Biometrics - Iris Technology
NIST to evaluate iris recognition technology. Iridian Technologies Inc. of Moorestown, N.J., announced this month that its iris recognition technology has been selected for the Registered Traveler program at Orlando International Airport. It is the nation�s first privately sponsored program to register frequent travelers for speedier airport passage via kiosks and is sanctioned by DHS. Travelers submit biometric fingerprint and iris information and pay a fee to participate in the program.
NIST to evaluate iris recognition technology
By Alice Lipowicz
Contributing Staff Writer
Iris recognition is receiving its first major government technical review under an evaluation launched this month by the National Institute of Standards and Technology.
NIST�s Iris Challenge Evaluation is being billed as the �first large-scale, open, independent technology evaluation for iris recognition,� according to the institute�s announcement. The study is intended to �promote the development and advancement of iris recognition technology and assess its state-of-the-art capability,� NIST said.
Iris recognition is a biometric technology in which a person�s eyes are photographed and the unique patterns of the irises is catalogued for purposes of identity verification.
The technology is currently being deployed in several pilot projects including screening of frequent travelers at several U.S. airports sponsored by the Homeland Security Department and, separately, in testing by British immigration authorities at Heathrow Airport in London.
The first phase of the evaluation, running from August 2005 through January 2006, will review specific queries related to iris recognition technology capabilities, including establishing a performance baseline to measure future progress.
In a planned second phase, which is being considered for the first quarter of 2006, NIST researchers will measure performance with sequestered�or not previously viewed�data, using standard testing methodology, NIST said.
The test is jointly sponsored by federal agencies, including the FBI, the National Institute of Justice and the Homeland Security Department, among others.
The testing is occurring as iris recognition is being utilized in several biometric pilot projects worldwide.
Iridian Technologies Inc. of Moorestown, N.J., announced this month that its iris recognition technology has been selected for the Registered Traveler program at Orlando International Airport. It is the nation�s first privately sponsored program to register frequent travelers for speedier airport passage and is sanctioned by DHS. Travelers submit biometric fingerprint and iris information and pay a fee to participate in the program.
Lockheed Martin Corp. of Bethesda, Md., and New York-based Verified Identity Pass Inc. are operating the program in partnership with DHS and the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority.
In addition, Iridian said its iris recognition technology has also been deployed at the department�s five other Registered Traveler pilot program airports: Minneapolis-St.Paul, Los Angeles, Houston, Boston and Washington�s Reagan National.
Rest of article
Posted by keefner at August 16, 2005 03:46 PM