Iris Scanning Technology Impresses

• By Christina Miralla
• Sep 28, 2011

ASIS officially ended last week, but the buzz has just begun regarding some of the latest products unveiled during the convention. As the security industry continues moving forward, preparations are already underway for the 2012 ASIS convention in Philadelphia.

It was more than overwhelming this year as a first-time attendee visiting diverse educational sessions, meeting with various exhibitors and sitting in on product demonstrations -- I’m still sifting through all of my notes one week later.

One new product that grabbed my attention was the reinvention of something commonly used in the access control and biometrics security landscape. Stanley Convergent Security Solutions and Hoyos teamed up to recreate iris identity management.

The new system featured three products, HBOX, EyeSwipe and EyeSwipe Mini. HBOX is capable of scanning retinas for up to 50 people at one time; EyeSwipe can scan 30 users per minute, while the EyeSwipe Mini can perform real-time iris recognition from a distance. Prior iris biometric technology required users to stand in one place while the technology scanned retinas for verification. HBOX readers capture iris data from a distance and while in motion. I had the opportunity to test this technology and thought it saved time and would be convenient for companies to use -- especially during rush hours.

Aside from product exhibits, the educational sessions provided imperative information regarding the world of security from the cloud to the classroom. A session on domestic violence in the workplace analyzed the crisis situation at a Panama City, Fla., school board meeting in Dec. 2010. A 56-year-old gunman opened fire on the school board claiming they were the reason for firing his wife. Session attendees provided constructive criticism on how the crisis situation could have been handled differently to prevent anyone from being shot.

The take-away from this experience has to be the fact that security is more than just one facet of software protection or surveillance video. The whole industry encompasses the security landscape ranging from biometrics to law enforcement. Running around the exhibit hall proved to be an interesting experience as Security Products magazine’s new product of the year winners proudly showcased their awards alongside product displays. I know I am looking forward to next year’s ASIS event and the vast list of entries during next year’s new product of the year competition.