Iris Recognition Biometric Authentication
Information
 
Iris scan biometrics employs the unique characteristics and features of the human iris in order to verify the identity
of an individual. The iris is the area of the eye where the pigmented or coloured circle, usually brown or blue, rings
the dark pupil of the eye.

The iris-scan process begins with a photograph. A specialized camera, typically very close to the subject, no more
than three feet, uses an infrared imager to illuminate the eye and capture a very high-resolution photograph. This
process takes only one to two seconds and provides the details of the iris that are mapped, recorded and stored for
future matching/verification.

Eyeglasses and contact lenses present no problems to the quality of the image and the iris-scan systems test for a
live eye by checking for the normal continuous fluctuation in pupil size.

The inner edge of the iris is located by an iris-scan algorithm which maps the iris’ distinct patterns and
characteristics. An algorithm is a series of directives that tell a biometric system how to interpret a specific
problem. Algorithms have a number of steps and are used by the biometric system to determine if a biometric
sample and record is a match.

Iris’ are composed before birth and, except in the event of an injury to the eyeball, remain unchanged throughout an
individual’s lifetime. Iris patterns are extremely complex, carry an astonishing amount of information and have
over 200 unique spots. The fact that an individual’s right and left eyes are different and that patterns are easy to
capture, establishes iris-scan technology as one of the biometrics that is very resistant to false matching and fraud.

The false acceptance rate for iris recognition systems is 1 in 1.2 million, statistically better than the average
fingerprint recognition system. The real benefit is in the false-rejection rate, a measure of authenticated users who
are rejected. Fingerprint scanners have a 3 percent false-rejection rate, whereas iris scanning systems boast ratees at
the 0 percent level.

Iris-scan technology has been piloted in ATM environments in England, the US, Japan and Germany since as early
as 1997. In these pilots the customer’s iris data became the verification tool for access to the bank account, thereby
eliminating the need for the customer to enter a PIN number or password. When the customer presented their
eyeball to the ATM machine and the identity verification was positive, access was allowed to the bank account.
These applications were very successful and eliminated the concern over forgotten or stolen passwords and
received tremendously high customer approval ratings.

Airports have begun to use iris-scanning for such diverse functions as employee identification/verification for
movement through secure areas and allowing registered frequent airline passengers a system that enables fast and
easy identity verification in order to expedite their path through passport control.

Other applications include monitoring prison transfers and releases, as well as projects designed to authenticate on-
line purchasing, on-line banking, on-line voting and on-line stock trading to name just a few. Iris-scan offers a high
level of user security, privacy and general peace of mind for the consumer.

A highly accurate technology such as iris-scan has vast appeal because the inherent argument for any biometric is,
of course, increased security

 
Benefits of Using Iris Technology

 The iris is a thin membrane on the interior of the eyeball. Iris patterns are extremely complex.

 Patterns are individual (even in fraternal or identical twins).

 Patterns are formed by six months after birth, stable after a year. They remain the same for life.

 Imitation is almost impossible.

 Patterns are easy to capture and encode

Technology Comparison

Misidentification
Method Coded Pattern Security Applications
rate

Iris High-security
Iris pattern 1/1,200,000 High
Recognition facilities
 Fingerprinting Fingerprints 1/1,000 Medium Universal

Size, length and Low-security

Hand Shape 1/700 Low
thickness of hands facilities

Outline, shape and

Facial Low-security
distribution of eyes 1/100 Low
Recognition facilities
and nose

Shape of letters,
Low-security
Signature writing order, pen 1/100 Low
facilities
pressure

Telephone
Voiceprinting Voice characteristics 1/30 Low
service

Source: AIM Japan, Automatic Identification Seminar, Sept.14, 2001

 
Iris-Scan: How it Works

Dr. John Daugman's work in iris recognition form the basis of this information. Information and images found on
his website, http://www.cl.cam.ac.uk/users/jgd1000, are presented below. 

Iris recognition leverages the unique features of the human iris to perform identification and, in certain cases,
verification.  
The Iris

Iris recognition is based on visible (via regular and/or infrared light) qualities of the iris. A primary visible
characteristic is the trabecular meshwork (permanently formed by the 8th month of gestation), a tissue which gives
the appearance of dividing the iris in a radial fashion. Other visible characteristics include rings, furrows, freckles,
and the corona, to cite only the more familiar.  

IrisCodeTM

Expressed simply, iris recognition technology converts these visible characteristics as a phase sequence into a 512
byte IrisCode(tm), a template stored for future identification attempts. From the iris' 11mm diameter, Dr.
Daugman's algorithms provide 3.4 bits of data per square mm. This density of information is such that each iris can
be said to have 266 'degrees of freedom', as opposed to 13-60 for traditional biometric technologies. This '266'
measurement is cited in most iris recognition literature; after allowing for the algorithm's correlative functions and
for characteristics inherent to most human eyes, Dr. Daugman concludes that 173 "independent binary degrees-of-
freedom" can be extracted from his algorithm - an exceptionally large number for a biometric. A key differentiator
of iris-scan technology is the fact that 512 byte templates are generated for every iris, which facilitates match speed
(capable of matching over 500,000 templates per second) 

Iris Acquisition 

The first step is location of the iris by a dedicated camera no more than 3 feet from the eye. After the camera
situates the eye, the algorithm narrows in from the right and left of the iris to locate its outer edge. This horizontal
approach accounts for obstruction caused by the eyelids. It simultaneously locates the inner edge of the iris (at the
pupil), excluding the lower 90° because of inherent moisture and lighting issues. 
 

Iris-Scan Issues

Iris-scan technology requires reasonably controlled and cooperative user interaction - the enrollee must hold still in
a certain spot, even if only momentarily. Many users struggle to interact with the system until they become
accustomed to its operations. In applications whose user interaction is frequent (e.g. employee physical access), the
technology grows easier to use; however, applications in which user interaction is infrequent (e.g. national ID) may
encounter ease-of-use issues. Over time, with improved acquisition devices, this issue should grow less
problematic. 

The accuracy claims associated with iris-scan technology may overstate the real-world efficacy of the technology.
Because the claimed equal error rates are derived from assessment and matching of ideal iris images (unlike those
acquired in the field), actual results may not live up to the astronomical projections provided by leading suppliers
of the technology. 

Lastly, since iris technology is designed to be an identification technology, fallback procedures may not be as fully
developed as in a verification deployment (users accustomed to identification may not carry necessary ID, for
example). Though these issues do not reduce the effectiveness of iris recognition technology, they must be kept in
mind should a company decide to implement on iris-based solution.

Iris-Scan Applications

Iris-scan technology has traditionally been deployed in high-security employee-facing physical access
implementations, although 2002 saw a number of novel, high-profile iris-scan deployments in new applications.
Iridian - the technology’s primary developer - is dedicated to moving the technology to the desktop, and has had
some success in small-scale logical access deployments. The most prominent recent deployments of iris-scan
technology have been passenger authentication programs at airports in the U.S., U.K., Amsterdam, and Iceland; the
technology is also used in corrections applications in the U.S. to identify inmates. A number of developing
countries are considering iris-scan technology for national ID and other large-scale 1:N applications, although to
date it is still believed that the largest deployed Iridian database spans under 100,000 enrollees. Notable iris-scan
applications include the following. 

Project Vertical Horizontal Application

Location Additional Description
Description Sector Application Description
Afghan refugees receive
Iris in
Pakistan Government Civil ID Tracking assistance package on first
Pakistan
enrollment through UNHCR
Iris Pilot - Travel and Iris piloted for employee access
US-MA Phys Acc/T&A Physical Access
Logan Transportation to security office (LG3000)
Travel and
JFK Iris Pilot US-NY Phys Acc/T&A Physical Access 1 door to tarmac protected
Transportation
City Hospital
of Bad Access control to infant center
Germany Health care Phys Acc/T&A Physical Access
Reichenhall in to prevent kidnappings
Bavaria
50k day workers enter
Singapore
Travel and Singapore from Malaysia daily
Border Singapore Government Physical Access
Transportation by motorcycle. Iris-scan does
Crossing
1:N
UK Passport Opt-in pilot to test iris
Office Iris UK Government Civil ID Passport acceptance, part of 6-mo public
Pilot comment period
Venerable 900-pupil school to use Iridian
Bede (UK) UK Education Retail/ATM/POS POS for library check-out and
School - Iris cafeteria payment
 
 
Iris-Scan Market Size

Though it is one of the later emerging technologies in the biometric market, iris-scan is set to grow substantially
through 2007. Iris-scan offers low false match rates and hands-free operation, and is the only viable alternative to
fingerprint technologies in 1:N applications where a single record must be located. Iris-scan's resistance to false
matches is offset somewhat by the the level of training required to use the system effectively. As such, iris-scan
will primarily be used in applications that require high levels of security, although convenience-driven deployments
(e.g. Privium) will continue. Iris-scan revenues are projected to grow from $16.2m in 2002 to $210.2m in 2007.
Iris-scan revenues are expected to comprise approximately 5% of the entire biometric market.

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Biometrics:  

Universality  

Uniqueness  

Permanence  

Collectability  

Performance  

Acceptability  

Face
H

Fingerprint

Hand geometry

M
Keystrokes

Hand veins

Iris

H
L

Retinal scan

Signature

Voice

M
L

Facial thermograph

Odor

DNA

H
L

Ear Canal