MAY 14--Iris-recognition systems branded by Panasonic Security & Digital Imaging Co. (Secaucus, NJ; www.panasonic.com/iris) for access-security applications will incorporate technologies developed by Iridian Technologies (Marlton, NJ) and Matsushita Communication Industrial Co Ltd. (Yokohama, Japan). Says Frank DeFina, Panasonic Co. president, "Iris-recognition technology provides a higher level of security for information-sensitive applications such as automated banking, health-records management, and credit-card verification. By joining forces with Iridian Technologies, we can apply the vision-systems expertise of Panasonic/Matsushita with their proven developments in iris technology to produce cost-efficient iris recognition systems that can be easily applied for a range of practical uses."
The first iris technology system, called Panasonic Authenticam, will be introduced in the United States during the third quarter of 2001. Panasonic Authenticam will be bundled with Private ID iris-recognition software for stand-alone applications on individual computers. For networked-based applications, Iridian will offer the KnoWho server to manage large databases of iris images. Both Authenticam and KnoWho will be marketed through Iridian Technologies and sold through Tech Data, a leading US distributor.
Iris-recognition products do not involve any contact or invasive procedures for identification. The camera-based system compares an image of the iris against a reference image stored in the KnoWho server, which provides a higher level of security than other forms of biometric identification systems such as hand and fingerprint scanning.
