Iris recognition is ideal for high security applications

(11/06/2002)

“Yes, we’re all individuals,” shouts the crowd in unison in the Monty Python film, Life of Brian. And the really funny thing is, they were right. Despite uncanny resemblances, phenomena such as identical twins and high degrees of similarity, we humans possess enough characteristics that differ for us to be able to truly say that we are all unique individuals.

But, how do we prove this? Or more importantly get a machine to recognise these differences? This us where the newly emerging field of biometric systems comes in.

‘Biometrics’ originally referred to the use of statistical and mathematical models applicable to data analysis problems in the biological sciences. Analysis of data from agricultural field experiments to compare the yields of different varieties of wheat, for example. More recently ‘biometrics’ has been used to refer to the automatic identification of an individual based on their physiological or biological traits and this is more likely to be the sense now understood by the public.

A biometric system is essentially a pattern recognition system which makes a personal identification by determining the authenticity of a specific physiological or behavioural characteristic possessed by the user. Various types of biometric systems are in use including face recognition, fingerprint matching, hand geometry and retinal and iris scanning.

Of all these systems, iris scanning and recognition is the most accurate, stable and non-invasive authentication technology. The iris is the coloured ring of tissue surrounding the pupil of the eye and is the most mathematically distinct feature of the human body. It is stable and remains unchanged throughout life. It is claimed that the patterns in the human iris are more distinct than DNA (identical twins have the same DNA but different iris patterns). The iris pattern even differs between an individual’s right and left eye.

In the mid 1990s, Dr John Daugman OBE of Cambridge University developed and patented the iris recognition algorithms.

Iris identification uses a standard camera to take a picture of the eye. It does not use lasers and therefore has none of the inherent risks associated with this technology. It does not require physical contact and works from a comfortable distance away. Once the picture has been taken, the iris pattern is processed and encoded by the software into a 512-byte IrisCode record, which is immediately encrypted and cannot be reverse-engineered. This record is based on 247 independent variables (or degrees of freedom-DOF) that are measured for each iris. Other biometrics, such as fingerprinting typically measure less than 100 independent variables.

The IrisCode record is stored and used for recognition in any transaction when a live iris is presented for comparison. Typically identification time averages about two seconds.

Thanks largely to the movies, iris scanning is frequently confused with retina scanning. It shouldn’t be, the two are completely different. Retina scanning uses a laser to scan the blood vessels at the back of the retina. It’s very intrusive and there have been cases where eyes have been damaged as a result. Iris scanning uses harmless infrared and works from a comfortable distance away. Hollywood would also have us believe that if we somehow extracted someone’s eye and presented it to the machine, it would trick the system. Afraid not; it has to be a live iris with blood flowing through the capillaries that is presented for comparison.

Controlling access to a building clearly also controls that building’s security. But you don’t want to install a system that holds people up unduly, requires lengthy and potentially dangerous scanning procedures and which is subject to a high error rate. Panasonic’s ‘one glance’ automatic iris recognition system eliminates all these problems and provides smoother, smarter, more secure access and entry management.

As its name implies, the ‘one glance’ system simply involves looking once at a wall-mounted camera. The camera scans the iris and automatically captures its details to match against stored patterns. There is no need to hold the body in a certain way or the eyes in a certain fixed position. One clear look at the camera is sufficient. Pattern matching and identification takes approximately one second.

The system is adapted for use with two cameras so that the first (a wide-angle camera) recognises the face while the second (a telephoto) zooms in on the iris to capture its image and begin the identification process. In both cases, users simply stand briefly in front of the camera; there is no physical contact required. The amount of infrared illumination used is very weak and the system has already passed all current legislation regarding eye safety and health.

Iris recognition technology is ideal for high security applications because of its extremely low error rate (typically less than one in one hundred thousand) which ensures highly precise individual identification. Confusion with another individual is virtually impossible. Iris recognition offers significant advantages over other less accurate biometric methods such as fingerprints, voice and facial recognition, hand geometry and keystroke analysis.

As well as providing probably the ultimate in high security, iris recognition also offers a number of other significant benefits. It obviates the need for ID cards or passwords, providing huge time and cost savings in password maintenance alone. The system can also be set up easily and can expand comfortably to accommodate a growing number of users.

The Panasonic connection

Panasonic’s ‘one glance’ access control camera incorporates Iridian’s PrivateID software which processes the iris pattern and encodes it into a 512 byte IrisCode record (much like a barcode). The records are stored and compared against other IrisCode records for recognition when a live iris is presented for comparison. The patented analytics check for some 240 variables, (other similar technology use less variables). There is an easy enrolment process and identification takes just seconds.

Panasonic’s ‘one-glance’ iris recognition access control system is ideal for any application or site where it is important to restrict access. Some typical users include:
- Financial institutions-where access to safe safety deposit and box rooms is crucial.
- Laboratories and factories-storage rooms, night/holiday control, drugs or dangerous materials.
- Offices-data storage rooms, secure meeting rooms, executive offices.
- Airport and harbour facilities-staff gates, control rooms, workshops.
- Police, Prisons, Courts.

Related topics:  Access Control   Security industry 

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