Iris recognition is a method used to verify a person’s identity, kind of like a fingerprint. Iris recognition has been featured in movies like Demolition Man, Minority Report and Angles and Demons , but did you know that researchers have developed the technology and that it is actually in use today?
Briefly, iris recognition is a process by which a photograph is taken of a person’s eye and the structure of the iris is compared pixel by pixel with an image on file. Matches have been shown to be extremely accurate using this technique.
Iris recognition is currently in use in several international airports for immigration purposes and also for “passwords” to log into a computer.
Scientists hope to use this technology for many things in the future including forensic and police applications as well as for entry into buildings and automobile ignitions!
