Any plans to roll this out in the US?

"The September 11 hijacked plane attacks on the US have prompted London's Heathrow, one of the world's busiest airports, to install cameras that read a passenger's eyes to make identification foolproof. From next month, 2,000 North American frequent flyers on British Airways and Virgin Atlantic will check in and clear passport control simply by looking into an iris-scanning camera that can verify their identity in seconds. UK Customs, which is also involved in the project along with airport operator BAA and immigration authorities, would have access to a database to cross-reference the pictures of passengers. Iris scanning is considered almost error-proof as the chances of getting a matching pattern when comparing two images is as low as one in seven billion. While an infrared camera will be doing the checking, passengers will need to have their passports ready just in case."

Vector,

If you would like to see some fireworks w/your post, post it in the OMNI section.

What happens to your profile when you're on a red eye flight ???

That's great! It will be just a matter of time, though, until someone figures out how to fool the camera, perhaps with microsurgery-implanted retinas.

(This is kinda cool though, right out of Star Trek)

It's really rather sad. They perhaps have a greater toleration for Big Brother in the UK than in the US, but I'm afraid it's all coming here too

rrz518.....

Did you just watch the James bond movie....."Thunderball" ?

Originally posted by richard;
What is 'sad' about it?????

In the US you have permitted fingerprinting for decades, you identify people (and criminals) by DNA, no body gripes about carrying a D/L or Passport.

Eye scanning is less messy than (the old method) fingerprinting; less intrusive than DNA testing, yet gives a very accurate identification.

If it gets me through the Airport more easily I'm all for it, hell, they can scan my bum if identifies me beyond a reasonable doubt.

Only the guilty have to fear...

------------------
I'd give my right arm to be ambidextrous

[This message has been edited by yyz-den (edited 10-27-2001).]

With thinking like that, I suppose it's only a matter of time before one gets a ticket in the mail for jaywalking on one of those streets in the UK where they have police cameras watching the neighborhood.

[This message has been edited by anthonyanthony (edited 10-27-2001).]

Facial recognition technology also is to be employed at immigration to catch suspected terrorists. I, for one, think that it is a good idea.

Vector, I take my comment back, leave it here. The fireworks are starting.

,,,,,,

I do not totally understand the purpose of eye scanning. If it'll get me through immigration in a few seconds.....Great. If not, I do not care for it. I will however say that it is a much much better solution than "national ID cards".

I'm probably missing something obvious...

But where would they get the "original" images based on which they will match passengers?

Also, the article said immigration and customs are involved, does that mean there will also be scans on arrival?

Yonatan

What I saw on MSNBC was that this might be instituted in conjunction with enhanced Visa scrutiny for those who wish to enter the US from foreign countries.

Pax at AMS can now skip customs using an eye scan. Only Euro residents can use the system. The eye data is NOT centrally stored but is all on a secure chip card carried by the user.

[This message has been edited by ScottC (edited 10-28-2001).]