Comment Re:Iris changes (Score 1) 322
Every biometric has an outlier population - those who are unable to use that particular feature to be recognised. In the case of iris recognition that population is extremely small and is primarily restricted to those who have no iris ((anaridia)(US studies have shown anaridia to occur in about 1:90,000 births which means about 3000 US citizens will be without an iris)) or infants under the age of 12 months since the iris is still forming up to that age (ref. Wolffs' Anatomy).
Actual diseases of the iris are rare. Cataracts, a protein related abnormality, are an affliction of the lens only and are are remedied by removing the cloudy tissue which results from this condition - or by replacing the natural lens with an intraocular lens. Macular degeneration is a disease peculiar to the retina. ICE syndromes, iris cysts, iris atrophy and melanomas are extremely rare. Melanomas for eample are the most common primary neoplasms of the iris with an incidence reported to range between 0.019-0.08/100,000 inhabitants (US data) (Ref http://bjo.bmjjournals). However the point which needs to be understood about these diseases is that, even when they do occur in an iris, they do not prevent the iris from being recognised.
This is becasue the iris contains a remarkably dense collection of data which can be mapped. Of the 400 or so degrees of freedom which can be mapped in an iris, 240 are recorded. A melanoma, of a size which would be disconcerting to even an external viewer, will obscure about 10 degees of freedom. Daily obscuration by eyelids and eyelashes can remove as many as 200 degrees of freedom from view yet the iris can still be presented and recognised.
To reduce the likelihood of travel hassle even further you should know that each iris in a person is a different to the other as it is different any other iris in the world. So even if say, a melanoma occured in one eye, the other will still be perfectly able to represent the identity of the person concerned.
On the matter of colour it is worth noting that the iris recognition technology uses a black and white video technology as found in your camcorder. The technology is colour independent and relies on the iris structure instead. Colour changes, which do occur, have no impact on this technology.
Finally, though monitored carefully there is no evidence that the iris structure changes at all. Colour yes, structure no. As an internal organ visible from the outside, able to offer better than DNA matching statistical uniqueness, protected from the elements and external wear and tear, able to be measured by a passive and safe technology such as black and white video, and in a non invasive, non contact way, and is stable for life, the iris is not a perfect basis for a biometric technology. But it is a pretty good start!
So, to answer your question more directly about hassle free travel, those with iris diseases are unlikely to have their travel confounded by this technology.
(P.S. And no, intake of substances your mother does not want to know about cannot be detected by iris recognition cameras).
Actual diseases of the iris are rare. Cataracts, a protein related abnormality, are an affliction of the lens only and are are remedied by removing the cloudy tissue which results from this condition - or by replacing the natural lens with an intraocular lens. Macular degeneration is a disease peculiar to the retina. ICE syndromes, iris cysts, iris atrophy and melanomas are extremely rare. Melanomas for eample are the most common primary neoplasms of the iris with an incidence reported to range between 0.019-0.08/100,000 inhabitants (US data) (Ref http://bjo.bmjjournals). However the point which needs to be understood about these diseases is that, even when they do occur in an iris, they do not prevent the iris from being recognised.
This is becasue the iris contains a remarkably dense collection of data which can be mapped. Of the 400 or so degrees of freedom which can be mapped in an iris, 240 are recorded. A melanoma, of a size which would be disconcerting to even an external viewer, will obscure about 10 degees of freedom. Daily obscuration by eyelids and eyelashes can remove as many as 200 degrees of freedom from view yet the iris can still be presented and recognised.
To reduce the likelihood of travel hassle even further you should know that each iris in a person is a different to the other as it is different any other iris in the world. So even if say, a melanoma occured in one eye, the other will still be perfectly able to represent the identity of the person concerned.
On the matter of colour it is worth noting that the iris recognition technology uses a black and white video technology as found in your camcorder. The technology is colour independent and relies on the iris structure instead. Colour changes, which do occur, have no impact on this technology.
Finally, though monitored carefully there is no evidence that the iris structure changes at all. Colour yes, structure no. As an internal organ visible from the outside, able to offer better than DNA matching statistical uniqueness, protected from the elements and external wear and tear, able to be measured by a passive and safe technology such as black and white video, and in a non invasive, non contact way, and is stable for life, the iris is not a perfect basis for a biometric technology. But it is a pretty good start!
So, to answer your question more directly about hassle free travel, those with iris diseases are unlikely to have their travel confounded by this technology.
(P.S. And no, intake of substances your mother does not want to know about cannot be detected by iris recognition cameras).
