RETINAL SCANNING
Retinal scanning analyses the layer of blood vessels at the back of the eye. Scanning involves using a low-intensity light source and an optical coupler and can read the patterns at a great level of accuracy. It does require the user to remove glasses, place their eye close to the device, and focus on a certain point. Whether the accuracy can outweigh the public discomfort is yet to be seen. The user looks through a small opening in the device at a small green light. The user must keep their head still and eye focused on the light for several seconds during which time the device will verify his identity.

HOW SECURE IS IT
There is no known way to replicate a retina, and a retina from a dead person would deteriorate too fast to be useful. As a result, retinal scanning is used almost exclusively in high-end security applications. For example, for controlling access to areas or rooms in military installations, power plants, and the like that are considered high risk security areas. Retina scan devices are probably the most accurate biometric available today. The continuity of the retinal pattern throughout life and the difficulty in fooling such a device also make it a great long-term, high-security option.

IRIS SCANNING
The iris is so unique that no two irides are alike, even among identical twins, in the entire human population. In actuality, identifying the iris and converting it to mathematical code, the probability that two irides will produce the same mathematical code is approximately one in ten to the 78th power. The iris is therefore, a robust method of identification since the iris remains unchanged throughout one's life and is not suspect to wear and injury.

Just like retinal scanning, iris identification technology has been been predominately used in high-security access control situations. Financial institutions have also explored the means of iris identification technology. In fact, the English bank, Nationwide, just completed a test pilot of the world's first automated teller machine (ATM) machine equipped with iris identification capabilities. Responses from customers were overwhelmingly favourable. Citibank is also in the test pilot stages with iris identification technology. Other high-profile applications include :-

Equine Research Institute in Utsunomiya, Japan, is using iris identification to identify racehorses.
Iris scanners were used in the Winter Olympics in Nagano to identify biathlon participants before they were granted access to their rifles.

SUMMARY
RETINA
Retinal identification has several disadvantages including:
  • Susceptible to disease damage (i.e. cataracts)
  • Viewed as intrusive and not very user friendly
  • High amount of both user and operator skill required
However, despite these, retinal identification continues to be one of the best biometric performers on the market with low false reject rates, a nearly zero percent false accept rate, small data template, and quick identify confirmations (Industry Information: Biometrics, 1996).

IRIS
Iris identification is gradually gaining popularity and favourable press. Experts predict that the "killer application" for iris identification technology will be e-commerce. Engineers around the world are betting that legal tender in the e-commerce age will be digital certificate combined with a coded image of a person's iris (The Economist, 1998).

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