The Eye
Historical Information:
The eye was not commonly used to identify people. The eye color of a criminal is usually noted for descriptions. However, it was never used as a main identifying feature.
Currently, the identification of people through eyes is considered more promising than the fingerprint. The iris, for instance, has 266 characteristics, while fingerprints only have 40.
Current Uses of the Eye in Biometrics:
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Retina Scanning
- The retina is the back of the eye that reacts to light and helps interpret it before the brain receives it.
Each retina has a unique vein pattern for every human being, including identical twins. Though it is genetic, it does
develop some random patterns. It can be destroyed only by serious injuries. A person looks into a small green light,
and the camera senses the veins' absorbing andreflecting properties. The problem is that people are uncomfortable having
a camera look at their veins in their eye. Eye-Dentify uses this method and it
is currently available. Retina scanning was also in the new movie "Entrapment."
Iris Recognition
- This type of biometrics is considered the most promising. The iris is the colored part of the eye and its patterns are
created by connective tissues. Every human being has a different iris since there are 266 characteristics. A camera images
the eye. It excludes obstructions such as the eyelids, eyeglasses, even contact lenses. After the iris is imaged, an
algorithim(wavelet analysis) turns it into a code called "IrisCode," based off the mapping of the iris by a coordinate
system. This IrisCode™ is compared withother codes in a database. IriScan, Inc.
is the exclusive owner and developer of iris recognition technology. IriScan(R) technology is licensed to other companies
for integration into OEM-developed products. Sensar, Inc. is one such licensed partner;
LG Electronics is another.
Isolation of an iris for encoding, and its resulting "IrisCode record."
Close up of the resulting IrisCode record.
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