Eye-scanners may soon be used to verify cell phone users according to Xvista, a UK-based company which has developed the first portable iris scanner.

Photo: Iris Scanning Cell Phones a Reality Photo 1

Developed through a $3.4 million, six year partnership with the University of Sussex, the xVista system offers an accurate and secure method of checking an individual's identity.

xVista's technology discreetly and securely map the iris for individual characteristics, first registering the eye to a central database by creating a template. Then be checked against all further scans, the system can verify the user's identity.

With the chances of two separate human irises matching approximately one in 7 billion, iris-scanners have been one of the highest level of security available against identity fraud, with potential applications within passport control, financial transactions, and mobile phone security.

Capable of running from any low power computing device or camera equipped mobile phone, the system uses a standard 256 MB memory card to hold over 250,000 iris templates. From a database of 1,000,000 irises, it will take less than one second to verify an individual's iris.

"The xVista technology performs a similar task to the traditional signature, photograph or pin number in confirming an individual's identity, but is far more reliable," said Karlis Obrams Managing Director of xVista. "The fact that the system can run from portable devices like the mobile phone and SIM card opens up fantastic potential for its use, making it far more effective than other scanning systems that are usually bulky and limited to fixed points."

Previously the realm of science fiction, biometrics are increasingly becoming an important part of modern security systems, with a pilot iris scanning scheme having recently been introduced into passport control at Heathrow Airport.