Iris Scanning: The Eyes Have It

A new iris-scanning security device at the Pentagon Athletic Center (POAC) is aiming to improve security and relieve staffers from carrying access cards. Launched by the Department of Defense’s Biometrics Management Office (BMO) this summer, the project is part of the BMO’s Quick Look program in which it tests and evaluates various off-the-shelf biometric products for the DoD.

This particular project uses Iridian Technologies’ IrisAccess 2000, which scans and verifies a user’s identity using the subtle details of his eye’s iris. POAC members need to simply look at a mirrored camera from a distance of 3 inches to 10 inches. The system instantaneously grants access if a match is identified in the database. Enrollment is voluntary, and signing up is as simple as capturing a user’s ID info and an iris scan and entering it into the IrisAccess system.

Once the last phase of the three-phase testing is complete at the end of this month, the BMO and DoD will evaluate the system and gather feedback from the 200 (and counting) users who signed on, says Margo English, project lead for the POAC biometric testing project. “The system provides an extra layer of security than what the current procedures provide at the POAC,” he says. “It will also add a level of confidence and convenience for the users.” The POAC site was chosen because of the varied demographics (the combination of rank, race and sex) of the Pentagon staffers who use the center. And with no ID card to remember, those staffers now won’t have any excuse for skipping their workout.