesting

    The problem, says Davies, is the limited accuracy of biometric systems combined with the sheer number of people to be identified. The most optimistic claims for iris recognition systems are around 99 per cent accuracy - so for every 100 scans, there will be at least one false match.

    This is acceptable for relatively small databases, but the one being proposed will have some 60 million records. This will mean that each person's scan will match 600,000 records in the database, making it impossible to stop someone claiming multiple identities. - new scientist
    Please can someone design one of those standard forms for these bogus ID schemes - like the one with all the reasons why anti-spam technologies won't work.
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  2. With technology this new by Neuropol · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Do we know that repeated retina scanning is healthy for our eyes?

  3. Contact lenses with fake iris images? by dpbsmith · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Contact lenses that alter eye color are already in popular, widespread use.

    How hard would it be to construct a contact lens with a unique, fake, computer-generated iris image (no idea how you'd do that, but "fractals" sounds like a good buzzword to insert here)? Sound like it would be a lot easier than fake fingerprints.

    In a situation where you knew you were being scanned, the officials might say "I see you're wearing contacts, remove them please," but I don't quite see an airport saying "no contact lenses allowed in this airport..." particular if the idea is that the scanning is supposed to be surreptitious.

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  4. Lots of questions remain by Shivetya · · Score: 3, Interesting

    specifically about implementing something this.

    Identifying who you scanned. sure you can scan an iris without their knowledge but unless you have the pattern stored how will you know who it is? Perhaps do it at a register and match it to the card/id used? That would be underhanded to say the least.

    Storage, how much space per pattern? What is the speed of comparison to a large database? Something that is quick enough to focus ads (for the minority report fans) would require serious processing power.

    I could see it in small settings, say a business who needs a less instrusive means of security. Scan all your employees and only let them in, if accompanied by those who cannot be matched then don't admit to sensitive areas. However in the general public setting, costs for equipment to store millions of scans and process them fast enough to be meaningful is still aways off.

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  5. I've previewed this technology back in 2005. by waif69 · · Score: 3, Interesting

    The system had a problem with people who blinked too much. I had to sit in front of the camera and remain still and it took a picture of my eye a few times before it got a good enough image. Out of 5 people who participated, all but one had to have multiple pictures taken.

    I just can't see this system being used with cameras that randomly take pictures from varying distances and work, unless the cameras and software improved quite a bit in the past two years.

  6. IED by SnackmasterMusic · · Score: 3, Interesting
    Why, all the better to remote detonate you with, Granny!

    Which terrorist group will detonate our beloved freedom fighters with this first?

    "and when I gave them cell phones, they could not get enough...

    generating the database is simple, just use the network of driver's license ID cameras.

    the only good news is the economics of technology mean this will be first used by high-value targets against other high-value targets. Think large-scale corporate wars vs. vengeful government agencies...with the rest of us as collateral damage.

    and- which foreign state will get access to our database first?

    on the other hand, think of how many more dead soldiers we will be able to recognize on the battle field! yay!