IRIS SENSOR, The next level of Smartphone Security!

We have been amazed by various tech related with smartphone security till date. We do remember the time when pincodes were the only way of protecting a smartphone. Then swipe pattern security came with a bit more easier approach and now at fingerprint sensor which provides optimal security with around 50 ‘points of comparison’ .All these should be matched with the prerecorded pattern inorder to unlock the device. There are also other couple of security features like facial recognition which is not at all times is perfect. These transitions reduced  the interaction with the device to unlock the device. As pattern lock was made for comfortableness fingerprint sensors enabled more of it with additional security. And has been proved with devices like iphone 5s, Galaxy s5, S6, iphone 6, 6plus, and yes the upcoming One plus Two (Rumored).But hey, Tech is Infinity and it never ends. Lets take a look at the next level of smartphone security, The Iris Sensor.

Fujitsu Prototype at MWC

                       What is an Iris Sensor? How it works? How it is more secure than Fingerprint sensor? Lets find out! An iris sensor is a sensor which determines the unique features of your eye inorder to lock or unlock the device. As like the fingerprints no two humans have an identical retina, even for the twins. But what is Iris? It is the colored muscle that encircles the pupil of the eye which expands and contracts according to the incoming light. ( Melanin determines the color pigment, where more browner and the less, blacker) .So the sensor determines each and every texture of this Iris inorder to determine the identity. The first smartphone with an iris sensor to have is the Fujitsu smartphone prototype which has been displayed at the MWC ( Mobile Word Congress) of 2015.

How does Iris sensor work in a smartphone? An Iris sensor requires a camera and an infrared sensor inorder to determine the Iris. The camera simply scans the visible features of the Iris and the infrared scanner enables to scan and  determine the textures and features of the Iris which is invisible with naked eye. After scanning these features the Iris scanning software generates an unique ID called ‘Iris Code’  and embeds the details into that ID. This code consists of about 512 digits. No two Iris will have identical number. The process of Iris security has two phases.

1-Enrollment
2-Verification

The Enrollment process includes registering you Iris features to the Device. This makes use of the two cameras and the Iris software detects and removes unnecessary parts like eyelashes and then analyzes and generates the 512 digit Iris Code and stores it.

At the Verification process the Two cameras again analyzes the Iris and generate the 512 digit code

and then compares with its stored database for the same number. If found the device will be unlocked or else will be discarded as unauthorized access.

      Now, how is it more secure than Fingerprint sensors? The Finger Print sensor makes use of about 50 unique features of the fingerprint for security. But the Iris scanner uses about 240 unique features of the Iris. So it is clear that the Iris scanner is undoubtedly almost 5 times more secure than Fingerprint scanners. Since the working prototype has been revealed, It is soon intended to arrive on consumer versions. Samsung is also rumored to pack an Iris sensor on it’s upcoming smartphones soon.