Analyzing the future of iris scanning technology

Although biometric technology has only been used for a short time, there have been many negative reports about it. Many companies and security experts believe that fingerprint technology has problems, so they do not want to use it. Another issue is cost considerations. Therefore, if there is a technology that can reduce maintenance costs, reduce management difficulties and ensure security, will the majority of users accept it?

Problems with fingerprint technology

Fingerprint scanning solutions once promised to solve the problems posed by passwords. Whether as a standalone solution or as part of a two-factor authentication solution, using fingerprint technology is a great idea. However, practice over the years has shown that the challenges faced by early adopters still exist today:

Sensors Cost. If they worked as advertised, this wouldn’t be a problem. However, it’s the hidden costs of these hardware and software that are the problem.

Users touch the sensor too often . In manufacturing and other environments where there are impurities in the air or on hands, sensors will quickly become unusable. And if they are not unusable, they are often preceded by a line of frustrated users because the person at the front of the line cannot get confirmation from the system. In addition, today's users have learned that touching a device used by someone else may be risky. No one knows if the person in front of them has a disease and could spread it through contact. Even if the risk is very low, users may not necessarily accept it as management does.

Then there is the question of security. We have seen time and again how dumb fingerprint systems are. Yes, there are security solutions that can protect against these types of attacks. But given the price, how many companies are willing to upgrade?

There are other problems with fingerprint biometrics, but these are enough to explain why it has let us down.

The promise of iris scanning technology

Iris scanning technology seems to have solved these problems. It solves the challenges in the list by reducing management costs, user resistance and improving accuracy. Before showing its advantages, let's take a look at how iris scanning technology works.

As shown in Figure A (from howstuffworks.com, courtesy of Iris Technology), the iris is the colored part of the eye. It is as unique to an individual as the retina or fingerprint. Unlike the retina, which is located at the back of the eye and requires a deeper scan, the iris is easily scanned using simple camera technology.

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Figure A

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The iris scanning sensor does not require contact with the body. As shown in Figure B (Gearfuse.com), the user only needs to approach a specific area to complete image collection and analysis.

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Figure B

The scans used in this technology are the same as those used in digital cameras. And as the technology has improved, so have the effectiveness of iris scanners . Today, iris scans are as accurate as finger or hand geometry scans.

Finally, the technology can achieve system-level anti-counterfeiting. As an access control method, is it impossible to defeat? The answer is of course no. However, it is very difficult to crack it using today's technology.

Still facing challenges

As the old adage tells us, nothing is perfect. There are still some obstacles to the widespread adoption of iris scanning as a replacement for other types of biometrics:

1. Excessive cost. The device shown in Figure B costs more than $2,400. This is a large number compared to most fingerprint solutions.

2. As part of a two-factor system, the use of sensors is a bit cumbersome when users log in through the desktop. Although many manufacturers also provide USB cables based on personal computers, this technology is more like a physical security application in the short term.

The future of iris scanning technology

Despite the challenges, iris scanning and facial recognition technologies are becoming more common, especially in the physical security field, where we can already see their use in airports and government agencies.

In order to process a large amount of unique information, a biometric solution must be fast and non-invasive. For example, the mobile iris scanner (IOM) provided by Sanaf can scan 30 people at a distance of several feet in one minute. During the scanning process, the user does not even need to stop. In comparison, high-end hand or fingerprint scanners can only authenticate 10 to 15 people per minute.

Contactless scanning is the future of biometrics. Iris scanning technology is positioned to play a central role.