Iris recognition

Iris recognition technology is based on the distinctly colored ring surrounding the pupil of the eye. Made from elastic connective tissue, the iris is a very rich source of biometric data, having approximately 266 distinctive characteristics. These include the trabecular meshwork, a tissue that gives the appearance of dividing the iris radially, with striations, rings, furrows, a corona, and freckles. Iris recognition technology uses about 173 of these distinctive characteristics. Formed during the eighth month of gestation, these characteristics reportedly remain stable throughout a person’s lifetime, except in cases of injury.

Iris recognition systems use a small, high-quality camera to capture a black-and-white, high-resolution image of the iris. They then define the boundaries of the iris, establish a coordinate system over the iris, and define the zones for analysis within the coordinate system. The visible characteristics within the zones are then converted into a 512 byte template that is used to identify or verify the identity of an individual.