According to many security experts, iris recognition is likely the most fail-proof and high-tech security tool out there, which is why companies like Panasonic are jumping into the cargo of this possibly profitable ride. Panasonic’s BM-ET200 scanner is voice activated (with intimidating prompts like “stand up straight”) and identifies a user within 0.3 seconds. It can be modded to hold over 10,000 user records and is priced at about $2,500. It has been available for a few months already.
In order to gain authentication, the scanner uses a camera to take a picture of your iris, using an Infra Red-sensitive black and white camera (it can be as far as 20 inches away), while the user aligns the eye with the camera by directly focusing on a green light. It’s not supposed to burn your eyeballs off or anything like that.
Click after the jump for info regarding Panasonic's other iris scanners.
Iris recognition machines, according to Wikipedia, use “pattern recognition techniques based on high-resolution images of the irises of an individual's eyes.” These lead to structures converted into digital templates that result in mathematical formulas that correctly identify individuals at an incredible rate of success. As determined by the Daugman algorithm which is used in these systems, the false-accept rate is exactly zero. Not bad.
Panasonic has been in the business of iris scanning as long as the technology has been available. They came out with the Authenticam Iris Recognition Camera five years ago, for $239, and the previous model, the BM-ET330 (price unknown, at right), recognizes a user’s iris pattern in 0.8 second., It also includes an encrypted TCP/IP Interface, SDK availability, and an integrated analog CCTV camera. For more information on these items, check out the Panasonic site right here.
