It may sound like something out of a science fiction film, but Manchester airport is trialling technology which can recognise passengers’ irises while they walk around the terminal.
The two-week trial is taking place until November 26 in the airport’s Terminal 1, with travellers having the option of registering after check-in. The technology, akin to scenes from sci-fi film Minority Report, is able to identify individuals as they enter the security search area.
Similar to other iris recognition systems, Biometrics In Motion takes a photograph of an eye, which can then be used later to confirm an individual’s identity. But in this case the matching can be done at a distance, rather than the individual having to stare straight into a recognition camera.
The airport says the technology could have “a variety of future applications to speed up the identification of passengers”, for instance allowing international transfer passengers to mix with domestic passengers in the departure lounge, before then being identified prior to boarding their flight.
Commenting on the trial Mike Fazackerley, Manchester Airport’s Product Director said:
“We are always keen to develop innovative technology solutions to improve our passengers’ experience of the airport. People are already familiar with the concept of iris recognition. This technology has the potential for a number of uses in a busy airport environment including security because it can recognise individuals when they are moving around.
“Although it is in its very early stages of development, using this technology for transfer passengers could make Manchester more attractive to airlines as a hub airport in the future.”
Manchester already uses iris recognition technology to manage staff access into sensitive areas of the airport, and the UK Border Agency-backed IRIS system is available in both Terminal 1 and 2 for pre-registered people arriving back into the UK.
For more information visit manchesterairport.co.uk, and to take part in our forum discussion on iris recognition at airports, click here.
Report by Mark Caswell
Similar to other iris recognition systems, Biometrics In Motion takes a photograph of an eye, which can then be used later to confirm an individual’s identity. But in this case the matching can be done at a distance, rather than the individual having to stare straight into a recognition camera.
The airport says the technology could have “a variety of future applications to speed up the identification of passengers”, for instance allowing international transfer passengers to mix with domestic passengers in the departure lounge, before then being identified prior to boarding their flight.
Commenting on the trial Mike Fazackerley, Manchester Airport’s Product Director said:
“We are always keen to develop innovative technology solutions to improve our passengers’ experience of the airport. People are already familiar with the concept of iris recognition. This technology has the potential for a number of uses in a busy airport environment including security because it can recognise individuals when they are moving around.
“Although it is in its very early stages of development, using this technology for transfer passengers could make Manchester more attractive to airlines as a hub airport in the future.”
Manchester already uses iris recognition technology to manage staff access into sensitive areas of the airport, and the UK Border Agency-backed IRIS system is available in both Terminal 1 and 2 for pre-registered people arriving back into the UK.
For more information visit manchesterairport.co.uk, and to take part in our forum discussion on iris recognition at airports, click here.
Report by Mark Caswell 
