A trial of IRIS, run by the UK Immigration Service, British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, BAA and EyeTicket, is designed to allow up to 2,000 invited passengers who travel frequently as visitors to the UK through passport control in the blink of an eye.
Initially, passengers undergo an enrollment process, including identity checks by an immigration officer, before being able to use the equipment. The iris of the eyes are photographed, and digitally stored on a computer system, linking it to the Immigration Services database which contains the passengers passport details.
Once enrolled, passengers can simply glance into a camera in a special booth on arrival in the Immigration and Passport Control area, and have their identity verified in seconds each time they arrive at Heathrow and Gatwick Airports. The iris pattern is compared with the stored digital code, and if the details match, a barrier opens, allowing them to enter the UK.
The whole procedure takes only a few seconds. It is also considered the highest accuracy, single-factor identification method in the world. There is no contact with the body, and no laser or other potentially harmful light source is involved.
It seems to work, although a little cumbersome to get the eyes lined-up for the camera to be able to make the recognition, and sometimes one has to bend down to use the recognition camera designed to be used by a midget.