Iris recognition systems 'most accurate'

Security systems that scan an airport passenger's iris to check their identity are the most accurate, it has been claimed.

A spokesperson for Aditech Ltd, a company that specialises in iris-based security systems, said that eye scans are both quick and efficient.

Describing iris recognition technology, the spokesperson said: "It is able to identify an individual within a couple of seconds from a database of millions."

He added: "You don't have to touch anything. All you have to do is look at, what is effectively, a camera and it takes an image of your iris."

Biometric checks were tested at Heathrow Airport in December 2006, with passengers asked to scan their right index fingerprint into a machine as they passed through security.

While it is yet to reach full maturity, the Aditech spokesperson said that biometric security is becoming more widespread.

He predicted that iris scanning will "slowly creep into many areas" as the technology matures.