Modern biometric verification technology has in large part started to supersede conventional passwords and PIN codes as the main form of authentication and identification of individuals in many different industries.
You might be surprised at the number of industries that already employ this ultra-advanced technology in different ways to enhance their security protocols and systems. From streamlining processes to reducing the risk of malicious activity, an iris scanner can create better outcomes in many different situations.
So, let’s talk about the top 5 industries that are benefitting from the use of iris scanning right now.
Iris Scanning Technology
To understand how this tech can be used in such a wide range of industries, it is first important to understand how iris scanning works. An iris scan uses the unique patterns that form inside of the colored part of the eye, as an identifying mechanism that is highly individual and reliable.
To be able to scan the iris of an eye, an iris scanning system uses a high-power infrared camera that can take images of the iris in intricate detail from a relatively short distance away. This kind of light also does not make the eye contract in the same way that conventional light would, allowing for both better and more user-friendly photography. The captured image might also go through basic processing to make it suitable for manipulation, like size adjustment, sharpness adjustment, and so on.
Next, the features of the iris would be extracted, which includes things like texture, patterns, and structure. These extractions would then be used to create a digital representation of the iris that the computer can work with. This is known as a biometric template.
Then, the template would be matched and compared against a set of similarly stored templates. Finally, the system would then perform the required action, which could be identifying the individual, allowing or preventing access to a space or system, and so on.
The Use of Iris Recognition in Industries
Now that we know how this technology works, let’s talk about the many industries that effectively use this technology to enhance their systems and processes in different ways:
1) Banking and Finance
Many banks, like Citibank for example, have started to use this tech for ATM access in some regions.
An iris scan provides a more secure method of authentication when accessing an account than conventional PIN codes, which can be copied, hacked, or even guessed. Thus, using such a system prevents fraud and misuse of accounts.
In addition, this form of authentication is also a lot more user-friendly and intuitive, as it requires much less effort on behalf of the user. They do not have to remember a random combination of PIN codes and risk losing access if they forget it.
2) Aviation and Airports
The majority of air travel requires extensive security procedures, which usually involve accurately identifying an individual by checking and cross-checking a large number of documents, to allow them entry to the plane. However, Dubai International Airport has started to use iris recognition to expedite immigration procedures on its premises.
Not only does the use of iris scans enhance security checks by greatly reducing the possibility of forgery and impersonation of individuals, but it also can work much faster than the above-mentioned conventional document checks. This means that customers can board much quicker onto their flights, which means that queues are reduced, and the overall load on staff at any given time is greatly reduced.
3) Education
A unique innovation is being made using this technology on many university campuses in Japan. They are using iris recognition technology to authenticate students during exams, to ensure fairness and reduce the risk of impersonation and cheating during them. Using the iris to allow entry ensures that only the individual who is meant to take the exam is allowed access to the exam room.
4) Healthcare
One of the more interesting use cases of this technology is inside hospitals. Some hospitals, like NYU Langone Health in America, are using iris scanning for patient check-in procedures to make them go much faster.
This form of iris verification allows for more accurate identification of patients, especially in situations where it is difficult to identify them otherwise, like if they are unconscious. This also means that patient medical information like allergies and previous history can be gained much faster compared to manual information gathering.
5) Law Enforcement
Many police departments across the United States and the United Kingdom are using iris scanning for more accurate identification of detainees and parolees.
Using iris verification for these purposes allows for much more accurate and quick identification of possible criminals and suspects in criminal cases. It also allows for better access control in secure spaces like correctional facilities.
Closing Thoughts
The use of access control and security are only the very basic of this technology’s use cases. As the public understanding of the tech increases, we can expect to see it in spaces we never would have thought to find it in.