Iris Recognition in Access Control Security
by Frank DeFina

There have been very few developments in the history of the security and access control markets that will have the anticipated impact of iris recognition technology. The reason is quite simple: there is no better form on non-invasive authentication available.

Iris recognition is far more accurate than fingerprint and facial recognition systems by nature of the technology itself, and it is virtually impossible to replicate. With the advent of economical and highly accurate iris recognition devices, we can expect wide scale deployment of the technology across many product categories.

The benefits of iris recognition technology for security and access control applications are numerous. Panasonic has already launched an iris recognition product for computer and network applications called Authenticam to secure system access, individual PCs and sensitive files. Cyber security is a growing concern for companies and individuals alike, as we become more dependent on computers for everyday business and communications. The same root iris recognition technology employed in Panasonic's Authenticam will also migrate into a host of other products to prevent unauthorised access and use.

In terms of physical security, iris recognition is already making inroads in the access control market because of its authentication accuracy. Panasonic has previewed a new iris recognition system called the BM-ET500 that promises to redefine how access control systems are configured. The new system combines Panasonic's latest advancements in image sensor and guidance technologies with advanced iris recognition software to provide the highest levels of authentication available.

Positioned to ultimately replace traditional card readers and proximity tags, Panasonic's BM-ET500 Iris Recognition Access Control System provides easy "one glance" authentication without the need for any physical contact. Once users are logged on to a central server where their iris patterns are stored in memory, the BM-ET500 makes the authentication process fast and easy. When a user looks into the camera, an image of their iris is captured and compared to the file reference image for authentication. The advanced imaging and guidance technology incorporated into the unit eliminates the need for the user to position their body in a specific way or lock their eyes onto a fixed target, which has been a limiting factor in earlier systems. The BM-ET500 also eliminates the need for other forms of magnetic identification devices that can be easily compromised, lost or stolen.

Panasonic's BM-ET500 Iris Recognition Access Control System can be easily integrated into existing entry/egress systems that employ electronic locking devices. In addition, we've designed the BM-ET500 Iris Recognition Access Control System so that it can also be integrated into surveillance systems for on site monitoring and door answer applications. The unique access control and surveillance capabilities of this unit are ideal for integration with Panasonic's advanced integrated surveillance systems. We plan to formally introduce the BM-ET500 Iris Recognition Access Control System during the summer of 2002.

As a result of recent events, security professionals in the private, commercial and government communities have challenged manufacturers in the security industry to accelerate the development of new devices to help secure our future. Panasonic's new BM-ET500 Iris Recognition Access Control System answers the call.