Iris recognition technology

IriScan Inc. has for the past two years, been developing an identification/verification system capable of positively identifying and verifying the identity of individuals without physical contact or a person in the loop. Personal identification has historically been based on what a person possesses (a card); knows (a Personal Identification Number); or is (an inherent physiological or behavioral characteristic). Facial features (both infra-red signatures and geometry), fingerprints, hand geometry, vein patterns, retinal patterns, voice patterns, and signature dynamics have all been explored as biometric identifiers with varying levels of success. All but voice end facial recognition require contact or have been characterized by some as invasive or intrusive. Many have suffered from high cost and unsatisfactory error rates. A new technology, using the unique patterns of the human Iris, shows promise of overcoming previous shortcomings and providing positive identification of an individual without contact or invasion, at extremely high confidence levels. The video-based system locates the eye and Iris; evaluates the degree of occlusion by eyelid and spectral reflection; determines the quality of image focus; and determines the center and boundary of the pupil and the limbus (outer edge of the iris) for processing