Computer scientist Lior Shamir of Lawrence Technological University will be publishing his idea of using Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) to scan people’s knees as a form of identification in the International Journal of Biometrics. After scanning the person’s legs, the bone structure of their knees will be matched to a biometric record for identity confirmation; the software capable of this was developed by Shamir. During initial tests, Shamir found that of 2,686 people tested, his software could recognize 93% of the individuals by their knee scan.
Image By John Rensten (corbisimages.com)
Shamir is targeting his software for moving lineups of people. This way office buildings and airports can quickly identify and register the people as they walk past the MRI system. This software could not be used to replace identification such as a passport. Instead it is to be used along with other forms of biometric identification, such as fingerprints or iris scans. Although these other forms of biometric identification can be deceived by wearing coloured contact lenses or making fingerprints unrecognizable by sanding them down, altering one’s bone structure would be more difficult to do without record. I think that this may seem like an inconvenience to people when going to work or travelling, but overall it would be in everyone’s best interest as it has the potential to prevent identity fraud.
“There is a distinct problem with the implementation of MRI scanning in a security setting in that MRI scanners are very large machines that take a long time to acquire an image of even a small body part such as the kneecap” the researchers admit. Although these seem like major issues, technological advances will ensure that smaller , faster MRI systems are developed.
Image By Todd Gipstein (corbisimages.com)
One of the main problems that people associate with idea of an MRI scan is radiation. Fortunately MRI scans do not have the risk of ionizing radiation that X-rays so infamously have, so there in no health risk involved. This simple scan also would not raise any privacy issues, such as with tetrahertz scanners which are used in order to ‘view’ under the scanned person’s clothing as a security measure.
Despite some skepticism from the public, Shamir believes that his new software will be worthwhile once people realize how much more secure their identity would be from fraud for the small inconvenience of walking past the scanner on their way through security.
Kathleen Leask
