Planet Gadgets Gadget Blog

Iris Scanning to Speed up Lines in Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport

by Administrator

This is a forward move in airport security.
Instead of waiting in a long line to get passports scanned, Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport is introducing iris scanning technology as an alternative to identifying travelers.

The iris, the colored area around the pupil that controls its size, contains several times more unique information than a fingerprint. Even identical twins have different irises, and the ID method can be used regardless of whether the user is wearing contacts or eyeglasses.

Schiphol, as Amsterdam’s airport and starting point for much of travel between Europe and the rest of the world, needs to adopt modern technology to keep the 44 million passengers it handles every year safe and happy, said Mirjam Snoerwang, an airport spokeswoman.

“It’s very fast and there’s no possibility of fraud,” said Snoerwang, who, like other airport employees, is required to use the iris scanning system to enter secure areas.

The entire process takes under 20 seconds to positively ID travelers.

Although it seems a lot like “big brother”, I’m thinking that people wouldn’t mind shaving some time off of going through security when they travel. Waiting in long lines isn’t anyones idea of a good time. (Last time I checked)

Resource: Yahoo News