The Akron Beacon Journal 4/20 featured a front page large article on Iris identification for ATM machines as being developed by Diebold of near by Canton Ohio. The article promotes it as more accurate? Photos of eyes won't fake out the machine and it works on a 256 byte "human eye code". Here is the gist of the story.
Later this year Diebold will begin large-scale production of an ATM that recognizes the colored muscles in your eyes.
Diebold - the second largest maker of ATMs - is working with Sensar of Moorestown NJ the maker of the camera and computer software that Diebold uses. Sensar is a 68 person company, Incorporated in 1993, that has a patent on the iris recognition technology.
Its main competitor is the largest ATM manufacturer, NCR Corp of Dayton Ohio. They also are working with Sensor. Both companies are in a race to perfect the system. Systems are in Beta testing in England. Both companies are expected to begin pilot projects in the US within the next 12 months. (That means one to two years before it is here)
The article claims that iris recognition is the front runner in biometric identification systems, which include retinal scanning, fingerprinting, palm printing, voice recognition and finger geometry. Iris is beating competition for main reasons: Customers don't have to touch anything, and it doesn't carry the same stigma as fingerprinting. Well we now know how Sensor is promoting their product. (Obviously Sensor or Diebold have been blowing a lot of smoke to the author of this report).
The chief drawback to the system is the high cost of the units added to the already $45,000 price of a current ATM. A data base would have to be developed by photographing customers. Further, to be effective nationwide, most ATMs must operate with the system which mean a complete change over of all or most machines. The systems must also be upgraded time to time as 256 bytes of each iris must be stored of each new customer as opposed to the 16 digit present credit card with a 4 digit Pin.
They continue to promote the general biometric theme of knowing who you are which allows more intimate banking services.
Ron
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