IRIS/RETINA BIOMETRICSIRIS/RETINA BIOMETRICS

RetinaRetinaThe The retinaretina is a thin layer of cells at the back of the is a thin layer of cells at the back of the eyeballeyeball of of vertebratesvertebrates..It is the part of the eye which converts It is the part of the eye which converts lightlight into into nervous signals.nervous signals.The retina contains The retina contains photoreceptorphotoreceptor cells ( cells (rodsrods and and conescones) which receive the light; the resulting neural ) which receive the light; the resulting neural signals then undergo complex processing by other signals then undergo complex processing by other neuronsneurons of the retina, and are transformed into of the retina, and are transformed into action potentialsaction potentials in retinal ganglion cells whose in retinal ganglion cells whose axonsaxons form the optic nerve. form the optic nerve. The retina not only detects light, it also plays a The retina not only detects light, it also plays a significant part in visual perception. significant part in visual perception. In embryonal development, the retina and the optic In embryonal development, the retina and the optic nerve originate as outgrowths of the brain.nerve originate as outgrowths of the brain.The unique structure of the blood vessels in the The unique structure of the blood vessels in the retina has been used for biometric identification.retina has been used for biometric identification.

To brain

The retina, in the back of your eye, has

cells that are sensitive to light.

They connect directly to your brain.

Rods sense brightness Cones sense color

Biometrics which analyze the Biometrics which analyze the complex and unique characteristics complex and unique characteristics of the eye can be divided into two of the eye can be divided into two different fields:different fields:– iris biometrics - iris is the colored band iris biometrics - iris is the colored band

of tissue that surrounds the pupil of the of tissue that surrounds the pupil of the eye. eye.

– retina biometrics - retina is the layer of retina biometrics - retina is the layer of blood vessels at the back of the eye. blood vessels at the back of the eye.

An iris recognition system uses a An iris recognition system uses a video camera to capture the sample video camera to capture the sample while the software compares the while the software compares the resulting data against stored resulting data against stored templates.templates.

Understanding Iris RecognitionUnderstanding Iris RecognitionIris scan biometrics employs the Iris scan biometrics employs the unique characteristics and features unique characteristics and features of the human iris in order to verify of the human iris in order to verify the identity of an individual. the identity of an individual.

The iris is the area of the eye where The iris is the area of the eye where the pigmented or colored circle, the pigmented or colored circle, usually brown or blue, rings the dark usually brown or blue, rings the dark pupil of the eye.pupil of the eye.

Iris recognition systems use small, high-quality Iris recognition systems use small, high-quality cameras to capture a black and white high-cameras to capture a black and white high-resolution photograph of the iris. resolution photograph of the iris. This process takes only one to two seconds and This process takes only one to two seconds and provides the details of the iris that are mapped, provides the details of the iris that are mapped, recorded and stored for future recorded and stored for future matching/verificationmatching/verificationOnce the image is captured, the iris’ elastic Once the image is captured, the iris’ elastic connective tissue—called the trabecular connective tissue—called the trabecular meshwork—is analyzed, processed into an optical meshwork—is analyzed, processed into an optical “fingerprint,” and translated into a digital form. “fingerprint,” and translated into a digital form. Given the stable physical traits of the iris, this Given the stable physical traits of the iris, this technology is considered to be one of the safest, technology is considered to be one of the safest, fastest, and most accurate, noninvasive biometric fastest, and most accurate, noninvasive biometric technologies. technologies. The iris is differentiated by several characteristics The iris is differentiated by several characteristics including ligaments, furrows, ridges, crypts, rings, including ligaments, furrows, ridges, crypts, rings, corona, freckles, and a sigzag collarette. corona, freckles, and a sigzag collarette.

An Iris Reader

Iris

An Iris Recognition Process

The inner edge of the iris is located by an The inner edge of the iris is located by an iris-scan algorithm which maps the iris’ iris-scan algorithm which maps the iris’ distinct patterns and characteristics. distinct patterns and characteristics. Iris’ are composed before birth and, Iris’ are composed before birth and, except in the event of an injury to the except in the event of an injury to the eyeball, remain unchanged throughout an eyeball, remain unchanged throughout an individual’s lifetime. individual’s lifetime. Iris patterns are extremely complex, carry Iris patterns are extremely complex, carry an astonishing amount of information and an astonishing amount of information and have over 200 unique spots. have over 200 unique spots. The fact that an individual’s right and left The fact that an individual’s right and left eyes are different and that patterns are eyes are different and that patterns are easy to capture, establishes iris-scan easy to capture, establishes iris-scan technology as one of the biometrics that is technology as one of the biometrics that is very resistant to false matching and fraud.very resistant to false matching and fraud.

The false acceptance rate for iris The false acceptance rate for iris recognition systems is 1 in 1.2 million, recognition systems is 1 in 1.2 million, statistically better than the average statistically better than the average fingerprint recognition system. fingerprint recognition system.

The real benefit is in the false-rejection The real benefit is in the false-rejection rate, a measure of authenticated users rate, a measure of authenticated users who are rejected. who are rejected.

Fingerprint scanners have a 3 percent Fingerprint scanners have a 3 percent false-rejection rate, whereas iris false-rejection rate, whereas iris scanning systems boast rates at the 0 scanning systems boast rates at the 0 percent level percent level

Eyeglasses and contact lenses Eyeglasses and contact lenses present no problems to the quality of present no problems to the quality of the image and the iris-scan systems the image and the iris-scan systems test for a live eye by checking for the test for a live eye by checking for the normal continuous fluctuation in normal continuous fluctuation in pupil size. pupil size.

Spoofing the IrisSpoofing the IrisThe iris is extremely difficult trait to The iris is extremely difficult trait to spoof, yet there have been attempts spoof, yet there have been attempts to do just thatto do just that

Attacks on the iris fall into the Attacks on the iris fall into the following categories:following categories:– Attacking the physical irisAttacking the physical iris– Using artfactsUsing artfacts– Attacking the communicationAttacking the communication– Compromising the teplateCompromising the teplate– Attacking the fallback systemAttacking the fallback system

Advantages of the Iris for Advantages of the Iris for IdentificationIdentification

Highly protected, internal organ of the eye Highly protected, internal organ of the eye

Externally visible; patterns imaged from a Externally visible; patterns imaged from a distance distance

Iris patterns possess a high degree of Iris patterns possess a high degree of randomness randomness

Changing pupil size confirms natural Changing pupil size confirms natural physiology physiology

Limited genetic penetrance of iris patterns Limited genetic penetrance of iris patterns

Patterns apparently stable throughout life Patterns apparently stable throughout life

Encoding and decision-making are Encoding and decision-making are tractable tractable

Disadvantages of the Iris for Disadvantages of the Iris for IdentificationIdentification

Small target (1 cm) to acquire from a Small target (1 cm) to acquire from a distance (1 m) distance (1 m) Moving target ...within another Moving target ...within another Located behind a curved, wet, reflecting Located behind a curved, wet, reflecting surface surface Obscured by eyelashes, lenses, reflections Obscured by eyelashes, lenses, reflections Partially occluded by eyelids, often Partially occluded by eyelids, often drooping drooping Deforms non-elastically as pupil changes Deforms non-elastically as pupil changes size size Illumination should not be visible or bright Illumination should not be visible or bright Some negative (Orwellian) connotations Some negative (Orwellian) connotations

Retinal Recognition SystemRetinal Recognition SystemRetina scans are performed by directing a low-intensity infrared Retina scans are performed by directing a low-intensity infrared light to capture the unique retina characteristics.light to capture the unique retina characteristics.An area known as the face, situated at the center of the retina, is An area known as the face, situated at the center of the retina, is scanned  and the unique pattern of the blood vessels is captured. scanned  and the unique pattern of the blood vessels is captured. Retina recognitionRetina recognition technology captures and analyzes the technology captures and analyzes the patterns of blood vessels on the thin nerve on the back of the patterns of blood vessels on the thin nerve on the back of the eyeball that processes light entering through the pupil. Retinal eyeball that processes light entering through the pupil. Retinal patterns are highly distinctive traits. patterns are highly distinctive traits. Every eye has its own totally unique pattern of blood vessels; even Every eye has its own totally unique pattern of blood vessels; even the eyes of identical twins are distinct. Although each pattern the eyes of identical twins are distinct. Although each pattern normally remains stable over a person’s lifetime, it can be normally remains stable over a person’s lifetime, it can be affected by disease such as glaucoma, diabetes, high blood affected by disease such as glaucoma, diabetes, high blood pressure, and autoimmune deficiency syndrome. pressure, and autoimmune deficiency syndrome. Retina biometrics is considered to be the best biometric Retina biometrics is considered to be the best biometric performers. performers. However, despite is accuracy, this technique is often thought to be However, despite is accuracy, this technique is often thought to be inconvenient and intrusive. And so, it is difficult to gain general inconvenient and intrusive. And so, it is difficult to gain general acceptance by the end user. acceptance by the end user. Eye and retinal scanner are ineffectual with the blind and those Eye and retinal scanner are ineffectual with the blind and those who have cataracts.who have cataracts.

The fact that the retina is small, internal, and difficult to The fact that the retina is small, internal, and difficult to measure makes capturing its image more difficult than measure makes capturing its image more difficult than most biometric technologies. An individual must position most biometric technologies. An individual must position the eye very close to the lens of the retina-scan device, the eye very close to the lens of the retina-scan device, gaze directly into the lens, and remain perfectly still while gaze directly into the lens, and remain perfectly still while focusing on a revolving light while a small camera scans the focusing on a revolving light while a small camera scans the retina through the pupil. retina through the pupil. Any movement can interfere with the process and can Any movement can interfere with the process and can require restarting. Enrollment can easily take more than a require restarting. Enrollment can easily take more than a minute. The generated template is only 96 bytes, one of the minute. The generated template is only 96 bytes, one of the smallest of the biometric technologies. smallest of the biometric technologies. It is one of the most accurate and most reliable of the It is one of the most accurate and most reliable of the biometric technologies, and it is used for access control in biometric technologies, and it is used for access control in government and military environments that require very government and military environments that require very high security, such as nuclear weapons and research sites. high security, such as nuclear weapons and research sites. However, the great degree of effort and cooperation However, the great degree of effort and cooperation required of users has made it one of the least deployed of required of users has made it one of the least deployed of all the biometric technologies. Newer, faster, better retina all the biometric technologies. Newer, faster, better retina recognition technologies are being developed.recognition technologies are being developed.