Public Iris Scanning Device In the Works

Nonfinity writes "A public iris scanning device has been proposed in a patent application from Sarnoff Labs in New Jersey. The device is able to scan the iris of the eye without the knowledge or consent of the person being scanned. The device uses multiple cameras, captures multiple images, and then selects the best image to process."

Re:With technology this new

[daranz]

This device is not going to scan retinas, it does iris recognition [wikipedia.org]. And no, it doesn't really do anything to your eye besides taking a hi-res photo of it.

Re:Priorities?

[whathappenedtomonday]

So whose money will talk fastest, advertisers or Homeland Security?

DHS has $19,632,348,000 to spend for 2007 [loc.gov] for the Secure Border Initiative (SBI) alone, so I guess they'll win.

Re:Contact lenses with fake iris images?

[Minupla]

Already have them, although the iris isn't terribly natural.

http://www.9mmsfx.com/lenses.html [9mmsfx.com]

Re:With technology this new

[Forseti]

I think he means that it's impossible for someone to scan your retina without your knowledge, those types of scans are way too "up close and personal" for that. What we're talking about here is iris scanning, which is completely different and harmless. It's basically just a high-res, possibly long-range, photo of your Iris. (Colored portion of your eye.)

Link to project homepage

[Big Nothing]

http://www.sarnoff.com/products_services/governmen t_solutions/homeland_security/iris.asp [sarnoff.com]