Every person has unique biometric attributes such as fingerprints, face features, iris and retina patterns, voice patterns, and palm scans. Individuals can be reliably identified by using these distinguishing qualities. Biometric authentication technology is used in a variety of industries throughout the world to ensure quick and accurate identification. Because of the uniqueness of their patterns, retina scan and iris scans, sometimes known as ‘ocular-based identity technologies’, are the best options for individual verification.
The retina is the posterior section of the human eye that contains sophisticated networks of vascular patterns, sometimes known as the neural part of the eye. Each retina has a particular pattern due to the extensive and complicated network of capillaries that carry blood to the retinal region of the human eye. Because of the complex and enigmatic network of blood veins, both eyes have distinct retina patterns.
Origin and Why Better Than Iris Scan?
The retina scan concept dates back to the early 1930s, and it has been in use since the 1980s. However, its widespread use began after John Daugman 1994 demonstrated the practical operation of Iris recognition, which is the second technique of human identification via the eye. Today, numerous identity verification companies claim to perform retina scan ID checks, however their human eye scanning is based on an iris scan technology.
In numerical terms, the Retina scan is 70 times more precise than the Iris scan. When compared to fingerprint recognition, retina scans are 20000 times more accurate.
How Does It Work?
Retina scanning operates on the principle of light exposure and detection. When suitably lighted, the small capillaries or veins absorb light and can then be easily visible. For this purpose, retina scanners are utilized, which are high-tech scanning devices that need a human to expose their eyes in close contact with the scanner. Normally, the scanner should be 1 inch away from the eye.
Once the required distance and position of the eye have been determined, the retina scanner begins to project a specific light (mainly green) into the retina of the human eye. The process lasts around 15 seconds. Once the retina pattern has been recognized and matched to the requisite identity, it is authenticated and granted access.
It is important to note that the human eye cannot move during the retina scanning process. Furthermore, a retina scan is challenging for the normal person because it requires them to not blink at all during identity verification.
Unmatched Accuracy
Every person has a unique retina pattern, making it more difficult to fool than other biological approaches, with relatively low false acceptance and false rejection rates. A thorough investigation into the accuracy of biometric verification methods indicated that retinal scanning has an extremely low false rejection, making it the most trustworthy among other biometrics.
Unlike fingerprints or facial features, which can change over time or be modified, the human eye’s complicated network of blood vessels remains constant throughout life, with the exception of sickness, making it an ideal biometric identifier. The unprecedented stability and consistency of retinal patterns make them nearly impossible to copy or deceive, making them a secure and reliable method of identification verification. Furthermore, the contactless nature of retina scanning makes it a more hygienic and user-friendly solution than standard fingerprint scanning.
Implementations of the Technology
Retina recognition is altering the identification verification process in a variety of industries around the world, including public and private sectors. Several industries, including law enforcement, healthcare, financial institutions, telecommunications, the military, and defense, are incorporating retina recognition into their systems to provide effective and error-free verification of persons.
- Law enforcement and police departments use retina scanning to keep an eye on possible suspects and prevent unauthorized access to the system.
- Banks and financial institutions are known to utilize retina recognition to ensure secure financial transactions, particularly during customer onboarding, to effectively identify consumers and detect problematic situations.
- Healthcare sectors could use this ocular-based verification mechanism to ensure medical services are supplied to the correct people and to combat medical identity fraud.
Conclusion
Due to its unprecedented precision and non-inclusive character, the iris retina scanner has become a vital tool in providing a secure and accurate identification verification process, resulting in broad application in industries such as border control, financial institutions, and healthcare. As technology advances, this biometric technique is expected to become more frequently used, dramatically changing the arena of verification and protecting data privacy in today’s digital world.