Iris Recognition at a Greater Distance
Speaking of iris recognition (see some of our more recent posts), an online magazine called Space War is reporting that a technology manufacturer based out of California has developed an iris recognition system that can scan from a distance of more than 6 feet from the subject. AOptix Technologies Inc. made the announcement a couple weeks ago, and Space War calls it an “immediate gain for defense and security industries, corporate access control and management, and immigration checks.”
With so much money currently cycling through the military industrial complex and new themes of homeland security that have become commonplace in our daily news, it’s no wonder that companies are stepping up production and making leaps and bounds when it comes to biometrics in regards to personal safety. Biometrics help with identity fraud as well – another crime that seems to pop up more and more as our lives become more automated.
The Global Security Operations Center at Microsoft has apparently selected the InSight 2-Meter Iris Recognition System made by AOptix Technologies for use in its facility in Redmond, Washington.
The iris recognition system has the ability to scan subjects’ irises from a distance of 6.6 feet, automating the biometric imaging process and providing consistent verification of a subject’s identity in two seconds. The article doesn’t say if the subject needs to stand still for the duration of the scan.
I would imagine the advantage of distance would only be truly advantageous if the device could scan a person’s iris while they were in motion. If they have to stop to have a proper consenting scan, then the ability to cover a longer distance might not matter as much (see one of our previous posts at Eye Tracking Update for a story on nose tracking and the benefits of candidly scanning passers-by).
Still, the new system employs “innovative adaptive optics technology” that can automatically locate a subject’s face and eyes, boasting a larger than normal capture volume, which makes for easier scanning. According to the company, the increased recognition space makes it easier to scan people of different heights – ranging from someone in a wheelchair to someone standing at an excess of 7 feet.
Microsoft has three global security centers, based in the United Kingdom and India in addition the United States’ location. They maintain 24 hour monitoring capabilities, communicating and coordinating responses for more than 700 sites worldwide. For a company with such a large security periphery, this is indeed a big deal for AOptix Technologies.
New iris recognition device unveiled
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