Smartphone and tablet manufacturing companies are taking the concept of security very seriously. By incorporating fingerprint scanners, users are not only able to secure the sensitive data of their mobile devices, but other convenient features such as paperless transactions have become extremely easy to execute. However, Irisys is planning to take smartphone security to the next level with its USB retina scanner.
According to ET News, the company had recently announced that it was going to commence mass production of Lockit, which is a USB retina scanner designed to augment the security level of a mobile device. Lockit possesses both a microUSB and standard USB 2.0 interface, which will allow users to attach the device to any machine that possesses a microUSB port, USB 2.0 port, or both. As the name states, unlocking the smartphone will require the user to insert their USB retina scanner in to a vacant microUSB port.
This suggests that the product will currently be available to purchase for Android and Windows Mobile handsets, since those are the only ones that feature a microUSB port. The company has incorporated a 5 MP front camera sensor to Lockit. One of the reasons why the company may have added a camera sensor with a high image resolution is because a more accurate image capturing process can be initiated of the individual's eye pattern.
Depending on the surrounding environment, as well as the difference between the lens and the person's eyes, it will take approximately 0.2 to 0.8 seconds to recognize the pattern of the eye. For added security, Irisys has also assimilated an LCD screen on the rear side of the device in order to process a two-way authentication system in the form a user defined password. By inserting the retina scanner in to the USB 2.0 or 3.0 port, smartphone users will be able to add their own passwords to the device.
The company has currently not given word on when it plans to begin mass production of the USB retina eye scanner.
