Researchers at the Lawson Research Institute in London, Canada are studying how iris scans could help homeless people get healthcare. The project, being led by directed by the institute's Cheryl Forchuk, will involve iris scans for the homeless, who often find it almost impossible to get health care due to a lack of ID.Forchuk told LFPress: “In speaking with the people about alternate forms of ID, we heard that they didn't want fingerprints because it was too close to the justice system, and facial recognition might not work because people lose so much weight.”The iris scan project will begin later this month. First, researchers will ask those at the Salvation Army Centre of Hope whether they'd be comfortable having their irises scanned as a form of ID.Engineering students from the local Western University have developed an algorithm that takes iris scans and turns them into a number that becomes the person's unique ID number. Forchuk noted that the technology could have wider applications in the region, such as tackling current fraud and bureaucracy: “There are 100,000 more OHIP numbers than there are Ontarians,” Sattler said. “Eventually, you could get an iris scan at your doctor's office and it would go into some kind of database, and every time you access health care, you don't need a card.”
Iris recognition explored for healthcare ID solution
