Samsung finally revealed the Galaxy Note 7 which is the most awaited phone of the year. There were certain rumors about the Iris scanner in Note 7 before the smartphone launch, and it turned out to be true.
The Iris scanner makes you the password for your phone. You can unlock your device directly by looking at it. Now, you probably would be thinking that how this scanner works. We have discussed the Iris scanner technology in fine detail in this article. Read on to find out.
What is an Iris?
Iris is the circular part of the eyeball which controls the size of the pupil, which then controls the amount of light entering into the retina. In technical terms, the iris is the diaphragm which acts as an aperture stop in camera.
The iris is located above the lens and below the Cornea. This Iris is responsible for determining eye color. Iris protects the retina from getting damaged because excessive light can damage the retina.
Iris is the part in the human body which has a fine texture like fingerprints. This is because of the two muscles in the eyes; the sphincter pupillae and dilator pupillae. It is impossible that two different iris’ texture match. Even the left and right eye of the same person have different texture.
Iris Scanner and its Usage in Identification
Visible wavelength (VW) and Near Infrared Imaging (NIR) are the two recognization systems to read the Iris. Both of these recognition systems use Iris imaging to recognize different Iris.
To acquire images of the Iris, the eyes are illuminated by the light with a wavelength near to IR (InfraRed). That image is then processed and get encoded to the digital version. Then the system tries to match this image with the one saved in the database.
One more factor which proves Iris scanner as the most authentic means identification is the color of the Iris. The eye color is the color of the Iris which we see in anyone’s eyes. These were the factors which make the Iris a fingerprint alternative and also it can’t be changed by any means.
The same applies to Samsung Galaxy Note 7 with Iris scanner that launched recently. Samsung Galaxy Note 7 comes with an IR LED and an Iris camera at the front.
The IR LED emits the IR light and illuminates the eyes and Iris camera captures the image of the Iris. While in the setup, Galaxy Note 7 captures the image of Iris and save it encrypted on the device. When you want to unlock the device, Note 7 scans the Iris and try to match it with the one in the database. If it matches you’re in, otherwise enter the password.
Is Iris scanner safe for eyes?
The technology used by Samsung to scan the Iris is safe and has received the IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission) 62471 certification level. The IR LED is safe for your eyes and it turns off automatically if it detects close proximity or is on for a long time.
Iris Scanner first time usage on Lumia 950 XL
Microsoft used Iris scanner on its Windows phone for the first time in Lumia 950 XL. Microsoft introduced Windows Hello in Windows 10, which use Iris scanner to sign into Windows 10 mobile. You don’t need to enter your password; just look at your phone and you’re in.
Verdict
Iris recognition is a good option and alternative for keeping the data safe on your smartphone. Samsung has added some features for Iris scanner to work and unlock the content like the gallery, a secured folder or buying an app. This keeps your private data safe, and there is no need of remembering different passwords.
