Eyeball ID

Inventors have developed a new way to identify people, using a machine that scans their eyeballs①. Developed by IriScan, this new technology takes advantage of the fact that the iris② of each person's eye is unique, and remains unchanged throughout a lifetime.
The process will replace an older technology called retina③ identification, which compared the pattern of veins in the back of the eye. Used to control access to nuclear weapons, retina identification has never caught on with the public because it requires the user to put their eyeball right up against a lens. Iris scanning, on the other hand, works from a distance.
The iris of the eye is photographed from up to one meter away. The patterns of the iris are translated into digital code, and stored in a PC database, along with personal information. Glasses and contact lenses do not interfere with the scanning process, and it takes only a brief moment.
The new technology will be useful for banking and police work, as well as for the Internet economy. Before long, your computer monitor may be equipped with an iris scanner that can identify you when you shop online, thus preventing fraud.
There will be no ID cards to carry in your pocket, and no long numbers to memorize. And eyes will be very difficult to counterfeit.

① eyeballs: 眼球，眼珠子
② iris: [解] 虹膜
③ retina: [解] 视网膜