AC 2007-1553: PRACTICAL CONSIDERATION FOR IMPLEMENTING A GUI-BASED IRIS RECOGNITION SYSTEM IN A LEARNING ENVIRONMENT
Amjad Zaim, Mahmoud K. Quweider · 2007
The iris, the concentric ring-shaped colored portion of the eye that encloses the dark disc of the pupil, possesses rich and distinct features unique for each individual. Although most current identification and authentication systems use more traditional biometric features, e.g. fingerprints and hand-written signatures, the iris-based recognition has proven to be far more accurate and therefore provides a good alternative resource. The main algorithmic components that are usually involved in any personal identification system that utilizes the human iris are: image data acquisition, iris localization and segmentation, feature extraction and decision making. These scientific methods that enable this advanced biometric technology is a good example of how cross-disciplinary scientific methods –such as artificial intelligence or AI, image processing, as well as practical software design tools such as graphical-user-interface-design, can come together to provide an integrated solution to a challenging security problem. In our computer science department, we have a need to demonstrate this computer-based technology to our new graduate and undergraduate students as a means to enhance their learning experience and motivate them to utilize their computer knowledge and skills in solving real-life problems. Aside from the scientific algorithm involved, the project addresses several practical considerations involved in the design and development of irisbased recognition systems such as system functionalities as well as the flexibility and the acceptability for the user interface. Two computer science students were assigned the task of designing, building and implementing a prototype using software development tools and scientific computing methods. In this paper, we provide general guidelines while highlighting some of the important issues involved in the design of biometric systems exploring the specific case of iris-based recognition.