Iris Biometrics, Identity & Demography - Identity Management Word of the Day: Stroma

Stroma - The supportive framework of an organ (or gland or other structure), usually composed of connective tissue. The stroma is distinct from the parenchyma, which consists of the key functional elements of that organ. More, including the Greek etymology of the term here.

From the article linked below:

In a typical iris scan, a camera snaps an image of a person's eye while it is bathed in near-infrared light. Software identifies the iris portion of the eye, and then analyses 1024 sample regions, looking for patterns in the way the delicate filaments of tissue, known as the stroma [emphasis added], reflect light. This unique information is then used to generate a code of binary numbers.

Iris scanner could tell your race and gender (New Scientist)
There's much to recommend the linked article. It has good information about:

♦ The anatomy of the eye's iris
♦ Why iris anatomy makes it fit for use as a biometric modality
♦ The technique used to generate a biometric template from the iris
♦ The history of using the iris as a biometric modality
♦ The iris as a demographic identifyer as well as a unique individual identifyer

The distinction between a unique identity and an individual's demographic characteristics has large implications for privacy and commercial marketing.


h/t @M2SYS