Top Five Verticals Where Iris Recognition is Penetrating Date:   Monday , January 30, 2017 Headquartered in California, Delta ID is software technology company providing safe and reliable user identification technologies such as Biometrics, Iris Recognition, Image Processing, and Mobile Security technologies. First things first, Iris recognition technology, or for that matter, any other authentication technology, is a horizontal technology which has multiple and varied usage. These types of technologies find their application across a wide range of verticals. Nowadays, we are already seeing widespread application of such technologies; be it citizen or resident authentication for subsidy disbursements of all kinds, mobile payments, eKYC for banks, financial institutions, mobile operators, attendance, mobile devices unlock and access to applications & services therein. Now, let us look at what Iris recognition actually is. Iris recognition is an automated process of biometric identification that uses mathematical pattern-recognition techniques on video images of one or both of the irises of an individual\'s eyes whose complex random patterns are unique, stable, and can be seen from some distance. Iris recognition technology has some clear cut advantages - For consumers, the natural and fool-proof eye-based identification technology is incredibly fast, easy to use and safe if compared to other identification mediums existing in the space such as passwords, passcodes, face recognition and finger-print recognition, which depend on several external factors. For original equipment manufacturers such as smartphone manufacturers and payment systems, Iris recognition technology is simple, easy to integrate and economically viable. Until recently, in most countries and industries, the biometric identifier of choice for most of the ID systems has been fingerprints. Despite its well-known accuracy, reliability and security, iris recognition was less widely used mostly due to the high cost of iris readers. This trend is undergoing a huge change. Iris surely has a host of advantages, especially for low income populations with worn out fingerprints due to heavy manual labor. As human eyes are self-cleaning and image capture is performed without physical contact with the reader, it is far more efficient and fool-proof. In a proof-of-concept test carried out by the Unique Identification Authority of India, it was found that Iris was more efficient when compared to the in-vogue fingerprint identification process. Iris is also better than fingerprints in terms of ease of use, speed, and overall preference. Fingers mostly require re-capture as the machine cannot process dirty and sweaty hands. Contrary to this limitation, iris is safe and efficient. Let us now look at certain industries and verticals where Iris recognition technology will witness fast adoption – The Next Big Thing in Smartphones Iris recognition is all set to emerge as a trending technology in smartphone applications, fast replacing or complementing fingerprint recognition technology. ABI Research’s latest report stated that the global shipment of iris scanner equipped smartphones will reach nearly 300 million by 2021. Iris scanning does not need passwords or PIN number at any stage. The mobile devices will have an iris camera, an IR LED to illuminate iris’s features even in the absence of proper light source, and an iris image processing software to identify and authenticate the user. Companies like Fujitsu, Microsoft, HP, and Samsung have already introduced phones enabled with Iris scanning into the market. Mobile Payments: Iris recognition technologies secure user identities better than any other mediums available today. There are a lot many security issues concerning mobile payments today. Users are often not comfortable adopting payment gateways because of credibility and security issues. Biometric authentication technologies such as Iris will remove security concerns, as Iris recognition is not affected by external factors, age or health and therefore are more credible. At the moment, Iris is used complementarily with fingerprint scanning, but Iris’ higher stability and less susceptibility to external damage will drive its future adoption, both for unlocking devices as well as for certifying mobile payments. Aadhar Identification Procedure As Aadhaar enrollments cross the one billion mark, the use of Aadhaar for resident authentication and eKYC is expected to rapidly spread across services for government and private enterprises. The need for a biometric modality that works reliably is critical for the use of Aadhaar, a key component of the government’s Janadhan Aadhaar Mobile (JAM) led initiatives. The Iris recognition is widely accepted as a more secure and reliable modality to identify and authenticate people, as it works across a broader population across all age groups and occupations. The Aadhaar Iris Authentication is a process wherein the Aadhaar number along with the citizen’s image of the Iris is submitted to UIDAI’s Central Identities Data Repository (CIDR) for verification. The CIDR matches the received IRIS data with the IRIS data available with CIDR and responds accordingly. This authentication service enables an Aadhaar holder to identify himself/herself using their Iris image. Banking Banks, financial institutions, investment organizations and payment systems are slated to adopt Iris technology for authentication because of its proven advantages when compared to other conventional modalities of authentication such as fingerprint scanning, passwords, passcodes, OTPs et al. Deploying Iris tracking technologies in place of plastic money, passwords, PINs or paper-based credentials will make transactions faster. Also, such types of biometric technologies will solve problems pertaining to money laundering, frauds, or financial inclusion which are able to properly identity customer. Moreover, Iris technology software will also make online banking more secure and transparent. Usual transactions, checking of account balance and other daily banking requirements is more safe and secure via Iris systems. User could use smart card with iris template or live iris instead of password to gain access to ATM machine to withdraw money, view transactions log, or to avail any similar services. Iris Biometrics in CRM Increasingly companies today are turning to iris biometrics to help them meet the challenge of retaining profitable, long-term customers. It can be used not only for payment purposes, but also for customer identification purposes to redeem bonus points and maintain data privacy.